ANTHROCERA. 93 



THE NEW FOREST BURNET. ANTHROCERA VICI/E. 



Sphinx lonicerte, var. Esper, Schmett. ii. (i) p. 195, taf. 25, fig. 3 



(1781). 



Sphinx virice, Fuessly, Neues Mag. ii. p. 208 (1785). 

 Sphinx meliloti, Esper, Schmett. ii. (2) p. 10, taf. 39, figs. 1-8 



(1789). 



Sphinx loli) Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. ii. fig. 82 (1803). 

 Zygfena meliloti^ Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur. ii. p. 43 (1808) ; 



Kirby, Eur. Butterflies & Moths, p. 90, pi. 21, fig. 9 



(1880); Barrett, Lepid. of Brit. Isl. ii. p. 124, pi. 59, figs. 



i, 10-^(1894). 



This species was included in the British list by the older 

 authors, but its occurrence was afterwards discredited. Lat- 

 terly, however, it has been found plentifully in the New Forest. 

 On the Continent it is well known, but is said not to occur 

 in France, except in the extreme east of that country. It is 

 probably often confounded with some of the closely allied 

 species of this group of the genus. 



Bluish-green, with the fringes brownish at the tips, and five 

 or six carmine spots, the central pair being very unequal in 

 size. Border of the hind-wings blackish, often very broad in 

 the male, narrow in the female. The abdomen has frequently 

 a dull red ring, generally open beneath. The antennae have 

 a slender club, slightly pointed. The Moth expands rather 

 over one inch. 



The larva is pale sea-green, with a black head and legs, a 

 whitish stripe on the back, a similar one above the spiracles, 

 and a row of black dots between. It feeds on Trifolium and 

 various grasses. 



The pupa is pale yellow, with a black back and wing- 

 cases. 



