THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 79 
slender, The wings are somewhat triangular in form, and have a minute tubercle on the upper side near the base. 
The Caterpillars are smooth, slender, and fond of resting stretched at full length along a slender branch. The 
perfect insects fly by day, and carry their wings erect when at rest. There are two British species. 
Speranza Limbaria (the Frosted Yellow, No. 2) is rather a variable insect, but generally has the wings 
of a dull orange, with a broadish dark brown border. It is a common species, often found frequenting placcs 
where Broom abounds, in May ; a second brood appearing at the end of June. The Caterpillar (No. 3) feeds 
upon the Cytisus Scoparius, or common Broom, and is generally rather more slender than it is here represented. 
The other species S. Brwnneata (the Rannoch Looper) has the border of the wings much paler, but has in 
addition, three wavy bands rather darker than the ground colour, which is browner than in the other species. 
The genus Bupisteria. Tn this genus the antenne are simple in the females and very slightly pubescent in 
the males. The wings are finely freckled with a peculiar speckled pattern, not unlike net work when seen at a 
little distance. The wings are robust, and held erect in repose. The larva is rather short; and the pupa is 
formed in a slight cocoon among dead leaves. There is only one British species. 
ELupisteria Carbonaria (the Netted Mountain Moth, No. 4) is the Phalena G. Carbonaria, of Linneus. It 
is a very local insect. Perthshire and one or two other places being cited as British localities where it has been 
captured. There is but a single specimen in the British Museum. 
The genus Fidonia. In this genus the antenne of the males are strongly bipectinated, the pectinations 
being long and feathery in some specimens. The females are rather smaller than the males, and have the 
antenne simple and extremely slender. The fore-wings are somewhat triangular, but rounded at the tip. The 
_ markings generally consist of a general speckling of black or brown extending over both pairs of wings. The 
larve are not attenuated at either extremity, nor humped on any of the segments. The pup are subterranean. 
Fidonia Atomaria (the Common Heath, No. 5) is a very variable insect, the figure given being taken from 
a specimen of medium darkness. I have seen specimens in which the specklings are pale gray, others rich 
brown, and others black. The Caterpillar also is said to be very variable, being, when young, of a yellowish 
colour, afterwards becoming reddish brown marked with black, and having a pale line at the side, and sometimes 
a series of dark markings along the back. It feeds on Centaurea, Lotus, &c. The perfect insect appears in June, 
and is very common on heaths; many places, from Brighton in the south to Glasgow in the north, being recorded 
for its capture in great abundance. 
The other species, 7. Plwmaria (the Bordered Gray), is much more rare. 
The genus Halia. In this genus the antenne of the males are pubescent, the abdomen rather thick. The 
front-wings have the anterior angle slightly rounded ; the edge of the hind-wings is rather waved than dentate. 
The larva is short, with small tubercles and bristly hairs. The pupa is subterranean, There is only one British 
species. 
H. Vauaria (the V Moth, No. 6) is a very common insect. The Caterpillar feeds on different species of 
Currant, or Ribes, and the Moth appears in June and July, being found commonly in gardens in all parts of the 
country. : 
The genus Bupalus. In this genus the antenne of the males are strongly bipectinated to the tips. The 
females are larger than the males, and have the antennze simple. The bodies are slender. The wings have a 
small tubercle near the base, as in a preceding genus, and are carried erect when in repose. The Caterpillars are 
longitudinally streaked, and are fond of reposing stretched to their full length. The single British species 
contained in this genus is placed by some English authors in the genus Fidonia. ' 
Bupalus Piniarius (the Bordered White, Nos. 8 and 9) is a very pretty and interesting insect. The size 
and colours of the male and female differ in a singular manner, as will be seen by reference to the figures, No. 8 
the male, No. 9 the female. The Caterpillar is described by Dupouchel as green with white and yellow stripes. 
It feeds on fir-trees, and the perfect insect may be seen flying in plantations of those trees in June. It was 
formerly considered to be more abundant in the north of England than in the south ; but recently it has been 
seen in great abundance in the neighbourhoods of Brighton, Bristol, Lewes, Pembury, and many other localities 
of the southern and eastern counties, 
