A THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 183 
Tinagma sericiellum (the Satin Pigmy, No. 6). The Caterpillar of this pretty little species, remains un- 
described, though the perfeet insect is very common. It appears in May, and has been recently observed at 
Lewes and at Scarborough, in very great abundance, and plentifully in several other localities. 
The other species are: 7. Stanneellwm, of a rather paler bronzy gray, with a faint white spot on the inner 
margin of the fore wings, and J’, resplendellwm, which may be at once distinguished by the much darker tone 
of its bronzy gray and its two white spots on the inner margin of the anterior wings. The Caterpillar of this 
species is well known. It is of a dull yellowish green, with a brown head; it is without legs, and feeds in 
the leaves of the Alder. 
The genus Douglasia. The insects assigned to this genus have the head smooth, and the antennz thick 
and rather short. The labial palpi droop and have the tip dlunt. The'fore wings are long and narrow, and the 
hind wings are pointed. There is but one British species. 
Douglasia Ocnerostomella. The Caterpillar of this species remains undescribed. The perfect insect 
appears in July, and has been recently observed at Mickleham, in great abundance. It has also been seen at 
Brandon, in Suffolk. 
The seventh family of the sub-division Zineina, is that of the Argyresthide. The general characteristics 
of the genera comprised in this family, are the following. The back of the head rough, the front smooth, the 
labial palpi short, and the terminal joint generally blunt. The front wings are long and narrow, and the hind 
wings pointed, with deep fringes. The insects belonging to the most numerous genus of the family, Argyresthia, 
are distinguished by the peculiarity of their position when in repose, the head being held down close to the sub- 
stance on which the insect is resting, and the body pointing upwards. Most of the species are summer insects, 
but the Zellerias generally appear in the autumn, and after hybernation come forth again in spring. There 
are twenty-two British species in this family distributed in four genera, 
The genus Argyresthia. The insects assigned to this genus have the fore part of the head smooth, and the 
hinder part rough. The labial palpi have the terminal joint rather pointed. The fore wings are long and narrow, 
the hind wings lanceolate. There are twenty-two British species in this extensive genus. 
Argyresthia Brockeela (the Gold I. W., No. 8). The rich silver white of the fore wings of this pretty 
insect is so conspicuously marked with golden brown, forming the letters I. W., that it is not likely to escape the 
attention of the young collector. The Caterpillar feeds on the young shoots of the Birch, in March and April, 
and the perfect insect appears in June and July. It is very abundant, and has been recently observed in great 
profusion at Birkenhead, Bristol, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and many other places, generally in or near woods. 
The other species are the following: A. Zphippella, with the front wings ochreous brown, with a white 
streak at the inner edge. A. nitedella, paler ochreous brown, with a dark streak at the base, and the inner 
margin white. 4. purpwrascentella, by some considered a doubtful species. A. semitestacella, with the fore 
wings ochreous, and a white line at the inner margin for half the length, then terminating in a dark spot. 
A. spiniella, with the fore wings yellowish brown, and the inner margin white, with an indistinct dark band 
across the middle, and white spots near the tip. A. Adbistria, with the front wings purplish brown, margined 
with white at the inner edge to the middle, where the white line terminates in a dark spot. A. conjugella, 
with the front wings purplish tawny, a white streak at the inner edge, and a dark spot “near the middle, 
both at the front and back edges. <A. semifusca, dark brownish purple with a white streak half-way up 
the inner edge, and white spots near the tip. A. mendica, with the front wings purplish gray, the inner 
margin white, and a dusky brown band across the middle. A. G@laucenella, with the front wings grayish 
bronze, the usual inner margin of white, and a dull transverse band of dusky brown. A. Retinella, with 
fore wings white, shaded softly with tawny in front, and marked with tawny bands and patches. A. abdomi- 
nalis, with fore wings white, marked with streaks, and patches of yellow. A. dilectella, with front wings shining 
golden straw-colour, with some darker markings. A. Andereggiella, with the front wings white and a 
deep gold-coloured mark on the inner margin, and other paler marks. A. cwrvelia, with white fore wings 
marbled with grayish brown, and having a transverse band of the same colour. A. Sorbiella, with the front 
wings yellowish white, in part marbled and spotted with golden-brown. A. Pygmeclla, with the front wings 
shining greenish white, with pale golden spots. A. Gedartella, with front wings white, suffused with several 
