3(6 LEPTDOPTERA. 



1874 it had become so rare that four only were taken in that 

 year, and casual specimens in the following years until about 

 1880, when there is every reason to fear that it became 

 extinct. For this the new method of collecting was in no 

 respect to blame, since the females were not attracted by it. 

 The cause of this rapid decadence must remain a mystery. It 

 can only be conjectured that from long isolation the constitution 

 of the whole local race broke down. So far as these islands 

 are concerned this species appears to have been absolutely 

 confined to the small district of Cambridgeshire aud Hunt- 

 ingdonshire containing the fens already specified. In those 

 of Norfolk, although equally suitable, it does not appear that 

 it has ever been met with. Abroad it is found in Northern 

 France, Northern Germany, Hungary, Catalonia, and Bulgaria; 

 also widely distributed in Asia. Specimens from India and 

 Java, which are rather small, but which have the row of 

 black dots in the male complete, have received the names of 

 angidifera and snffusa ; while those from China and Japan, 

 having a faintly increased tinge of brownish along the costa 

 in the female, are known as scmgarica. A form from Australia, 

 in which the male is paler in colour and devoid of the dots, 

 and the female has a tinge of yellowish on the costa, is called 

 obsolcta ; in all probability it is not specifically distinct. 



Genus 6. Dasychira. 



Antennae of the male veiy short, decidedly arched, strongly 

 pectinated ; of female still shorter, and slender ; fore wings 

 elongated and ovate ; thorax and abdomen stout, tufted ; legs 

 with dense tufts of long scales. 



LARViE with extremely dense brushes of dorsal hairs. 



PuPiE in a tough strong loose cocoon. 



1. D. pudibunda, L. — Expanse of male H to 1^ inch, of 

 female 1| to 2^ inches. Fore wings greyish white; of male 



