DYSAUXES. 103 



Sphinx ligata, Allioni, Mel. Phil. Math. Turin, 1762-65, p. 



193 (1766). 

 Sphinx quenus, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iii. (i) p. 388, no. 6 



Syntomis phegea, Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur. ii. p. 105 

 (1808); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies & Moths, p. 93, pi. 21, 

 fig. 15 (1879); Barrett, Lepid. of Brit. Isl, ii. p. 137 

 (1894). 



Dark blue, with semi-transparent white spots on the wings, 

 and two ochre-yellow bands on the abdomen. The fore-wings 

 have six spots and the hind-wings two. The antennae are 

 filiform, slightly thickened towards the extremity, which is 

 tipped with white. It expands i^ inch, or a little more. 



The larva is black with tubercles, on which stand tufts of 

 erect brownish-grey hair. The head and feet are brownish- 

 red. It feeds on heath, dandelion, plantain, and Rutnex. 



This species is very common in South Europe and Western 

 Asia, but north of the Alps it is found only in one or two 

 isolated localities in Northern and Western Germany, and in 

 Holland and Belgium. It is, however, a gregarious species, 

 and is common wherever it is found. One or two specimens 

 are said to have been taken in England, but, if it was really a 

 British insect, not an isolated specimen, but at least a colony 

 would be found. 



GENUS DYSAUXES. 



Dysauxes y Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p, 171 (1822?); 



Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. i. p. 134 (1854). 

 Naclia, Boisduval, Gen. Ind. Meth. p. 60 (1840). 



The hind margin of the fore-wings is shorter, and the hind- 

 wings are broader than in Zygcetia, the palpi somewhat longer, 

 with smooth scales. This genus differs from Zygcena in having 

 two sub-median nervures on the hind wings. It comprises 



