MeCOPTERA SCOLIOPTERYX AmPHIPYRA. I 85 



wings brownish-grey, with reddish fringes. All the wings beneath with a dark central lunule, 

 and a dark transverse stripe beyond the middle.) 



* 7. O. Erythrocephala (W. V.). — Very variable ; the unicolorous specimens resemble 

 Veronica, but the reniform stigma is marked with a deep black spot on its lower edge ; there 

 are no black dots before the hind margin, and the head and collar are brighter grey. The fore- 

 wings vary from ashy-grey to reddish-brown, and the costa and the space before the subter- 

 minal line are generally lighter. The variety Glabra has brown fore-wings, darker in the central 

 area, and the subterminal band and stigmata are pale grey. Expands about ri inches. The 

 larva is brownish-grey, with three pale lines on the back, and feeds on low plants. Widely 

 distributed in Central Europe, but rarely common. 



GENUS XLVIII. — MECOPTERA (GU£N.). 



Large and stout-bodied moths, the fore-wings broad, even at the base, the hind margin 

 moderately oblique, and not much curved above the hinder angle ; the hind-wings with the 

 hind margin a little rounded, the antennae of the male dentated and strongly ciliated ; the 

 tongue strong. The thorax and abdomen are very broad, and the latter extends for one-third 

 of its length beyond the anal angle. The only species, AI. Fragarice (Esp.), has reddish-grey 

 fore-wings, the nervures, the two transverse lines, the borders of the two large stigmata, and 

 the thick and straight subterminal line arc pale ochre-yellow. The transverse lines are not 

 dentated ; the inner line is straight and oblique, and the elbowed line is slightly curved. 

 Hind-wings ochre-yellow, dusted with blackish, especially towards the hind margins, and with 

 a large black central lunule ; the segments of the abdomen are blackish, bordered with pale 

 yellow. Expands from 2 to 2\ inches. A rare species, inhabiting South-Eastern Europe and 

 Northern Asia in September and October, and reappearing after hybernation very early in 

 spring. It may be taken at sugar. The larva is naked, orange-coloured, with a brown head, 

 a;^ a black plate behind it. It lives on grass from May to July, and is a cannibal. It is 

 figured with the moth at PI. 34, Fig. 10, a, b. 



GENUS XLIX. — SCOLIOPTERYX (GERM.). 



Fore-wings broad behind, the tips and the middle of the hind margin strongly projecting, 

 with very short fringes ; stigmata absent. The antennae of the male are shortly pectinated, the 

 collar has a projecting crest in the middle, and the thorax and abdomen are broad, the latter 

 extending a little beyond the anal angle, and tufted with hair in front and at the sides. The 

 only species, *S. Libatrix, Linn, (the Herald Moth), has reddish-violet-grey fore-wings, yellow, 

 dusted with scarlet at the base and in the middle, the two transverse lines nearly straight 

 and not dentated, whitish, dusted with grey ; and a white dot at the base and another in 

 the middle of the wing ; hind-wings indented below the costa. Expands about if inches. 

 Abundant throughout the greater part of Europe, Northern and Western Asia, and North 

 America from August to spring. The larva is slender, naked, grass-green, with a yellowish 

 stripe on the sides. It feeds on willows and poplars, and the pupa is placed between connected 

 leaves. The moth is figured at PI. 39, Fig. i. 



GENUS L. — AMPHIPYRA (OCHS.). 

 This genus includes moths rather under or over the middle size, with the body and fore- 

 wings stout, the latter rather broader behind, with the tips rounded, and the hind margin slightly 

 31 



