ARGYRITIS. 75 



fringes, usually dark brown, but becoming more yellow towards 

 the base, and sometimes they are entirely [)ale. especially in 

 some male specimens. The fringes are yellow, bisected by a 

 dark line, and, like the fore-wings, deeply dentatcd. 



The larva feeds on the leaves of various species of mullein, 

 fig-wort, and other low plants. It is smooth and pearly white, 

 with a blue, yellow, or green tinge, varying with the food. The 

 head is dotted with yellow and black. On each segment of the 

 body is a somewhat broad bright yellow transverse band, 

 bordered with several larger and smaller black spots. 



The larvre have a great power of jurniiing, and are very 

 difficult to hold in the hand. When young they live gre- 

 gariously, but afterwards become solitary. Their numbers 

 are kept in check by ichneumon- flies, birds, and numerous 

 other foes. 



The pupa is yellowish-brown, with the covers of the head 

 and eyes blackish. The moth appears in April and May. 



GENUS ARGYRITIS. 



Argyrifis, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 247 (1822?); 

 Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 657 (1857). 



This genus resembles CuciiUia, Schrank, but the species may 

 be distinguished by their generally smaller size, short but 

 pointed wings, and brilliant silvery coloration. The larva is 

 pilose, and the segments are more or less expanded, or warty. 

 The species figured resembles a large Palparia. 



ARGYRITIS ARGENTINA. 



{Plate CXXVIIL, Fi\'. 8.) 



Noctiia argenfina, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii. p. 162, no. 1S5 



(1787); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. iv. fig. 553 (1804?). 



