370 INSECTS. LKPIDOPTERA. 



scure ; head covered with fine long hairs of a whitish yellow co- 

 lour ; upper wings grayish, cinereous, or obscure, with many ir- 

 regular brown spots and points ; lower wings blackish, without 

 spots. Inhabits houses in Europe, and the caterpillar in grains 

 of wheat, rye, and barley. Nouv. Diet, xxxiii. 11. 



TRIBE IV. NOCTILELITES. 



Nocturnal, with the wings entire, extended horizontally or slop- 

 ing and forming a triangle with the body ; tarsi and labial 

 palpi bent, compressed, furnished with scales, and terminat- 

 ed abruptly by a joint shorter and more slender than the pre- 

 ceding. 



The caterpillars of this tribe are always naked and never want the anal feet. The 

 general number of their feet is sixteen, but some have only twelve. The perfect in- 

 sect has always a spiral trunk, and triangular wings proper for flight, in some se- 

 parated, in others lying upon one another or sloping. In a great number the hairs 

 or scales above the thorax, and often on the abdomen, form a kind of crests or den- 

 tations. The males of many species have pectinated antenna. 

 I. Caterpillars with sixteen feet. 



1. Labial palpi of medium size. 



Gen. EREBUS, NOCTUA. 



2. Labial palpi large. 



Gen. CALYPTRA, GONOPTERUS, (N. Matrix, Fab.) 

 II. Caterpillars with twelve feet. 



1. Labial palpi large. 



Gen. CHRYSOPTERUS, (N. concha.) 



2. Labial palpi of medium size. 



Gen. PLUSIA. 



Gen. NOCTUA, Fab. Lat. Phalcena, Lin. 

 Antennae setaceous, generally simple ; tongue long, horny, roll- 

 ed up in a spiral form ; upper palpi very small, concealed, the 

 two under ones bent, with tbe second joint very large, com- 

 pressed, and furnished with scales, and the last very small ; 

 body covered with small scales, the abdomen conical ; thorax 

 often tufted ; wings sloping in the greater number. 



The insects of this genus, like all the other Lepidoptera, have their wings covered 

 with a scaly dust, which the slightest touch removes ; the lower wings are plicated 

 longitudinally on their internal side. They are commonly found in woods, gardens, 

 and meadows, about the plants where the females deposit their ova. They fly about 

 chiefly towards the setting of the sun, remaining during the day concealed under 

 leaves, on branches, or fixed upon walls. They couple almost as soon as they 

 change from the pupae state. The male dies after coupling, and the female when 

 she has insured the continuance of the species by the deposition of the ova. The 

 species of this numerous genus are found on bushes and trees of various kinds. 



N. aceris, Lat. Fab. Upper wings whitish gray, with black waved 

 lines, and two rounded spots surrounded by a blackish line. Eu- 

 rope, on the Maple and Horse-chestnut. Nouv. Diet, xxiii. 19. 



N. auricoma, Fab. Lat. Upper wings obscurely cinereous, with 

 black lines and marks j extremity of the feet ringed with white. 

 Europe, on the broom, bramble, &c Nouv. Diet, xxiii. 19. 



