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THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
PLATE XXI. 
No. 1.—The Feathered Ear (Pachetra Leucophea). No. 10.—The Caterpillar of the Large Ranunculus. 
No. 2.—The Caterpillar of the Feathered Ear, No. 11.—The Feathered Ranunculus (Ewimichtis Lichenea), 
No. 3.—The Campion (Dianthecia Cucubali). will be figured in Plate 23. 
No. 4.—The Caterpillar of the Campion. No. 12.—The Green Arches (Ewrois Herbida). 
No. 5 & 54.—The Caterpillar of the Lychnis (Dianthecia No. 13,—The Caterpillar of the Green Arches. 
Capsincola). No. 14.—The Gray Arches (Eurois Nebulosa). 
No. 6.—The Beautiful Coronet (Dianthecia Albimacula), No. 15.—The Caterpillar of the Gray Arches. 
No. 7.—The Dusky Sallow (Lremobia Ochroleuca). No. 16.—The Great Brocade (Burois Occult«). 
No. 8.—The July Chi (Polia Chi). No. 17,—The Caterpillar of the Great Brocade. 
No. 9.—The Large Ranunculus (Polia Flavicincta). 
Tue genus Pachetra. This genus was established by M. Guéené, in 1841. The characteristics of the insects it is 
intended to include are, antenne of male strongly pectinated, abdomen crested in both sexes, the fore wings 
slightly undulating at fringed edge, and being robust, pubescent, and distinctly marked ; the hind wings being 
semi-transparent, and in the only British species having a light border at the edge. The Caterpillar is thick, velvety, 
and thickens towards the tail. It lives concealed near the roots of grass, and a cocoon is formed in that situation, 
or jn moss. 
Pachetra Leucophea (the Feathered Ear, No. 1) is by some still retained in the genus Heliophobus, though 
very distinct from the other species. It is very rare in this country, having never been taken since the year 1816 
(near Bristol), till within the last few years, when a few specimens have been captured in other places, The Caterpillar 
(No. 2) is rather variously described ; according to M. Guéené it is grayish-yellow, with a pale, ochreous, dorsal line, 
and the head and plate on second segment light brown. 
The genus Dianthecia is composed of a group of insects which in the larva state generally feed on plants of 
the Dianthus family, from which the name is derived. Most of the British species were formerly classed in the 
genera Hadena and Miselia, but have been separated in deference to the recent arrangement of M. Boisduval. The 
insects of this genus are distinguished by pubescent antenne in the males, the abdomen crested at base in the female, 
and the ovipositor somewhat conspicuous. The front wings have distinct markings, the hind wings having a small 
angular light patch at the anal angle. The larva is smooth and velvety, attenuated at each end, and having dark 
diagonal marks along the back. There are five species. 
Dianthecia Cucubali (the Campion, No. 3) is a remarkably handsome insect, and particularly distinguished 
from the following species by the union of the two stigmas in the fore wings, by means of their light ochreous 
outlines. The Caterpillar (No. 4) feeds on different kinds of Lychnis, and the Moth is found during the summer 
months. It was formerly considered rather rare, but has recently been found in some plenty at Cambridge, 
Scarborough, and other places. 
Dianthecia Capsincola (the Lyclinis) isa common and widely-distributed insect, and may be distinguished 
from the more beautiful D. Cucubali by the separation of the stigmas. "The Caterpillar feeds on the seeds in the 
capsules of the common hedge Lychnis. It is green spotted with black when young (No. 5), but afterwards becomes 
brown, with the diagonal marks as shown at No, 53. The perfect insect appears both in June and September, being 
probably double brooded. 
