THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 49 
PLATE XX, 
No. 1.—The Small Angleshades (Zuplexia Lucipara). | No. 7.—The Dark Brocade (Hadena Adusta). 
No. 2.—The Caterpillar of the Smali Angleshades. No. 8.—The Shears (Hadena Dentina). 
No. 3.—The Dot (Mamestra Persicarie). No, 9.—The Caterpillar of the Shears. 
No. 4.—The Caterpillar of the Dot. No. 10.—The Early Gray (Xylocampa Lithoriza). 
No. 5,—The Bright-line Brown Eye (Mamestra Oleracea). No. 11.—The Burdered Gothic (Newria Saponarie). 
No. 6.—The Caterpillar of the Pright-line Browa Eye. No. 12.—The Feathered Gothic (Heliophobus Popularis). 
. 
Wiru this Plate commences the illustration of the sixth sub-family of Noctuide, the Hatenid’, embracing thirteen 
genera, Among these, Pola and some others contain insects of comparatively large size, some measuring nearly two 
and a-half inches in the expanse of the wings; the others are of moderate size, none being so smallas the Ifiane 
and Celene among the Apamidi. In the perfect state the insects composing this family have the antennz rather 
long, and in some species, as Valeria, strongly ciliated; the abdomen more or less crested; the fore wings thick and 
strongly maculated with many varieties of markings ; and in repose the wings lie in the form of a strongly inclined 
roof. The Caterpillars are of rather long proportion, not shining, and being generally without raised spots. Some 
have the twelfth segment humped, and they bury themselves, more or less deeply, to undergo their transformation, 
forming generally an oval cocoon. 
The insects of the genus Luplexia have the antenne pubescent, or rather bristled, in the males, and the 
palpi are slightly elevated, the abdomen thickly fringed at the sides, with a thicker crest on the third segment. The 
fringe of the fore wings is dentate, they are broad and thick, and slightly folded in repose. The Caterpillars are 
velvety, and thicker in the posterior segments, which are angulated, the head and anterior segments being small. 
Luplexia Lucipara (the Small Angleshades, No. 1) is rare as a British species. The Caterpillar (No, 2) 
feeds on Echium Vulgare and Anchusa Officinalis in autumn, and the Moth appears in June. It has been found in 
the woods round London, in Devonshire, Hampshire, and other places. This is the only British species, 
The genus Mamestra. The insects in this genus have the antennz somewhat long, and slender, and simple, in 
both sexes. The thorax is generally double-crested, and the abdomen crested on the first segment. The fore wings 
are more or less denticulated at the fringed margin, and are generally of dark colours and rather distinctly marked, 
having frequently a W-like mark in the light waved band nearest the external edge. The Mamestre are rather 
large, often measuring one and three-quarter inches across the extended wings. The Caterpillars are smooth 
and elongate, and feed at night on the leaves of low plants, concealing themselves during the day. They undergo 
their change in the earth. 
Maniestra Persicaria (the Dot, No. 3) is one of the most remarkable, as well as the commonest of the genus, 
the striking effect of the bright white stigma, in the midst of the darkly tinted fore wings, being the origin of its 
popular name, the “ Dot.” The Caterpillar feeds, in preference, upon the common garden weed Polygonum Persicaria, 
from whence its specific name, Persicarie. It is found in the autumnal months, and the perfect insect appears in 
the following June. 
Mamestra Oleracea (the Bright-line Brown Eye, No. 5) is still more common than the preceding. The Cater- 
