NEW BRITISH SPECIES IN 1856. 99 



description for another opportunity. Mr. Cooke's spe- 

 cimen reminds one of the pale variety of Xanthia Cerago, 

 and Duponchel has placed Vitellina in the genus Xanthia, 

 probably on account of this resemblance. 



The larva feeds on grass, through the winter, changing 

 to pupa in February, March or April ; the perfect insect 

 appears in August and September; it occurs in Southern 

 and Central France ; and in some years is much commoner 

 than in others. 



This species is added to our list from a specimen having 

 been taken at Brighton, by Mr. Henry Cooke, who thus 

 announced its capture in the " Substitute :" " The locality 

 in which I obtained this species was certainly rather a 

 strange one ; it was in my own little garden in the centre 

 of this town. I saw the insect on the wing, and, without 

 suspecting it was anything uncommon, made more than 

 one attempt to catch it with my net, but failed ; it went into 

 a dense plant of Epilobium, and I could not drive it out. 

 In accordance with my nightly custom I placed honey on 

 such posts and flower-sticks as were available, and in a few 

 minutes I saw the moth re-appear, and after hovering about 

 for a short time it went straight to the nearest honey-bait 

 and settled quietly. I then saw it was a stranger, and lost 

 no time in boxing it : a little chloroform finished the business, 

 and the insect is now in my cabinet, and numbered amongst 

 my treasures." 



Nyctegretes Achatinella, Hubner. 

 Alh anticis rufo-griseis, lineis duabus valde convergent thus 

 albis, strigulaque interjecta albida. 

 Exp. al. 9 lin. 



Head, face, palpi and antennae pale reddish-grey. Anterior 

 wings reddish grey, shaded with reddish brown, with t/cu 



h2 



