NOCTUAS, 



341 



548. The Lnnar Yellow Underwing (Tryphcena 

 subsequa). 



548. THE LUNAR YELLOW UNDERWING. 

 The fore wings are narrow, the costal and 

 inner margins being almost parallel; their 

 colour is rather various, generally gray-brown; 

 the discoidal spots are clearly outlined with 

 pale wainscot-brown ; on the costal margin, 

 towards the tip, is a transverse black spot very 

 conspicuous; the other markings are incon- 

 stant: the hind wings are yellow, with a 

 smoky cloud along the costal margin, and 

 somewhat radiating from the base; there is a 

 distinct crescentic discoidal spot, and a waved 

 black band parallel with the hind margin : 

 the head, thorax, and body are gray-brown. 



The CATERPILLAR is only known to me 

 through Mr. Stainton's description, which is 

 as follows : " Brownish-gray with a slight 

 greenish tinge ; the second segment dark 

 brown ; dorsal and sub-dorsal lines paler ; 

 above the latter is a row of quadrangular 

 blackish spots (Freyer). On various low 

 plants." (Stainton's Manual, vol. i. p. 230.) 



The MOTH appears on the wing in July, but 

 is either very rare in this country, or from 

 its great similarity to Orbona, very seldom 

 noticed ; it is recorded from Dorsetshire, and 

 the New Forest in Hampshire, from Suffolk, 

 Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, and I have 

 taken it at Peckham. (The scientific name 

 is Tryphcena subsequa.) 



Obs. This species, so frequently spoken of 

 as doubtfully distinct, is, in my opinion, as 

 good a species as either of the others, although 

 its superficial resemblance to Orbona is cer- 

 tainly very striking : it may be distinguished 

 on comparison with that much commoner 



insect by its narrower wings and the constant 

 presence of the black mark on the costa. 



549. The Lesser Yellow Underwing (Tryphcena 

 orbona) . 



549. THE LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING. 

 The fore wings are rather broad, and very 

 various in tint, varying from pale gray-brown 

 to dark umber-brown ; some again have a very 

 uniform colour, while others are a good deal 

 variegated, and there is a striking variety 

 with two transverse zigzag lines across the 

 wings ; the discoidal spots are distinctly out- 

 lined with pale wainscot-brown, the median 

 area of each being of a darker shade than the 

 general area of the wing : the hind wings are 

 yellow, with a smoky cloud along the costal 

 margin, a distinct black crescentic discoidal 

 spot, and a waved black band parallel with the 



