nS HAUSTELLATA. — LEPIDOPTERA. 



a second, somewliat ovate, spot of similar hue: cilia ferruginous, with 

 brownish clouds at the tip : posterior wings fuscescent, with a central lunule, 

 and a curved transverse striga, darker. 

 This insect has been likened to the No. musicalis of Esper; but that insect is 

 of a pale bluish-ash, with a deep rectangular central transverse fuscous fascia, 

 followed by two rows of very distinct black spots, the hinder margin with 

 a deep fuscous cloud, dividing into five distinct lobes on its inner edge, the 

 apex of the wing of an immaculate hoary-ash, and the base has two rows of 

 black spots placed longitudinally. Esper, in his text, refers this to the No. 

 lithoxylea of Fabricius; while that insect and sublustris (which are both 

 admirably figured by him) are referred to the No. petrificata of that author. 



All the specimens I have seen of this insect were taken near 

 Brighton by Mr. Brown. 



Sp. 3. polyodon. Alls anticis fusco nebulosis, strigd posticd valde dentatd alba ; 

 posticis cinereo-fuscis, fimbria saturatiori, strigdgue pallida versus anguhim 

 ani. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 10 lin. — 2 unc. 2lin.) 



Ph. No. polyodon. Linne—Xy. polyodon. Steph. Catal. part ii. p. 79. No. 6188. 



A most variable species : ashy- brown, thorax with transverse and longitudinal 

 streaks : anterior wings fuscous- or ochraceous-brown, with various black and 

 pale clouds and strigse; especially three strigae of the former colour, one at 

 the base, another near the base on the inner margin, and the third between 

 the stigmata and the inner margin ; the stigmata are pale, sometimes clouded, 

 the anterior is oblong and placed obliquely; the ordinary strigae are apparent, 

 and the fourth, near the hinder margin, forms a very prominent feature, 

 being of a very pale cast, sometimes nearly white, very much waved, and 

 acutely angulated, forming, towards the anal angle, a W, which is crowned 

 with three conical black streaks : the posterior wings are ashy-brown, with 

 a dark marginal border, and a pale striga towards the anal angle. 



Some specimens are very much clouded with white; others are nearly plain 

 fuscous, with the usual markings, and I possess one of a deep dusky-brown : 

 in fact, scarcely two specimens agree precisely. 



Caterpillar dirty- white, thickly spotted with black, with a black head : it feeds 

 at the roots of grass, and very much resembles the larva of an Agrotis, ex- 

 cepting its bulk. The imago appears in June and July. 



One of our most abundant insects, occurring copiously even in 

 the metropolis itself, frequenting gardens, hedges, and wood sides. 

 " Alderley, Cheshire." — Rev. E. Stanley. 



Sp. 4. rurea. Alis anticis griseo fuscoque variis, macula costali, lineold basi 

 versus marginem interiorem fimbridque irregulari griseo-fuscis. (Exp. alar. 

 1 unc. 6—8^ lin.) 



No. rurea. Fabricius. — Xy. rurea. Steph. Catal. part ii. jo. 79. No. 6189. 



Head fulvous : thorax ashy-brown or griseous, with its centre palest : anterior 

 wings pale griseous or ochraceous-red, with various spots and clouds ; with. 



