82 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
The other species, N. Hispidaria (the Small Brindled Beauty) bears a close resemblance to Phigala 
Pilosaria, for which it might sometimes be mistaken but for its smaller size. The female is apterous. It is not 
a very rare species, but is rather local. Manchester, Lyndhurst, and Scarborough are mentioned as places where it 
has been recently captured in some abundance. 
The genus Biston is strongly distinguished from the two other genera of this Sub-Family by the character of 
the females, which are not only furnished with wings, like the males, but are in two of the genera decidedly 
larger and generally more robust. The males have deeply pectinated antenne, the females having them simple 
and very slender. The bodies are robust. The wings of the females though larger, are less densely clothed with 
scales. The larve are smooth, attenuated towards the head, and having two small humps on the twelfth segment. 
The pupa is rather short, and subterranean, There are three British species. 
Biston Betularius (the Peppered Moth, Nos. 7, 8, and 9). This handsome and conspicuous insect is the 
largest of the Geometride, and the young Collector will be glad to learn that it is plentiful everywhere, that is, in 
any situation where Birch or Beech trees abound. The male (No. 7) is very much smaller than the female, but 
more strongly marked, and distinguished by its deeply pectinated antenne, The female (No. 8) is generally 
paler, and the filiform antenne mostly marked with alternate annulations of black and white. The Caterpillar 
(No. 9) is a very handsome and peculiar creature, holding itself perfectly stiff, notwithstanding its slenderness 
and length, when supported only on the hind legs. It feeds on Birch, Beech, Elm, and on Fir in September, 
passing the autumn and winter in the Chrysalis stage, and the perfect insect appearing in the following May. It 
is the last of the group to appear, the whole of them being early spring insects. It is found most abundantly in 
woods. 
The other species are B. Prodromarius and B. Hirtarius. B. Prodromarius (the Oak Beauty, sometimes 
called the Dark Pepper) bears a strong general resemblance to the P. Betularius. It is of nearly the same size, 
the most obvious distinction being the darker character of the powdering of dark brown spots which form 
themselves near the base of the front-wings and again near the external edge, into two broad and nearly solid 
bands of dark brown. The hind-wings are paler brown, whitish, and speckled at the border. It is much more 
rare than P. Betularius: but in some places found abundantly ; near Manchester, for instance in some seasons, and 
in less plenty near Brighton, Bristol, Plymouth, and other widely distant localities. By some Lepidopterists this 
species is placed in Treitschke’s genus Amphidosis. B. Hirtarius (No. 6) is the commonest of the genus, especially in 
the suburbs of London, where, at the end of March or in April, wherever poplars abound, specimens may be found 
under the trees by hundreds. It is much like P. Pilosaria, but more strongly marked, and may be at once 
distinguished by the woolly character of the whole insect ; the surface of the wings being in great part covered 
with short and nearly erect hairs. It is on this account a peculiar-looking insect, and the fine brown brindling 
renders it very conspicuous and handsome. Some Collectors call it the Cockney, as being found so plentifully 
in London, even in crowded streets, if there be but a few poplars in the neighbourhood. It appears, however, 
but for a very short time in this abundance, and specimens should therefore be secured on the first opportunity, 
or the chance may be lost till the following season. 
