94 LEPIDOPTERA. 



it ; at dusk it comes freely and conspicuously to blossoms 

 of honeysuckle, turn-cap lily, Rhododendron. Silene inflata, 

 Lychnis vesjoertina, and L. dioica ; Sweet William (DiantJms 

 barbatus), thistle (Carduus hctcropliyllus), and other flowering 

 plants, indeed its habits in this respect are in direct contrast 

 to those of our other species of Cucullia, since in it the vast 

 majority of specimens in collections are captured on the 

 wing. When feeding thus at honeysuckle blossom it is 

 often mistaken, from its size and bold flight, for a hawk- 

 moth. Occasionally it is attracted by a strong light, but, 

 I think, never by sugar. Common through the southern 

 half of England and sometimes abundant ; more local and 

 far less common throughout the northern half, and common 

 in Wales to Pembrokeshire, very so in the northern 

 portion. In Scotland it again becomes plentiful in some 

 districts, and is found throughout the country to the Orkneys. 

 In Ireland everywhere common. Abroad it ranges through 

 Central Europe, the temperate portions of Northern Europe, 

 and some parts of the South and East ; also Asia Minor, 

 Armenia, and Northern Africa. 



Genus 86. PLUSIA. 



Antennae nearly naked, sometimes notched, in other cases 

 simple ; palpi ascending, of moderate length, in some species 

 re-curved ; tongue very long ; eyes naked, having front and 

 back lashes ; thorax strongly crested ; abdomen ornamented 

 with several crests ; fore wings somewhat triangular, pointed, 

 glossy, and usually embellished with metallic golden or silvery 

 markings ; anal angle prominent ; hind wings broad, plain ; 

 cross-bar long, slender, angulated ; vein 5 arising below the 

 middle and rather curved. 



Larv^ devoid of the usual two anterior pairs of prolegs, 

 attenuated towards the head. On herbaceous plants. 



Pup^e provided with a projecting tongue-case ; in a silken 

 cocoon, which is often spun up among leaves. 



