70 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
thorax, form what, with the aid of an active imagination, slightly resembles a pair of spectacles. The Cater- 
pillar (No. 7), in which the front pair of pro-legs are made too conspicuous, feeds upon the common Nettle. 
The Moth appears in July. It is a common and widely dispersed species. 
The other species in this genus is A. Zriplasia (the Dark Spectacle), which, though not so widely 
dispersed, is common in the Southern Counties, and especially in the neighbourhood of Bristol and Excter. 
The genus Euchalcia. A British insect, formerly included among the Plusi@, is now assigned to 
Hithner’s genus, Buchaleia. Mr. Westwood had already stated (in 1843), that although figured by Mr. Curtis 
in illustration of the genus Plusia, he considered it a very aberrant species from the true gold-spangled types 
of that genus, from which it is now finally separated in the system I am following, though still retained at the 
head of the Plusie by some of our English entomologists. The insects included in the genus Luchaleia have 
the long, slender, and simple antenne, the raised palpi, the elevated thorax with its forked crest, and the 
crested abdomen, which distinguish the Plusiw; but they are without the metallic brassy patches which 
distinguish the typical species. The Caterpillars are half-loopers, like those of the Plusiw, that is, having only 
two pairs of ventral legs. The pupa is enclosed in a loose silken cocoon, 
Euchaleia Mustris (the Purple Shades, No. 8) is the only British species assigned to this genus. It was 
formerly taken in some plenty on Salisbury Plain, but now appears nearly extinet, and is probably entirely so ; 
though, according to Donovan, it has been since taken in South Wales. The Caterpillar (No. 9) is said to feed 
on Aconitum lycoctonum and Thalictrum aquilegifolium in the beginning of June, the Moth appearing at the 
end of that month, or in July. Though so rare with us, it is a common species on the Continent. 
The genus Plusia, The insects in this genus have the slender and simple antenne, and all the other 
characteristics of the former genus as detailed above, and, in addition, the beantiful metallic marks and 
patches on the anterior wings which render them, asa genus, one of the most beautiful groups in the whole 
family of Noctwide. 
Plusia Gamma (the Silver Y, No. 10) is the most common of the genus, being found everywhere 
abundantly. The Caterpillar (No. 11) feeds on a great variety of plants, and there are several broods annually, 
the Moth appearing from May to October, between which periods it may be seen hovering over flowers, or flying 
with great rapidity at nearly all hours of the day and evening. The metallic mark in the centre of the anterior 
wings resembles our lower-case y, from whence its popular name, and also the cursive Greek gamma (y), from 
which its systematic name is derived. It may be said to form the type of that section of the Plusiw which have 
small and generally linear metallic marks. 
Plusia Chrysitis (the Burnished Brass, No, 12) may be taken as the true type of that section of 
the genus which is distinguished by broad patches of a gold-like, or rather, perhaps, bright brass-like 
appearance. The Caterpillar (No. 13) feeds on several kinds of nettle, thistles, &c., in the autumn, passing 
the winter in the larva state. It is not till the following July that it enters the chrysalis state, the perfect 
insect appearing in July and August. This resplendent moth is very abundant, and the collector will therefore 
be able to select fine specimens, as they vary very much, both in size and in the clearness and brilliancy of the 
metallic markings. 
The other species are all handsome, some of them much larger than Chrysitis. In the first section, 
those having only streaks or small marks of metallic character, are the following: P. Jota (the Plain Golden Y), 
far from rare; P. Pulchrina (the Beautiful Golden Y), not more rare; P. Interrogationis (the Scarce Silver Y), 
rare, except near Manchester; and Plusia Bractea (the Gold Spangle), which occurs in many districts, but is 
common near Manchester. In the second section, that with the broad metallic patches, there are, P. Orichalcea 
(the Scarce Burnished Brass), which is taken most frequently on the coast near Deal, but found occasionally 
in inland localities ; and Plusia Festucee (the Gold Spot), found in marshy situations, especially at Birkenhead. 
P. Bimaculata, P. Circumflexa, P. Chalsytis, P. Biloba, and P. Aurifera, ave no longer inserted in the 
British catalogue, being now considered either accidental varieties, or continental species carelessly introduced 
into British collections, 
