194 THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 
species the front wings almost without the indication of a division, or slit, at the fringed edge ; but the hinder 
pair are invariably divided nearly to the base in three distinet segments, or feathers. There are twenty-eight 
British species. " 
Pterophorus Rhededactylus (the Rose Plume, No. 29). This is the most prettily marked and richly 
coloured of the Plumes. The Caterpillar (No. 30) feeds in the flowers of Roses in June, and forms a compact 
cocoon (No. 81), The Moth appears in July and August. It has been recently taken at Kingsbury, Lewisham, 
and other places. 
The other species are :—P. ochrodactylus ; P. isodactylus ; P. trigonodactylus ; P. Zetterstedtii ; P. Acan- 
thodactylus ; P. punctidactylus ; P. parvidactylus ; P. Hieracii; P. Pilloselle ; P. Pheodactylus; P. bipuncti- 
dactylus ; P. Loewii; P. plagiodactylus ; P. fuscus ; P. lithodactylus ; P. pterodactylus; P. Lienigianus; P. 
tephradactylus ; P. osteodactylus ; P. microdactylus; P. brachydactylus ; P. galactodactylus ; P. spilodactylus ; 
P. Baliodactylus; P. tetradactylus, and P. paludum. Most of them have the wings more or less suffused 
with tones of brown or pinkish. P. Pterodactylus (the Common Plume) is darker than most other species, 
especially the feathery hind wings, which are deep brown. Galodactylus is nearly white, and pentadactylus 
(the Large White Plume, No. 32), sometimes popularly called the ‘‘ Phantom,” or the ‘‘Skeleton Moth,” is 
snowy-white, though sometimes the front wings are delicately powdered with gray. The Caterpillars and 
Chrysalides of some of the above-named species are figured at Nos. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. 
The sub-division Alucitina forms the last group, of lepidopterous insects, as at present classified. It is at 
once distinguished by the structure of both pairs of wings, each being formed of six distinct feathers or plumes, 
united at the base. Several species exhibiting this peculiar structure are known on the Continent, but we have 
only one British species. 
The genus Alucita. The characteristics of this, the only British genus belonging to the group, have been 
sufficiently detailed in the definition of the sub-division. 
Alucita polydactyla (the Many-cleft Plume, No. 33). This interesting and singular species is also 
popularly known as the ‘“‘Thousand Plume” in some districts. The Caterpillar of this species is distinguished 
from those of the Pferophori by its smoothness, and by its habit of forming a cocoon, in which it changes to the 
Chrysalis state. This species is very common. The Caterpillars feed in the buds of Honeysuckle, in June and 
July, and the Moths appear in September and October, after which they hybernate in out-houses or dwelling- 
houses, and are on flight again in April or May. 
