Agrotis. 195 



is white, with the tip reddish. There appears to be a succession of broods ; and the larva feeds 

 on Lotus and other low plants.) 



* Z}>- ^- Pi'tris (Linn.). — Fore-wings pale reddish-yellow, with the costa broadly brown, 

 the two stigmata darker, and the fringes irregularly chequered with darker ; hind-wings 

 yellowish-white. E.xpands about \\ inches. Inhabits Central Europe and the Altai from May 

 to July. The larva is copper-colour, with black arrow-headed spots on the back, and a large 

 white blotch on the side of the 12th segment. It feeds on convolvulus, plantain, bedstraw, &c., 

 in August. The moth is figured at PI. 36, Fig. 5. 



*34. A. Porpliyrca (W. V.). — Fore-wings brownish-red, with whitish nervures and black 

 longitudinal dashes, the transverse lines are double, dentated, and filled up with whitish ; the 

 three stigmata are small and surrounded with black, and the hind-wings are brownish-grey. 

 Expands from i to ij inches. Common on heaths in Northern and Central Europe in June 

 and July. The larva is dull red or brownish-red, with dark brown spots on the back, adjoining 

 yellow ones ; and a whitish stripe on the sides, above which are brown and whitish spots. It 

 feeds on heath till April, and is generally found under moss. 



*35. A. Agathina (Dup.). — Fore-wings violet-red, rarely brownish-red (variety Scoparice, 

 Mill.), with the costa reddish-white, a black basal streak, indistinctly double dentated transverse 

 lines, and three stigmata ; the orbicular stigma whitish, and placed with the reniform stigma on 

 a black pyramid ; the subterminal line is marked with black arrow-headed spots, the hind-wings 

 are pale grey, and the antennae of the male are serrated. Expands from i to i^ inches. 

 Inhabits Western Europe from June to September. The larva is green, brown, or reddish, 

 according to age, with longitudinal white lines, and hides itself during the day. It feeds on 

 different species of heath, preferring the iiowers. 



36. A. Ericce (Boisd.). — Fore-wings dark bluish-grey, with a black basal streak bordered in 

 front with ashy-grey, three ashy-grey stigmata surrounded with black, and a black spot between 

 the orbicular and reniform stigmata ; the lines indistinct, the inner and elbowed lines dentated ; 

 hind-wings white, dusted with grey towards the hind margin in the female ; the antennje of the 

 male slightly pectinated. Size of Agathina. It is found on heaths in France and Germany in 

 June, but is not common. 



B. — Spizlotis (Boisd.). — The front tibice not shorter than the first joint of the tarsi, and furnished 

 with a row of bristles on each side. The thorax is hairy, except in A. Pracox, in which it is 

 clothed with flattened scales. 



37. A. Ocellina (W. V.). — Fore- wings dark violet-brown, the three stigmata with dark centres, 

 surrounded with paler, and placed on a black pyramid, and black arrow-headed spots before the 

 subterminal line ; the transverse lines are indistinctly double, and filled up with paler ; the 

 elbowed line is slightly dentated ; the nervures are whitish in the central area, but unicolorous 

 in the marginal area, and the hind-wings are dark grey. E.xpands from i to 1} inches. Common 

 on the Alps, and in Russia and Siberia in July. {A. Engadincnsis, Mill., from the Upper 

 Engadine, is allied to Ocellina ; the fore-wings are rather long and narrow, coppery-yellow, with 

 the transverse lines brown, but indistinct. The inner line does not e.xtend to the costa, and is 

 crossed by a brown basal streak. The elbowed line is entire, rather broad, and slightly arched 

 outwards. Five black arrow-headed spots radiate towards the fringes, which are concolorous, and 

 jireceded by seven small black triangles. Only the reniform stigma is visible, which is bordered 

 with black inside, and with whitish outside. The hind-wings are smoky-brown.) 



38. A. Alpcstris (Boisd.). — Very like Ocellina, but larger; the fore-wings paler, reddish- 

 violet-grey; the nervures narrowly black on a reddish-white ground in the marginal area; the 



