ACRONYCTA. 149 



rather long, with an oblique regularly rounded hind margin, and fringes only slightly waved. 

 They are grey or white, generally with the Nociua-'pAttern, but the claviform stigma is wanting. 

 Several species have a strong black branching longitudinal streak running from the base, and 

 black longitudinal streaks on the elbowed line above the middle and at the hinder angle. 

 The elbowed line is placed very far back, and forms a large curve round the reniform stigma; 

 and the hind-wings are slightly contracted below the tip. The larvae are often warty or 

 tufted. Several species resemble each other so closely that they can only be distinguished 

 with certainty by rearing them from the larvae. The moths come freely to sugar, &c. 



* I. A. Leporina (Linn.), {Miller). — -White; fore-wings with a short black basal streak, and 

 scattered black spots and dots, especially on the costa, in the position of the transverse lines, 

 and of the central shade. The variety Bradyporina (Tr.) has greyish fore-wings. Expands from 

 li to if inches. Common in Northern and Central Europe, and in Siberia, from May to July. 

 The larva is green, thickly covered with long white hair, and has slender black tufts on the 

 5th, 7th, 9th, and 1 2th segments. It feeds on forest-trees, especially alders and willows, in 

 August and September. The moth is figured at PI. 32, Fig. 5. 



* 2. A. Ahii (Linn.). — The fore-wings are pale ashy-grey, dark brown towards the inner 

 margin, and between the stigmata, with a thick black longitudinal stripe running from the 

 base above the inner margin ; the hind-wings are white, with grey hind margins. Expands 

 about \\ inches. Widely distributed in Central Europe in May and June, but always scarce. 

 The larva, which is much more frequently seen than the perfect insect, is dull black, with 

 large bright yellow spots on the back, and long scattered hairs, clubbed at the tips. It lives 

 on oak, alder, and other trees from July to September. The moth and larva are figured at 

 PI. 32, Fig. 6, a, b. 



* ^. A. Strigosa (W. V.). — Fore-wings ashy-grey, varied with brown, with three black 

 longitudinal stripes above the inner margin, to which the middle one is nearest. The 

 transverse lines are double ; the elbowed line is strongly dentated ; the stigmata are separate, 

 and the reniform stigma is pale yellow. The hind-wings are pale grey, with a dark spot in 

 the middle, and a curved stripe. Expands about i^ inches. Found throughout Central 

 Europe and Siberia from May to July, but not very common. The larva is thinly hairy; 

 green, with a broad brown streak on the back, divided by a pale line, and bordered with 

 yellow; and hump-like prominences on segments 5 and 12. It feeds on sloe in August and 

 September. {A. Senica, Eversm., is whitish ; fore-wings with two black lunules on the disc, 

 two costal and two submarginal black stripes ; the hind-wings are dark grey, with the base 

 paler. It occurs in South Russia and Siberia.) 



*4. A. Tridens (VJ.Y.), {Scarce Dagger Moth). — Fore-wings reddish ashy-grey, with a black 

 branching longitudinal basal streak, and two black longitudinal streaks on the elbowed line ; 

 the transverse lines are simple and dentated ; the stigmata touch each other, or are connected 

 by a short streak, and the hind-wings are whitish, with the nervures and hind margin dusted 

 with brown, especially in the female. Expands from i^ to i^ inches. Common throughout 

 Europe and the north of Asia and Africa in May and June. The larva is thinly hairy, 

 dark grey, spotted with red and white on the sides, and has a yellow stripe on the 

 back, divided with black ; there is a small black wart on the Sth segment, and a long 

 hairy tubercle on the 12th. It feeds on sloe, hawthorn, willow, &c., in August and September. 



* 5. .^. Psi (Linn.), {Comnt07i Dagger Moth). — Resembles Tridens in markings, localities, 

 and times of appearance, but rarely expands less than li inches. It is generally of a paler 

 brownish-ashy colour, but can only be determined with certainty by rearing from the larva. 



