74 



LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY 



Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, [j. 248, pi. 39, 

 1%''- 3^3 (^ (1881); Buckler, Larvre of Brit. Lepid. vi. 

 p. 67, pi. 97, figs, i-i d (1S95). 



The Mullein Molh is coniuion in Central and Southern 

 Euroi)e, and in Western Asia. It expands about an inch and 

 three-quarters. 



The Mullein Moth. 



The head is bone-coloured m front, brown above ; the collar 

 is pale grey in front, varied with yellow, with tine brownish 

 transverse lines, and a broad brown band behind. The tegulae 

 are bordered with brown, and are marked with a few black 

 dots. The abdomen is yellowish-grey, with an interrupted 

 black dorsal line, which is continued on the thorax to the 

 collar. There is a reddish-yellow anal tuft. The antennae are 

 yellowish-brown. 



The fore-wings are marked with a rather broad band of rich 

 brown on the costa and inner margin, the portion of the wings 

 between being dull yellow, like fossil wood. There is a series 

 of black dots running from the base in this area. Towards 

 the middle of the inner margin are two white lunules, one 

 above the other, and before and beyond these are two faint 

 white spots, one in the middle of the wing, and the other near 

 the fringes. The fringes themselves are brown, streaked with 

 white, deeply and acutely dentated, and there is a yellow line 

 on their inner edge. The hind-wings are darkest towards the 



