106 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
The other species, P. Russata, with its varieties, may be distinguished generally by having the central 
portion of the anterior wings light, or traversed by narrow bands, instead of having a broad dark central band 
as in the former species. P. Russata was formerly distinguished as P. centwir-notata, and its varieties were 
made P. concinnata, P. saturata, P. perfuscata, and P. comma-notata, &e. The typical P. Russata is abundant 
everywhere. The larva is described as yellowish green, with a dorsal line darker, and getting pinkish towards 
the tail. - 
The genus Thera. This is not a very well defined genus, the males of one of the species assigned to 
it having distinctly pectinated antenne, while others have them simple in both sexes, or only slightly 
pubescent. The abdomen is rather long, and tufted in the males. The wings are not denticulated at the 
fringed edge. The Caterpillars are smooth and of rather long proportion ; they feed generally upon the foliage 
of the Fir or Juniper. The Chrysalides are formed in a silken web among leaves. 
Thera Juniperata (the Juniper Carpet, No. 4). This pretty species is not very abundant, but may often 
be taken just after dark in woody situations where the Juniper abounds, in the southern and eastern counties. 
The Caterpillar is apple-green, whitish on the back, and getting darker at the sides. It has a broad line 
of pale lemon colour at each side of the back, and a purplish line, edged with white, at the sides. It feeds 
on the Juniper ; and the perfect insect appears late in the autumn. It has been recently captured at Sanderstead, 
Mickleham, and in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. 
The following are the other species: 7. variata (the Gray Carpet) is pale brown, with a broad central 
band of dark brown, edged with a line of the same colour paler than the ground. This species is abundant 
in fir-woods in May. ZZ. stimulate (the Shaded Broad-bar) is much lighter coloured, and more faintly marked 
than the last described, and has the antenne of the males pectinated. 7. firmaria (the Pine Carpet) is pale 
gvay, with a rather ochreous blotch at the base of the front wings, the broad band being of ochreous brown. 
The last species is very plentiful near Manchester, abounding in Fir-woods. 
The genus Cheimatobia. This genus is well marked by the nearly apterous character of the females. In 
the males the wings are of ample dimensions, though of somewhat narrow proportion ; while in the females they 
are extremely short, and in fact merely rudimentary, not being fitted for flying. It would seem to be a more 
natural arrangement to place the whole of the species in which this singular peculiarity exists in consecutive 
genera, so as to form a distinct group or sub-family ; but the difference of character in other respects, especially 
in the preparatory stages, appears to render such an arrangement very difficult. The antenne of the males 
are slightly pubescent, and in one species bipectinated. The Caterpillars are slender, rather attenuated at the 
extremities ; they feed enclosed in a leaf till the time of change, when they enter the earth in order to pass into 
the pupa stage, the Chrysalis being formed in a slight cocoon. The moths generally appear in mid-winter. 
Cheimatobia Brumata (the Winter Moth, No. 5). This pretty moth is very common. The female 
(No. 5%) is brown, with very short rudimental wings. The Caterpillar is described by M. Guénde as being of 
a pale yellowish green, shaded with a blackish tone ; the stripes are of yellowish white, and the head is green. 
It feeds on the foliage of various trees. The perfect insect appears in mid-winter, and is common everywhere, 
flitting about the leafless hedges in search of the females, which are deprived of the power of flight by the 
rudimental character of their small wings. 
The two other species are the following: @. rupicapraria (the Early Moth) may be easily distinguished 
by the pinkish brown tone of the anterior wings, which have a rather distinct band across the centre of a darker 
tone, bordered with lighter. @, Boreata (the Northern Winter Moth) is pale gray, with a slight ochreous tinge, 
and a slightly darker central band faintly bordered with lighter. It is found in Birch-woods in September. 
The genus Oporabia. The affinity of this genus to the last described is shown in the wings of the female, 
which, though not merely rudimental, are yet much smaller than those of the male. The antenne of the male 
are slightly pubescent. The Caterpillars are short, and not attenuated at either extremity. They are generally 
of a full velvety green, and feed upon the foliage of several trees, burrowing in the ground to undergo the change 
to the chrysalis state. 
Oporabia dilutata (the November Moth, No, 6) is a very common insect. The Caterpillar is deseribed 
by M. Guénée as being green above and bluish white underneath, with a more or less distinet dorsal line of 
