114 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
the wings rather indented below the tip, and forming a triangle when in repose. The larve are somewhat more 
elongated than those of the last genus. The Chrysalis is rather short, and subterranean. 
Venilia maculata (the Speckled Yellow, No. 4). The Caterpillar is described by M. Guénée as green, with 
a darker dorsal line between two white ones, and with a white line at the sides. It feeds on various Nettles, and 
the perfect insect appears in May and June. It is common in woods. Many places, from Bristol to Tenterden, 
are cited by entomologists as localities in which it has recently been noticed in great abundance. 
The genus Corycia. The characters of this genus are, antenne simple in both sexes; wings rounded, 
and of a satiny white, marked with a few irregular grayish or brownish spots. The Caterpillar is rather thick, 
and does not burrow to undergo its metamorphosis. There are two British species. 
Corycia punctate (the Clouded Silver, No. 5). The Caterpillar (No. 6) feeds on the Sloe and wild Cherry 
in the autumn, the moth appearing in the following May and June. It was formerly considered rare, but has 
recently been taken at Manchester in great abundance, and at Brighton, Plymouth, and the Cotswold district, 
in some plenty. 
The only other species, C. taminata (the White-pinion Spotted), may be easily distinguished by the absence 
of any markings, except two brownish irregular spots at the front of the anterior wings. 
The eighteenth Sub-Family of Geometride is that of the Melanthidi, containing the genera Melanippe, 
Melanthia, Mesoleuca, Emmelesia, Cosmorhoe, Hyria, Minoa, and Odezia. 
The genus Melanippe. The insects assigned to this genus have the antenne simple in both sexes; and the 
wings large and strongly marked, having generally a broad irregular band of white traversing all four wings. 
The Caterpillars are rather short, and slightly attenuated towards the head, and the Chrysalis is formed in an 
earthen cocoon. There is only one British species in the system I am following, but in other arrangements the 
genus is made to comprise eight or nine. 
Melanippe hastata (the Argent and Sable, No. 7). The Caterpillars (No. 8) of this pretty insect feed on 
Birch, and several are generally found together. The moth appears in August. It is rather rare, but widely 
distributed, and more common towards the North, having been taken recently at Manchester, York, and several 
places in Scotland, especially Dunoon, Arran, and Ben Lomond. 
The genus Melanthia, in the system I am following, is made to comprise four species, more or less closely 
allied to the last genus, and in some arrangements included in it. They are, however, smaller, though more 
robust, and present several minute distinctive characters which it would be impossible to detail in a work of 
strictly popular character. 
Melanthia tristata (the Small Argent and Sable, No. 9) may be considered the type of this genus, though it 
was formerly considered by some authors merely a variety of Melanippe hastata. The Caterpillar (No. 10) feeds 
upon the Bed-straws in August and September, and the moth appears in the following May and June. It is a rare 
species in many districts, but least so in the North, having been recently taken in the neighbourhood of 
Edinburgh in great abundance. The other species are M. Alchemillata (the Common Carpet), M. rivata (the 
Wood Carpet), and M. amniculata (the Sharp-angled Carpet). All three belong to the ‘Carpet’ group, and are 
small cream-coloured moths, with many bands and streaks of different shades of brown, but none of the species 
are marked with black except the one figured. 
The genus Mesoleuca. This genus of Hiibner’s is the same as the genus Zerene of Treitschke. The 
antenne are simple and very slender in both sexes. The wings are large, and form a triangle when at rest. The 
Caterpillars are slender and have the head rather depressed. There are four British species. 
Mesolewca albicillata (the Beautiful Carpet, No. 11). The Caterpillar of this pretty species, as described by 
Hiibner, is green, with triangular reddish spots on the back from the fourth to the tenth segment, and having a 
white line at the side. It feeds on Raspberry and Bramble in August and September. The moth appears in the 
following June and July, in woods, and is very widely dispersed. 
The other species are—M. adustata (the Scorched Carpet), easily distinguished by the deepened colour of 
the wings, which approach a pale ochre. M. procellata (the Chalk Carpet), which is grayer in tone, and has 
the broad dark border at the fringe of the anterior wings, interrupted at the external edge by a conspicuous patch 
of the ground colour: and dA. rubiginala (the Blue Bordered Carpet), which is much smaller in size than the 
