THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS, 37 
PLATE XIV. 
No. 1.—The Large Yellow Underwing (Zriphena Pro- No. 5.—The Straw Underwing (Zhalpophila Texta). 
nuba). No. 6.—The Square-spot Rustic (Segetia Xantographa). 
No. 2.—The Caterpillar of the Large Yellow Underwing. No. 7.—The Brown Feathered Rustic (Rusina Ferruginea), 
No. 3.—The Proad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Zri- 
No. 8.—The Six-striped Rustic (Zytea Umbrosa). 
phena Fimbria). 
No. 9.—The Antler (Ceraptehyx Graminis). 
No. 4.—The Caterpillar of the Broad-bordered Yellow 
nderines No. 10.—The Black Rustic (Chares -Ethiops). 
Wirn this Plate commences the illustration of the extensive family of the Noctuide, which, from its extent 
and consistent general characteristics, might be taken as the typical group of British Moths. The Noctuide 
are generally robust; the antenne most frequently simple; the thorax and abdomen are somewhat robust and 
often crested; the wings of moderate size and strongly nerved. The Caterpillars are generally smooth, and 
have sixteen feet, though, in some cases, the first, and in others the first and second, pair of ventral feet 
are wanting. As their name imports, they are almost all night-flyers—that is to say, true Moths; but, nevertheless, 
some of them fly at dawn and twilight, and some even at mid-day. There are about 400 species of Noctuide, 
divided into about eighty genera, the number of which, however, are being continually varied by new methods 
of classification. The main features of the system upon which the family is founded remain, however, undisturbed, 
and are likely to do so, as the group still corresponds pretty nearly with the section originally established 
by Linnsus under the name of Phalaena Noctua. 
The first sub-family of Noctuidae is termed Nocluelidi, containing fourteen genera. 
The genus Triphena contains the handsome Moths known as Yellow Underwings, which have the antennx 
simple in both sexes, the abdomen broad and flat, and terminating with a brush-like tuft in both sexes; 
the fore wings are long and narrow, and the hind wings invariably yellow, with strongly marked black band. 
The transformation of the larva takes place in the earth, sometimes at a considerable depth, and the perfect 
insects in all the species are strong and rapid flyers. 
Triphena Pronuba (the Large Yellow Underwing, No. 1) is one of the most common, and, at the same time, 
one of the handsomest of the genus. Some individuals of this species vary considerably in the tone and 
markings of the wings, and such have been described as distinct species by several authors. The one represented 
is a medium specimen. The Caterpillar feeds on the roots of various plants, and the perfect insect appears in June 
and July, and is common everywhere, 
Triphena Fimbria (the Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, No. 3) is the most beautiful of the genus; the 
conspicuously broad, purplish border of the hind wings, and the soft rich buff of the front wings, giving it quite a 
distinct character from its congeners. The large and handsome Caterpillar is found in Autumn and spring, feeding 
on the primrose, violet, potatoe, and other plants, Itis a rare species, though occasionally found in many parts 
of the country. 
