I02 European Butterflies axd Moths. 



GENUS V. — PLERETES (LED.). 



This genus only contains one European species, but it is the largest -of the family. The 

 abdomen is thick, and rounded behind, and the fore-wings are marked with pale spots, and the 

 hind-wings with dark ones. The palpi are comparatively large and, like the legs, are covered with 

 flattened scales. The larvre are covered with long hairy warts, and generally hybernate twice, 

 changing to pupae in spring, without eating anything after the second winter. The only species, 

 P. Matroiiula (Linn.), has dark brown fore-wings, with four large yellow spots on the costa, and a 

 small one towards the hinder angle ; hind-wings orange, with large irregular black spots. The 

 thorax is brown, with two red stripes on the back, and two yellow ones on the sides ; abdomen red, 

 with a row of large black spots on the back. Expands 3^ inches. It is found in woods throughout 

 Central Europe, except the north-west, but is a scarce insect everywhere. The larva, which is more 

 frequently met with than the moth, is whitish when young, and dark brown afterwards, with long 

 reddish-brown hair. It hides itself during the day among stones and moss, and is very difficult to 

 rear. Only a few must be reared in one cage, which should be kept in a shady place, and the lan'.ne 

 must be well sprinkled with water at frequent intervals, especially after hybernation. When young, 

 the larva feeds on the leaves of trees (hazel, elm, &c.), and when half-grown, it feeds on low plants, 

 such as Lonicera xylosieuni. The moth is figured at PI. 23, Fig. 3. 



GENUS VI. — EUPREPIA (HERR. SCHAFF.). 



Fore-wings with the tips more pointed than in Avctia ; dark-coloured, with pale transverse 

 bands, and an accessory cellule ; antennae of the male ciliated ; tongue quite imperceptible. The 

 only species, E. Ptidica (Esp.), has brownish-black fore-wings, with pinkish-white interlacing stripes, 

 which cover a large part of the wing, leaving only numerous angular spots of the dark ground 

 colour visible ; hind-wings pinkish-white, with a variable number of black spots. Abdomen rose- 

 colour, with a row of black spots on the back. Expands from i^ to i^ inches. It is found in the 

 south of Europe and in North Africa in May and June, and produces a slight sound when flying. 

 It flies at dusk. The larva hybernates, and is full-grown in April. It feeds on grass. 



GENUS VII. — NEMEOPHILA (STEPH.). 



The body of the male rather slender ; the tongue horny ; an accessory cellule in N. 

 Plantaginis. The larvae have long hairy warts, and are very active. They hybernate and live 

 on various low plants from August to May, and that of Russiila again in July. The perfect 

 insects fly by day. 



* I. N. Russtila (Linn.). — Male with the fore-wings pale yellow, with the fringes, inner margin, 

 and a large spot near the middle of the costa reddish ; hind-wings buff, with a brown spot in the 

 middle, and a brown submarginal band; fringes red. The female is smaller, with rusty-yellow 

 wings, the fore-wings with reddish nervures, and the hind-wings with the base, a spot in the middle, 

 and the submarginal band blackish. Expands from \\ to if inches. It is common throughout 

 Europe and Northern Asia in June and August in glades in woods, and on heaths. The female 

 is much less active than the male, and is consequently less frequently met with. The larva is 

 blackish-brown, with a yellow streak on the back dotted with red, and foxy-red hairs. The male 

 moth is figured at PI. 23, Fig. 4. (N. Spiirca, Ramb., supposed to be an Andalusian species, is 

 reddish-yellow, without markings, but the hind-wings rather darker above ; it only expands 

 I inch.) 



