BRYOPHILA. 9 



a more or less suffused transverse stripe, called the central 

 shade. 



The Agrotid<2) as the name is here employed, correspond in 

 the main with the Trifida ; Bryophilida^ Bombycoida and 

 Genuine of Guenee. In these the median nervure is usually 

 only three-branched, whence the name, Trtfidce. 



Larva. Generally naked or downy, feeding on low plants, 

 and sometimes beneath the surface of the ground. 



Pupa. Usually subterranean. 



Imago. Usually rather stout; antennae rarely pectinated; size 

 moderate, or rather small ; colours generally subdued ; hind- 

 wings generally broader than th^ fore-wings, and of much 

 weaker structure; the discoidal nervure usually separated 

 at its origin from the upper median nervule, and often more or 

 less rudimentary. 



This is a very extensive family, including a great number of 

 sections, and to it belong by far the larger number of Noctua 

 which inhabit temperate climes. 



SUB -FAMILY I. BRYOPHILIN^E. 



The types of this sub-family are rather small and slender 

 Moths, and their wings are marbled with green, grey, brown, 

 and whitish. Their larvae feed on lichens. 



GENUS BRYOPHILA. 



Pacilta, Schrank, Fauna Boica (2) ii. p. 157 (1802), nom. 



prceocc. 

 Bryophila, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (i), p. 47 (1825); 



Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lpid. Noct. i. p. 22 (1852). 

 This is the typical genus of the sub-family. There are 

 several European species, some of which are British ; and 

 the genus is also fairly well represented in North America. 



