PSEUDOPHIA. 275 



central band, and the fringes interrupted by two white spaces. Expands nearly if inches. 

 Inhabits the south of Europe and Asia, and North Africa, from May to November, hiding 

 itself among the tufts of its food-plant during the day. The larva is bluish-grey, with 

 slender yellowish lines, two ochre-yellow stripes on the back, and a pale yellow one, shaded 

 with dusky, on the sides. It feeds on Polygonum Persicaria in damp places, and constructs 

 a strong white waterproof cocoon. 



4. O. Algira (Linn.). — Fore-wings brown, the tip marked with two triangular black spots, 

 the marginal area and a transverse central band slightly narrower in the middle, violet-grey, 

 the elbowed line whitish, with a broad projection above the middle ; hind-wings dark grey, 

 with a central band and the fringes paler. Expands about if inches. Its range is 

 similar to that of Bifasciata, and it appears in May, July, and August. The larva is 

 yellowish-grey, with slender blackish lines. It feeds on bramble, sloe, &c., in summer and 

 late in autumn. 



GENUS X. — PSEUDOPHIA (LED.). 



Large moths ; the fore-wings rather long, with a dark reniform stigma more or less 

 distinct; transverse lines, which are not dentated, and a zigzag submarginal line; hind- 

 wings as long as the abdomen, and legs strong. The larvae resemble those of Catocala, and 

 hide themselves in the crevices of the bark of trees during the day. They feed from July to 

 September, and the moths appear in May and June. They fly at night, and rest with 

 their wings sloping. 



I. P. Ilhmaris (Hiibn.). — Fore-wings dull ochreous-grey, more or less dusted with darker, 

 the transverse lines blackish, the two central ones indistinct and often interrupted, the 

 submarginal line butter marked, dentated, with acute angles, indistinctly bordered with pale 

 outside, and terminated by a black dot before reaching the costa ; reniform stigma formed of 

 two whitish dots, one above another, and often indistinct, orbicular stigma absent ; fringes 

 preceded by a black festooned line; hind-wings pale yellowish-grey, with a broad blackish 

 submarginal band, suffused on the inside. Expands about if inches. Inhabits South France 

 and Italy, and the larva feeds on tamarisk. (P. Syriaca, Bugn., from Syria and Anda- 

 lusia, appears to be a variety with the dark band on the hind-wings less distinct, or 

 wholly absent.) 



*2. P. Lunaris (W. V.). — Fore-wings pale grey, varied with rusty-brown, with light 

 transverse lines, a dark subtcrminal line, a black dot in the place of the orbicular stigma, 

 and the reniform stigma blackish ; hind-wings reddish-grey, with the hind margin brown. 

 Expands from 2 to 2\ inches. Inhabits Central and Southern Europe and North Africa; 

 in England it is extremely rare. The larva is of a grey colour, resembling bark, with two 

 yellowish spots on the back of the 5th segment, and a reddish stripe on the sides. It 

 feeds on oak. The transformations are figured at PI. 40, Fig. 8, a — c. {P. Profana, 

 Eversm., from the Caucasus, is darker than P. Ltiuaris, with the reniform stigma small and 

 white ; hind-wings pale yellowish-grey, with a well-defined black central lunule.) 



3. P. Tirrhaa (Cram.). — Fore-wings green, with the reniform stigma and hind margin 

 reddish-brown ; hind-wings pale yellow, generally with a short broad black band beyond 

 the middle. Expands from 2\ to 2f inches. Inhabits the south of Europe and Asia, 

 and North Africa. The larva is grey, with a pale grey stripe on the sides, and black spots 

 on the lower surface between the prolegs. It feeds on Pistacia Lentiscus. The moth is figured 

 at PI. 40, Fig. 7. 



