66 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
robust and elongated, and thicker in the female. This however scarcely applies to that section of the genus con- 
taining the smaller species. The larva are smooth and pale coloured, with lighter and darker stripes. They feed 
in the interior of the stems of reeds and aquatic grasses. 
Nonagria Typhe (the Bullrush, No. 4) is one of the species belonging to the large and robust insects of 
this group ; the female (No. 5) being one of the largest Moths in the whole family of Noctuide. The Caterpillar 
(No. 6), though represented creeping upon a reed, feeds, like those of all the genus, on the pith of the interior of 
the flower-stems. This Moth is not uncommon wherever the Bullrush is plentiful, and appears from July to 
September. The pupa is formed inside the stem, close to an aperture eaten by the Caterpillar, and partially 
closed again with web and gnawed portions of the stem. This insect varies considerably in colour, so that when 
they were first captured in some plenty by Mr. 8. Stevens, a few years ago, many of the varieties were thought 
to be distinct species. 
NV. Canne and N. Crassicornis ave the two other large and robust species. They are principally distinguished 
from N. Typhe by their general colour, NV. Canne being constantly of a reddish tone, and N. Crassicornis interme- 
diate in tone between the red bufflof N. Canneand the grayish ochre of N. Typhe. N. Canna has only been taken 
at Yaxley, but Crassicornis is said to have occurred in several marshy localities in some plenty. 
Nonagria Extrema (the Tipped Wainscot, No. 7) belongs to the smaller set of insects in this genus. It is 
very rare, only taken sparingly in the fens of Cambridgeshire. The Caterpillar is unknown. 
N. Gemini Puncta (the Twin-spotted Wainscot, No. 8) holds an intermediate place between the small and 
large insects of the group. The Caterpillar (No. 9) feeds in the stems of Arundo Phragmites, and the Moth 
appears from July or August to September. It has been taken in the Hackney marshes, at Hammersmith, and 
in Cambridgeshire. 
The other small species of Nonagria are—N. Fulva (the Small Wainscot), which is reddish ochreous, dotted with 
gray, and is the commonest of the small species; N. Helmanni (the Mere Wainscot), reddish ochreous, dusted with 
darker, taken at Cambridge ; and NM. Newrica (the Brown-veined Wainscot), reddish ochreous, streaked with a 
deeper colour, which has occurred at Yaxley. 
The fourteenth sub-family of Noctuide is formed of the Leucanidi, distinguished from the Nonagridi by the 
abit of such of the Caterpillars as are known, which invariably feed on the exterior, and not, as the Nonagridi, on 
the pith of the stems. This sub-family contains four genera, Leuwcania, Calamia, Simyra, and Oris. 
The genus Leucania is made to contain a group of insects to which it would be difficult to assign such charac- 
ters as would distinguish them satisfactorily from those of the genus Nonagria, with the exception of a few aberrant 
species, which will doubtless be differently located when the group is better understood. The only good distinction 
is that of the larva stage before referred to, the habits of the larve, which are external feeders, having been 
the ground upon which this section of the “ Wainscots’” has been formed into a distinct sub-family. Some 
entomologists, however, keep them all together, as a well-marked and tolerably homogeneous group, under the 
title of the Leucanide. 
Leucania Pudorina (the Striped Wainscot, No. 10) has been taken at Brighton, near Cambridge in great 
plenty, and also at Scarborough, York, and other places. The Caterpillar (No. 11) feeds on marsh grasses or reeds. 
Leucania Vitellina (the New Jeucania, No. 12), recently captured by Mr. Bouchard, is very distinct 
from most of the genus, as grouped in the system I am following, having the characteristic markings of 
the wings peculiar to very distinct genera, while, in most of the other Leucanie, they are either obsolete 
or entirely absent. I believe the specimen in the British Museum, from which my drawing is taken, is at present 
unique. 
The other species of Leucania are—L. Impura (the Smoky Wainscot), Z. Comma (the Shoulder Striped 
Wainscot), Z. Litteralis (the Shore Wainscot), Z. Obsoleta (the Obscure Wainscot), Z. Straminea (the Southern 
Wainscot) and ZL, Pallens (the Common Wainscot). They nearly all bear a strong family likeness to each other, 
varying in colour from very pale ochre to a rather fall brownish tone, the hind wings of some being nearly white. 
They are all rather sinaller than L. Pudorina. 
