PHEOSIA. 277 



is only slightly marked when young. There is sometimes a 

 yellow line above the legs. 



It feeds on poplars, willow, and birch. 



The pupa is cylindrical, chestnut-brown, with two points at 

 the extremity. It rests in a large cocoon of grey silk covered 

 with loose earth. 



THE LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT. PHEOSIA GNOMA. 



Bombyx gnoma^ Fabricius, Spec. Ins. ii. p. 190, no. 89 (1781). 

 Bombyx dictceoides, Esper, Schmett. iii. Forts, p. 27, Taf. 84, fig. 



3 ( J 7 8 9); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. iii. figs. 23, 24 (1800); 



Godart, Lepid. France, iv. p. 190, pi. 19, fig. i (1822). 

 Notodonta dictczoides, Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur. iii. p. 66 



(1810); Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl. iii. p. 108, pi. 104, figs. 



2, 20-^(1895). 

 Ldocampa dictceoides, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. ii. p. 25 



(1828); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 141 (1880); 



Buckler, Larvae Brit. Lepid. ii. p. 160, pi. 35, fig. 2 



(1887). 



This is a common species in most parts of Europe. The 

 male expands about 2 inches, and the female from 2 to 2^ 

 inches. 



It is distinguished from P. tremula by the following points : 

 The fore-wings are more darkly suffused, which brings out 

 more prominently the whitish-grey colouring. The shade is 

 broader and extends at the hind margin into the apex. The 

 three apical stripes are dark blackish-brown, and form the pos- 

 terior boundary of a white costal spot. At the hinder angle is 

 an elongated white sagittate spot, the point of which is directed 

 inwards. The blackish-brown marginal line extends on to the 

 fringes, giving them a somewhat chequered appearance. The 

 hind-wings are dirty white in the male, shaded with brown on 



