392 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
shaped spots on the disk of the fore wings; the mouth is also well 
developed, the spiral tongue or maxille being greatly elongated (fig. 
108. 2. front of head of Noctua (Strigina) Poe Sav. Egypt. ; 3. 
labrum; 4 4. mandibles; 5. maxilla; 6. labium and its palpi, one 
denuded). The wings in repose are ordinarily deflexed at the sides 
of the body; the labial palpi are of moderate length, terminated 
suddenly by a small or very slender joint, the preceding being very 
long and compressed. The body is clothed with scales, rather than 
with a coating of a woolly nature. The abdomen is of an elongate 
conical form, rarely so robust as in the Bombycide. 
The larve exhibit several modifications, but in the majority they 
are naked, with sixteen feet ; in some the first, and in others the first 
and second, pairs of the ventral feet are wanting ; the anal feet are 
never wanting. These larve ordinarily undergo their transform- 
ations under ground in cocoons, often formed of particles of earth 
mixed in with the silk.* Mr. Stephens observes, that the typical 
groups of this family, as their name imports, fly only by night, and 
repose during the day in the crevices of the bark of trees, old walls, 
palings, &c.; though others not only fly by night, but also during 
the -afternoon and at twilight. The position of the wings during 
repose varies much; in some groups (as Triphzna, &c.) they are 
placed horizontally, and closely applied to the body, giving the insect 
a somewhat cylindrical form ; in others (Catocala, &c.), they are also 
placed horizontally, but somewhat expanded, and forming a triangle; 
in others (as Plusia), they are considerably deflexed, and the thorax 
is greatly crested. There is also considerable diversity in the form 
of the wings, though in general the anterior ones are elongate-trian- 
gular, and the posterior somewhat triangular-orbiculate: some few 
have the posterior margins denticulated, and the anterior wings are 
mostly adorned with two stigmata, one more or less circular, the 
other reniform, a character rarely observed in any other family in 
this order. The larve are usually solitary, not residing in a web, 
neither are they subcutaneous; but those of the genus Ceropacha 
twist up leaves similarly to those of the Tortricide. (Jllustrations 
Haustell. 2. p. 102.) 
The colours of these insects are ordinarily very sombre, agreeing 
with their nocturnal habits ; but in some which are accustomed to fly 
* Calophasia Linarie (De G. t. pl. ‘8. f. 1—6.) and the Cuculliz have the 
tongue case of the pupe greatly elongated. 
