41 



quite rare in England, and very common in America, Dr. Fitch and Mr. Riley are of the 

 opinion that it is an American Insect, the eggs or larvas of which have been accidentally 

 carried to England. 



The caterpillar of this moth much resembles that of Agrotis tesselata, described on a 

 previous page. The ground colour is a dirty white or ash-grey, and it has three broad 

 dark lines and two light narrow ones on the sides, and a light line edged on each side by 

 a dark one along the centre of the back. The head is black. Mr. Riley, (who describes 

 the worms as above), found them in an orchard and gives them the name of the 

 " "Western Striped Cut-worm." 



Their habits are not yet clearly made out but they are probably similar to those of 

 the next mentioned species, which Mr. Riley considers distinct, but Mr. Grote looks 

 upon as identical. 



The markings of the moth are very conspicuous 

 and somewhat resemble those of Agrotis tesselata. 

 In figure 4 a represents the moth with the wings 

 expanded, b with the wings closed. The fore- 

 wings are greyish brown along the front e('ge, 

 the two spots are of the same colour, and the 

 black intermediate spot, which is square in tessa- 

 lata, is rhomboidal in this species, and joined to 

 the triangular spot on the inner side. There is 

 also a large black spot below the kidney-shaped 

 a. Fig. 4. 6. one, and a long blackish dash, extending from 



the base of the wing, about half-way down the wing near the inner edge, divided into 

 three spots by two narrow diagonal brown lines. Between this dash and the series of 

 spots near the outer edge of the wing is a light brown stripe, narrowest at the base. The 

 insect expands about an inch and a half, and appears during August and September. 



Agrotis jaculifera. — Guenee. 

 The Dart-bearing Rustic Moth — Larva — The Dingy Cut-worm — Riley. 



Mr. Riley has reared this insect from a cut-worm, which differs from that of the pre- 

 ceding species, (subgothica) only in the following particulars : It is never so large, it is 

 generally darker and of a more dingy colour, the longitudinal lines are less distinct, and 

 the back is of a more decided pale buff. The worms were found in the garden, and the 

 species had proved quite destructive in the vicinity. 



The moth, like its very near relation, is common in Canada and appears in August 

 and September. The wings are marked in almost exactly the same way as subgothica, 

 but are much brighter in colour, although the larva is so much more dingy in appearance 

 than that of the former species. The lighter parts of the fore wings are almost silvery, 

 instead of brown, and the darker parts of a more decided black. The inner edge of the 

 wing is also much lighter. Mr. Riley also states that the chrysalis differs from most of 

 the others in being of a very light honey yellow, shaded with brown. The moth is taken 

 in July, August, and September. 



Agrotis inermis. — Harris, 



The Unarmed Rustic Moth — Larva — The Variegated Cut-worm. — Riley. 



Common over Canada, the Northern and Western States. This moth is one of the 

 largest of its genus, and so closely resembles the Agrotis saticia of Europe, that many 

 entomologists consider them identical. 



We are indebted to Mr. Riley for a lengthened history of the insect, comprising 

 many interesting details. The caterpillar, (which he calls the " Variegated Cut-worm ") is, 

 when full grown, nearly two inches in length. It is mottled with dull flesh colour, brown 

 and black, and has elongated velvety black marks on each side of the body. The head is 



