THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 81 
PLATE XXXII. 
Wo. 1.—The Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia Pilosaria). | No. 6.—The Brindled Beauty, the Male (Biston Hirtarius). 
No. 2.—The Female of the Pale Brindled Beauty. No. 7.—The Peppered Moth (Biston Betularius). 
No. 3.—The Belted Beauty (Nyssia Zonari«). No. 8.—The Female of the Peppered Moth. 
No. 4.—The Female of the Belted Beauty. No. 9.—The Caterpillar of the Peppered Moth. 
No. 5.—The Caterpillar of the Belted Beauty. | 
Tue fourth Sub-Family of the Geometridae is that of the Bistonidi, strikingly distinguished by their robust- 
ness, and the strong character of their wings, in both which respects they bear considerable resemblance to the 
Noctwide, the characteristic markings of which are, however, entirely replaced by those common to the Geometridae. 
In the preparatory stage of the Bistonidi the family stamp is distinct, the fine large Caterpillars being true 
Loopers, and exhibiting all the most remarkable characters of the typical Geometride. There are three genera, 
Phigalia, Nyssia, and Biston. 
The genus Phigalia is distinguished by the strongly bipectinated antenne of the males, the wingless 
females having them extremely slender, but rather long. The larve are thickened towards the head, and 
bristly ; the pupa is subterranean. There is but one British species. 
Phigalia Pilosaria (the Brindled Beauty, Nos. 1 and 2) is a pretty Moth, having rather a peculiar aspect 
from the pilose or hairy appearance of the wings, from which it takes its specific name. The female (No. 2) is a 
curious wingless creature, of very diminutive size in proportion to the male. The Caterpillar feeds on the foliage 
of several trees, preferring oak. It remains in the Chrysalis state during the autumn and early winter, the 
perfect insect often appearing in the commencement of the new year, but more abundantly in February. It is a 
widely dispersed and abundant species. 
The genus Nyssia. The insects of this genus are of smaller size than those assigned to Phigalia. The males 
have the antenne strongly bipectinated; the thorax downy, the abdomen striped transversely; the wings are 
semi-transparent, the nervures being clothed with dark scales, giving a striped appearance to the wings. The 
female is wingless ; the Caterpillar is long and slender, and free from tubercles or humps; the pupa is 
subterranean. There are two British species, 
Nyssia Zonaria (the Belted Beauty). This pretty species was unknown to our old Collectors, the late 
Mr. F. Stephens having been delighted with its first discovery during the latter part of his career as an Entomo- 
logist. The specific name, zonaria, was doubtless conferred in allusion to the alternate zones of black and yellow 
of the abdomen. The female (No. 4) has the abdomen transversely striped in a similar manner. The Caterpillar 
(No. 5) feeds in preference on common Millefoil, or Yarrow. It appears both in the spring and autumn, there 
being two broods a year; and the perfect insect is found from February to April, and again in June and July. It 
was first discovered on the banks of the Mersey in 1829, where it has since been found in several neighbouring 
situations in some abundance, especially at Black Rock. Birkenhead and New Brighton, Cheshire, are cited 
as the most recent places for its capture. The Chrysalides are found buried in the sand at a considerable 
depth. It is thought that if the sandy shores of other rivers near their junction with the sea were well searched, 
it would be found that the appearance of this pretty insect is not confined to the banks of the Mersey. 
