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THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
white. The Caterpillar (No. 5) is, as referred to above, rather flattened in its form ; in its colour it varies consider- 
ably, but is generally reddish gray, the dorsal markings being nearly black, variegated and streaked with paler 
tones. It feeds on the Oak, and there are probably two broods in the year, as the perfect Moth appears 
both in April and October. It is a common species, and the pup are often found by digging at the roots of the 
trees which the Caterpillar feeds on, such as the Oak, Beech, Apple, ete. 
The genus Valeria is distinguished by the bipectinated antenne of both sexes, the pectinations in those of the 
male being the strongest. The thorax and abdomen are crested, and the long fringe of the fore wings strongly 
dentated. The larve feed exposed on shrubs. The pupe are subterranean, and enclosed in a cocoon of earth 
and silk. 
Valeria Oleagina (the Green Brindled Dot, No. 6) is the only British species. It is extremely rare, but is 
reported to have been found in various localities, as Richmond Park, near Bristol, in South Wales, and in Scotland. 
Mr. Stainton, however, only gives one place of capture, Fishguard, in Pembrokeshire, in July, 1800. The Cater- 
pillar (No. 7) has the segments next the head larger than the head, and those next the tail attenuated. It 
feeds on Blackthorn in the spring and the Moth appears soon after Midsummer. 
The genus Misclia, formerly containing six or more species, in English arrangements, is now reduced to two. 
The characters are, the antenne of the males thickened, and the abdomen, which is crested, slender in the 
males, but remarkably robust in the females. The larve are rather flattened beneath, and convex above, and have 
the twelfth sezment somewhat humped. The pupe are subterranean, and enclosed in a cocoon of earth and silk. 
Miselia Oxyacanthe (Ealing’s Glory, No. 8) was formerly considered rather rare, though widely dispersed ; but 
recent Collectors pronounce it a common species. The Caterpillar is reddish brown, marbled with black, white, and 
a deeper tone of brown, with a slender dorsal line of black. It feeds on the Hawthorn and Sloe, in May, and the 
Moth appears in September and October. 
Miselia Rimaculosa (the Double-spot Brocade, No, 9) is extremely rare ; only one capture, in fact, is recorded, 
that of the specimen in the British Museum, taken near Bristol, in 1815. The Caterpillar has two protuberances on 
the posterior segment ; it is brownish in colour, and dotted near the head ; it is also speckled with minute white 
dots, and the spiracular line is dark above. It feeds on the Elm. 
The genus Thyatira is at once distinguished by its peculiar markings, to which those which generally charac- 
terise the family entirely give place. The two species of which it is composed not only differ in this respect from the 
rest of the family, but also from each other, insomuch that more than one entomologist has proposed making 
them separate genera, as they differ in anatomical structure, as well as in their markings, and also in their prepara- 
tory stages, the Caterpillars being strikingly different in general character. They have, at the same time, some 
good generic characters in common. The antenne are rather short and pubescent; the abdomen is slender, 
and crested on the first segment only. 
Thyatira Batis (the Peach Blossom, No. 10) is one of the most beautiful of our native Moths. It is found 
in many parts of the country, in some places abundantly, as at Huddersfield and Lyndhurst, according to Mr. Stainton. 
The Caterpillar (No. 11) is of very singular character, the peculiar humps on several of the segments resembling 
those of the Notodonte. It feeds on Bramble ; and the Moth appears in June and July, being generally found 
in woods. 
Thyatira Derasa (the Buff Arches, No. 12) is almost as beautiful as the preceding species ; the exquisite 
zigzag markings of delicate buff on the fore wings, from which it takes its characteristic name, being of almost 
unique character in British insects of this class. The Caterpillar (No. 13) feeds on the Bramble, and the Moth 
appears in June and July. Though once deemed far from common, the activity of recent collectors has shown 
it to be tolerably plentiful in many parts of the country, especially at Lyndhurst ; while it is found each season in 
many other places. 
