264 European Butterflies and Moths. 



nervure ; hind-wings brown, with the base and a narrow transverse fascia paler. On the under side 

 the fore-wings are smoky-brown from the base to two-thirds of their length. Inhabits Russia 

 and the Altai.) 



13. P. ^mula {W.W.). — Fore-wings violet-grey, dark brown in the larger inner marginal 

 half of the central area and before the tips, and with a large diamond-shaped silvery spot before 

 the middle; the transverse lines slender, double, and not dentated ; hind-wings pale grey. 

 Expands about li inches. A rare species, found in the Alps of Styria in July and August. 



* 14. P. FcstHcce (Linn.). — Fore-wings violet-brown, with golden spots dusted with rusty- 

 yellow on the inner margin, at the base of the costa, and before the tips, and with two pear-shaped 

 silvery spots in the middle; hind-wings brownish-grey. Expands from i^ to li inches. Found 

 throughout the greater part of Europe and Northern Asia from July to September. The larva 

 is green, with slender yellowish lines, and a white stripe on the sides. It feeds on soft grasses 

 from September to May. 



15. P. Chalcites (Esp.). — Fore-wings reddish-violet, golden in the central area below the median 

 nervure, except above the silvery spots, and also at the hinder angle and before the upper part 

 of the hind margin, and with two small roundish silvery spots in the middle ; hind-wings yellowish- 

 grey. Expands about \\ inches. Inhabits South Europe and North Africa. The larva resembles 

 that of Gaiinna, and feeds on various low plants ; it constructs a very delicate cocoon of white 

 silk between leaves. {P. Mandarina, Freyer, from the Ural and Siberia, has reddish fore- 

 wings varied with black fasciae, with the transverse lines and the borders of the rcniform stigma 

 greenish, and with a forked silvery mark in the middle ; hind-wings yellowish-brown, with a grey 

 central stripe, and the hind margin broadly grey.) 



16. P. Gtitta (Guen.). — Fore-wings reddish-violet-grey, brown varied with rusty-yellow in 

 the larger inner marginal half of the central area, and with a rather long silvery spot in tlie 

 middle, concave above. The inner line is narrowly silvery, and curves round as far as the 

 .spot ; hind-wings yellowi.sh-grey. E.xpands rather over i| inches. Inhabits Southern and 

 South-Central Europe and Northern and Western Asia in August. The larva is green or 

 brownish, with three dark stripes on the back, bordered with white, the outer ones waved beyond 

 the third segment, and with a white stripe on the sides. It feeds on yarrow in May and 

 June. (/*. Accentifcra, Lef, from Spain, Sicily, and Crete, is of the size of Consona; the fore- 

 wings are rosy, varied with shining reddish, with a golden lustre, a golden mark in the middle, 

 and a golden line behind it, shaped like an accent ; hind-wings brown. P. Circninscripta, 

 Freyer, from Sicily and Crete, has reddish-brown fore-wings, varied with coppery and golden, 

 with a basal mark, some spots in the middle, and two transverse lines beyond them silvery ; 

 hind-wings pale grey, broadly bordered with brown.) 



*!/. P. Iota (Linn.), {Golden Y Motii). — Fore-wings violet-red, varied with olive-brown, 

 especially in the central area, at the extremity of which stands a rusty-yellow spot in cell I b; 

 the transverse lines are dark, double, and not dentated, and there is a yellowish-silvery V-shaped 

 spot in the middle and a silvery spot behind (connected with it in variety Percontationis, Tr., 

 and absent in variety Iiiscripta, Esp.) ; the subterminal line is indicated below the middle 

 by a shaded stripe, which is twice indented ; hind-wings yellowish-grey, with a dark central 

 stripe and hind margin, and with two dark stripes on the under side. Expands from i^ to 

 \\ inches. Common in Northern and Central Europe from May to August, flying by day. 

 The larva is green, with slender yellowish-white longitudinal lines, which are waved on the 

 sides. It feeds on dead-nettle, honeysuckle, &c., in April and June. The moth is figured 

 at PI. 40, Fig. 2. 



