Cerigo — Pol yphmnis — Valeria. 2 1 3 



genus xii. — cerigo (boisd.). 



Fore-wings broad, with the hind margin a little oblique below the middle, and the inner 

 margin distinct, with the complete iVi5i(;/?<(7-pattern, the transverse lines dark, double, and not 

 dentated ; the hind-wings yellow, short, and rounded, and scarcely contracted below the tips. 

 The commonest species, * C. Mat/ira (Hufn.), Cytherea (Fabr.)', has dark reddish-brown fore- 

 wings, with the transverse lines filled up with whitish, and three stigmata ; the subterminal 

 line is composed of three light crescents, and intersected with whitish lines on the nervures, 

 and black streaks between ; hind-wings pale yellow, with a broad brown marginal band. 

 Expands from \\ to i| inches. Common in Central Europe from June to September. The 

 larva is greyish-brown, greyish-yellow above, with fine light and dark longitudinal lines 

 adjoining each other, two dark lines on the back, and a more distinct white line below, 

 on the sides. It feeds on grass from September to May, and may be obtained by sweeping 

 in autumn. (C Amatlmsia, Ramb., from Perpignan, has the lines of the fore-wings less dentated, 

 and the hind-wings paler, with a broader black band. C. Vittalba, Tr., a scarce species from 

 South Europe, has brown fore-wings, with the fringes and all the markings rosy-white, except 

 the claviform stigma, which is concolorous ; hind-wings whitish, with a darker submarginal 

 band.) 



GENUS XIII. — POLYPH/ENIS (BOISD.). 



Fore -wings broad, with the hind margin a little oblique, and moderately curved ; the Noctiia- 

 pattern present ; hind-wings yellow, short, and broad, rounded, and not contracted below the 

 tip ; abdomen extending a little beyond the anal angle. P. Sericata (Esp ), has the fore- 

 wings varied with olive-green and brownish, with double black transverse lines and blackish 

 longitudinal streaks, the elbowed line slightly curved and sharply dentated ; the stigmata and 

 subterminal line rather indistinct ; hind-wings orange, with a brown central lunule, and a 

 broad black marginal band. E.xpands about if inches. Inhabits South Europe. The larva 

 is pale grey, with a light line on the back bordered with blackish ; belly dark brown. It 

 feeds on honeysuckle, privet, &c., from autumn to May. {P. Xanthochloris, Boisd., from Spain 

 and Sicily, is nearly twice as large ; fore-wings green, varied with whitish ; the reniform stigma 

 is large, snow-white, and bordered with black. Hind-wings fulvous, with a black border.) 



GENUS XIV. — V.A.LERIA (GERM.). 



Middle-sized moths, the fore-wings very broad behind, with a long, regularly-curved hind 

 margin, and a distinct hinder angle ; the transverse lines are indistinctly double, blackish, the 

 elbowed line dentated ; the sub-terminal line consists of fine whitish lunules, hollowed out and 

 filled with darker in front, and the fringes are very long ; hind-wings generally white, with 

 a broad grey hind margin, and a curved line before it ; abdomen stout. The larvae are 

 slender, brownish-grey, with small warts with scattered hairs ; and two obtuse points on each 

 of the last two segments. They feed on sloe in May and June, and hide themselves by day, 

 and must therefore either be beaten from the bushes, or sought for with a lantern at night. 

 They form their pupse in the ground, and the moths appear in March and April. 



* I. V. Oleagina (W. V.). — Fore-wings dark violet-grey, with shining moss-green nervures 

 and hind margin, the orbicular stigma bordered with pale, the reniform stigma white, with 

 a small dark spot within, above, and below ; the antennae with slender pectinations, longest in 

 the male. Expands from i\ to if inches. Inhabits Central and South- Western Europe, and 



