276 European Butterflies and Moths. 



FAMILY XVI.— TOXOCAMPID.E. 



Fore-wings paler or darker grey ; hind-wings unicolorous brownish-grey, a Httle paler 

 at the base, and not quite so long as the abdomen ; antennae simple. The larva are naked 

 and slender, with sixteen legs, generally with the front pairs of prolegs rudimentary ; and 

 they undergo their transformations in a cocoon on the surface of the ground. The moths fly 

 at night, and sit during the day with their wings flatly sloping and a little overlapping. 



GENUS I. — SPINTHEROPS (BOISD.). 



Large or middle-sized moths ; the fore-wings 'with the hind margin moderately curved, 

 dark dentatcd transverse lines, broader on the costa, and a pale zigzag subterminal line ; the 

 orbicular stigma reduced to a dot, and the reniform stigma often indistinct ; hind-wings 

 obtusely rounded. The larvae have the legs fully developed, and feed by day, and the 

 moths may be attracted by light. 



1. S. Spectrum (Fabr.). — Fore-wings greyish-brown, with black transverse lines and a 

 white macular subterminal line shaded with dusky in front ; the orbicular stigma repre- 

 sented by a white dot, and the reniform stigma concolorous, bordered with black and white ; 

 hind-wings unicolorous brownish-grey, and the last joint of the palpi very long. Expands 

 from 2\ to i\ inches. Inhabits South Europe and North Africa in May and June. The 

 larva is yellow, with four black stripes on the back, and black dots on the sides. It feeds 

 on broom in July. 



2. S. Caiaphanes (Hiibn.). — Fore-wings shining yellowish-grey, with brown transverse lines, 

 and a whitish subterminal line spotted with darker in front ; the orbicular stigma reduced 

 to a white dot, and the reniform stigma indistinct ; hind-wings grey, with a central streak, 

 and the fringes pale yellowish ; the last joint of the palpi longer than the others. Expands 

 nearly if inches. A rare species, found in South Europe in July and August; the larva 

 feeds on furze. 



3. S. Dilucida (Hiibn.). — Fore-wings greyish-yellow, with brown transverse lines and a pale 

 subterminal line broadly shaded with brownish on both sides ; the orbicular stigma is a black 

 dot, and the reniform stigma a dark lunule ; hind-wings grey, with a central streak and th: 

 fringes paler ; the last joint of the palpi very short. Expands from if to 2 inches. Inhabits 

 Europe, south of the Alps, North Africa, and Western Asia in June and July, and the larva 

 feeds on Onohrycliis saliva. 



4. T. Hirsuta (Staud.). — Fore -wings yellowish-grey, with very indistinct transverse lines and 

 reniform stigma ; hind-wings dirty yellowish-grey ; the head and thorax clothed with very long 

 hair, and even the fore-wings covered with long fine hairs. Expands about i| inches. Only one 

 specimen known, which flew into a house in the Valais on a mild February evening. 



GENUS II. — EXOI'lIILA (GU£N.). 



Fore-wings narrow, truncated behind, rounded at the hinder angle, and without markings ; 

 hind-wings rounded. Larvae with the front prolegs rudimentary. The only species, 

 E. Rectangular is (Hiibn.), has yellowish-grey fore-wings, finely and sparingly dusted with 

 blackish, with pale slender transverse dashes, and the hind-wings light grey. Expands about 

 \\ inches. Inhabits South-Eastern Europe as far as the Tyrol, and Armenia, in July and 

 August. Larva green, with pale slender longitudinal lines, and light angular interlacing oblique 

 dashes between. It feeds on Ccltis austral is in May and June. 



