EY A.. W. SCOTT, ]\I.A. 41 



within it, near to each extremity, two spots of light colour 

 bordered by a thin black line, the exterior one reniform and 

 much the largest, the interior one orbicular with, in some, a 

 black centre. Numerous wavy transverse lines, generally very 

 indistinct, but in some specimens well defined : exterior margin 

 entire with a fringe of silvery hue and bordered rather broadly 

 by darkish brown ; hind wings light glossy neutral tint becoming 

 towards the outer border much darker, and consequently making 

 the marginal fringe more distinct than in the upper wing. 



Female : wind's similar in markings to those of the male but 

 the colour is throughout much darker and richer. 



The thorax of both sexes is similar in colour to the fore wings, 

 and possesses well defined tippets : the abdomen resembles in 

 hue the hind wings. The sexes can readily be distinguished, by 

 the male being light in colour, and having the antennce pectinated. 



The eggs of lepidopterous insects, when laid in genial 

 weather, will hatch in a few days ; those in the autumn will 

 remain quiescent during the winter, and come into existence the 

 following spring. The dui'ation of the Chrysalis stage is likewise 

 extremely variable, and dependent on the difference of tem- 

 perature. By keeping the egg and the chrysalis in an ice-house, 

 their development may be retarded for two or three years. When 

 removed to a hot-house, ten days or a fortnight will suffice to 

 bring the insect into animated existence : the principle being 

 beautifully illustrated by the late introduction of the ova of the 

 Salmon and Trout into the Colony of Victoria. 



The caterpillar of this moth is fleshy, a little attenuated at 

 each extremity, sub-vermiform in appearance, and of a livid colour, 

 varying much in shade, with the anterior segment furnished with 

 a horny plate. It has sixteen feet, measures at maturity about 

 24 lines, and undergoes its transformation in the ground. The 

 chrysalis is cylindro-conical, of a shining yellowish brown, and 

 protected by a slight cocoon of a rough irregular ovoid form, 

 composed of agglutinated earth. 



The genus ArjroUs^ even in its limited sense, possesses very 



^ Agrotis. Ochsenheimer ; Stephens ; Boisduval ; British Museum 

 Catalogue, Lepidoptera Heterocera 3rd series, p. 303. 



