238 PEASE-BLOSSOM MOTH. 



with in Cambridgeshire, and districts where that 

 plant abounds in a natural state. It is, however, 

 probable that this is one of those insects, which, if 

 not periodical, appears in very small numbers ; 

 which opinion is strengthened by the fact, that it is 

 very rare upon the Continent, where it fetches very 

 high prices ; and we are informed by Mr. Haworth, 

 that the great patroness of Natural History, the late 

 Dui chess of Portland, possessed only a wing of the 

 moth, found in a spider's web at Bubtrode. In 

 Wilkes' days (1773), it was bred, he says, by the 

 Honourable Mrs. Walters, and by Nathaniel Old- 

 ham, Esq."* 



THE GAMMA-MOTH. 



Plusia Gamma. 

 PLATE XXV. Fig. 2. 



Phal. Noct. Gamma, Linn. ; Don. viii. PI: 265. fig. 2. Noc- 

 tua Gamma, Hvbner. Silver Y Moth, Wilkes. Plusia 

 Gamma, OcJisen, Steph. 



ANTENNA simple in both sexes, of moderate length ; 

 palpi longer than the head, the radical joint nearly 

 of the same length as the terminal one, the latter 

 linear and obtuse at the apex, the intermediate 

 joint double the length of the others and tapering 



* Brit Entoin. vol. ii. fol. 76. 



