240 Lloyd's natural history. 



GENUS RHYPARIA. 



Ehyparia, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 305 (1822?); 



Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Uran. at Phal. ii. p. 197 



(1857); Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. mo 



(1862). 



A widely-distributed genus, but not very numerous in species. 



The antennae are more strongly pectinated than in most genera 



of the family. 



RHYPARIA MELANARIA. 



{Plate CXLVIII., Fig. 3.) 



Geometra melanaria, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 521, 



no. 138 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 326, no. 1240 {1761); 



Clerck, Icones, pi. 4, fig. 2 (1759); Esper, Schmett. v. 



p. 115, Taf. 23, fig. I (1795 ?) ; Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. v. 



fig. 86(1798?). 

 Zerene melanaria, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. vi. (2), p. 236 



(1828). 

 Rhyparia melanaria, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 316, 



pi. 45, fig- 7 (1882). 

 This species is found in most parts of Central and Northern 

 Europe, except the north-west ; and in Northern Asia. It 

 expands from an inch and three-quarters to two inches. 



The fore-wings are dingy white, something like raw silk, 

 with rows of black spots of different sizes, which are generally 

 arranged more or less as follows : — At the base there are three 

 rows close together, and here the ground-colour is varied with 

 yellow, as is also the costa. In the central area there are 

 again three rows, with a larger spot at the commencement of 

 the first row, usually containing a white pupil. In the marginal 

 area are two rows, with small dots between them. The fringes 

 are chequered with black and white or yellowish, and are 

 bordered with a white line. The hind-wings are rich golden 



