NOCTUIDiE XYLOPHASIA. 175 



and elongate-linear with a small tuft in the female ; broad, some- 

 what triangular anterior wings (which are deflexed during repose), 

 the slenderness of the antennae, and in other less evident cha- 

 racters; and from Xylina, by the broad subtriangular wings, elongate 

 robust body, and longer, ascending palpi, &c. 



Sp. 1. lithoxylea. Alls anticis Jlavo-ochraceis , macula costali margineque pos- 

 tico irregularitcr ferrugineo-fuscis ; posticis pallidis lunuld medid Jimbridque 

 fuliginosis. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 9 — 11 lin.) 



No. lithoxylea. Fabricius.—Xy. lithoxylea. Steph. Catal. part ii. jo. 79. JVo. 6186. 



Ochraceous : eyes black : head and thorax with a few pale rusty-brown mark- 

 ings ; anterior wings pale yellow ochreous^ with irregular darker fuscescent 

 or ustulated streaks and clouds, several of the former placed obhquely on the 

 costa, one towards the centre, somewhat broader ; at the base is a conspicuous 

 darker streak, and near the base, on the inner margin, is a second, and a 

 little behind the middle, on the disc, towards the anal angle, is a third 

 flexuous one, with an ustulated cloud adjoining on its costal edge: behind 

 this is an obscure arcuated striga of extremely minute fuscous dots ; and on 

 the hinder margin two rusty-brown spots, forming an irregular border to the 

 wing : posterior wings pale, with the margin and a costal lunule dusky, the 

 nervures, and a row of marginal dots, fuscescent. 



The tint of colour, and intensity of the markings, vary considerably ; but the 

 insect is invariably of a paler hue than the following ; and amongst other 

 characters wants the transverse striga on the posterior wings. 



CaterpUlar green, with whitish spots and lateral lines : it feeds on the black 

 thorn : the imago appears towards the beginning of July. 



Frequents palings and hedges ; not uncommon in Epping Forest, 

 and in Copenhagen-fields; at Darenth, Coombe, &c. " Epping." 

 — Mr. H. Douhleday. " Alderley, Cheshire." — Rev. E. Stanley. 



Sp. 2. sublustris. Alls anticis cinereo-ferrugineis maculd costali margineque 

 postico irregulariter saturate ferrugineo-fuscis ; posticis fuscescentibus lunuld 

 medid strigdque pone medium saturatioribus. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 8 — ^10 lin.) 



No. sublustris. Esper. — Xy. sublustris. Steph. Catal. part ii. p. 79. No. 6187. 



Considerably resembling the last, but of a deep rusty-ash ; the anterior wings 

 are not striated, nor do they possess the lineola near the base on the inner 

 margin, but in the middle of the costa is a deep rusty-brown cloud, extending 

 transversely nearly to the inner margin of the wing, where it is absorbed in 

 a deeper cloud, which terminates in a flexuous darker streak ; on the costa 

 are also some obscure lineolse of similar hue; and behind the posterior stigma 

 is an arcuated striga composed of pale fuscous lunules, the points of which 

 are outwards, and darker ; between this and the hinder margin is a very ob- 

 scure pale striga, having a more distinct angulated portion, resembling the 

 letter W, near the angle, on the costal edge of which, in the middle of the 

 posterior margin, is a triangular deep rusty-brown spot, and on the anal angle 



