Plusia. 265 



*i8. P. Piilclii'ina (Haw.), V. atircnm (Gucn.). — Very like Iota, but the fore -wings more 

 varied and more purplish, the silvery markings more sharply defined and always separated, 

 and the stigmata usually slightly edged with silvery ; hind-wings with three dark trans- 

 verse stripes on the under side. Size of Iota. Inhabits Central Europe and the Altai in 

 June and July, but less common than Iota. The larva is green, with a yellow stripe on the 

 sides ; it feeds on nettle, &c., till May. {P. Macroganima, Eversm., from the north of 

 Europe and Asia, has pale reddish fore-wings, with double black transverse lines, the basal 

 and marginal areas washed w th metallic greenish-grey, the reniform stigma bordered with 

 black, and a very large and brilliant pale golden 7, placed horizontally ; the fringes marked 

 with black dots ; hind-wings nearly as in Iota.) 



*ig. P. Gamma (Linn.), [Gamma Moth, or Silver V Motli). — Fore-wings varied with violet- 

 grey and brownish-grey, with a rust-coloured spot at the extremity of the central area in 

 cell lb, slender white transverse lines, and a silvery spot, shaped like the Greek letter 7, 

 before the middle, the subterminal line indicated by a shaded stripe, which is zigzag behind ; 

 hind-wings pale grey, with the hind margin broadly brownish. Expands from i^ to if 

 inches. Abundant during all the fine season throughout Europe, Asia to the Himalayas, 

 North Africa, and Western North America, flying both in the day-time and at dusk. The 

 larva is green, with fine waved longitudinal lines on the sides, and a narrow yellowish 

 stripe below. It feeds on low plants. The moth and larva are figured at PI. 40, Fig. 3, a, b. 

 [P. Circiunjlexa, Linn., from South-Eastern Europe, Northern and Western Asia, and North 

 Africa, has ashy-grey fore-wings, varied with dark bronzy, with all the lines distinct and double, 

 and a very pale oblique golden mark in the middle, shaped like an oblong r; the stigmata 

 are also visible, and the hind-wings are black, paler at the base.) 



*20. P. Ni (Hiibn.). — Fore-wings varied with ashy-grey and brownish-grey, with dark 

 double zigzag transverse lines, and a slender white V, with a slight silvery lustre, and a 

 white spot behind it ; the subterminal line whitish, twice dentated below the middle, and 

 with fine black arrow-heads above ; hind-wings pale grey, with the hind margin darker. 

 Expands from \\ to i^ inches. Inhabits South Europe, and has once been taken at 

 Exeter. The moth flies at twilight from May to August, and the larva feeds on various 

 low plants. {P. Daiibei, Boisd., from South-Western Europe, India, and Senegal, is a 

 little smaller than Ni, with shining greyish-brown wings, a silvery mark in the middle 

 resembling a Y, and a very narrow silvery curve in the position of the reniform stigma ; the 

 nervures whitish, the subterminal line, fringes, and some tortuous markings near the discoidal 

 cell pale pink ; hind-wings pale grey, darker towards the hind margin. The larva feeds on 

 Sonclms maritimus, and probably on a variety of other low plants, like its allies.) 



*2\. P. hiterrogationis (Linn.). — Fore-wings dark violet-grey, varied with blackish, with 

 double dark waved transverse lines, and a silvery mark before the middle, generally resembling 

 a V, and a kidney-shaped spot adjoining it, but often quite irregular ; the subterminal line is 

 black, bidentate in the middle, and widened Jtbove in front ; hind-wings pale grey, with the 

 hind margin darker. Expands from \\ to \\ inches. Common in a great portion of Northern 

 and Central Europe and Northern Asia, especially in mountainous districts. The larva 

 is green, paler above, with waved yellowish longitudinal lines. It feeds on nettle, Vaccininin 

 uliginosum, &c., till May. {P. Par His, Hiibn., from Lapland, Labrador, and Greenland, has 

 dark grey fore-wings, with the transverse lines only visible below the cell, and bounding a 

 square dark brown spot, on which stands a white spot, resembling a horizontal 7; hind- 

 wings white, with the base and hind margin blackish.) 

 41 



