OLIGIA. 33 



The larvae are short and vermiform, tapering at both ends, 

 and feed in the stalks or among tufts of grass near the roots. 



The moths of this genus are very variable, and many of them 

 are common ; they fly at dusk. 



THE CLOAKED MINOR. OLIGIA FURUNCULA. 



Noctua furuncula^ Denis & Schififermiiller, Syst. Verz. Schmett. 



Wien. p. 89, no. 3 (1776); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. iv. 



fig. 545(1818?). 



Noctua bicoloria, De Villers, Linn. Ent. ii. p. 288 (1789). 

 Noctua victuncula, Hiibner, op. cit. fig. 96 (1799?). 

 Noctua humeralis, Haworth, Lepid. Brit. p. 215, no. 149 (1809) 

 Noctua terminaliS) Haworth, op. cit. no. 150 (1809). 

 Noctua rufuncula^ Haworth, op. cit. p. 216, no. 152 (1809). 

 Apamea furuncula, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (2), p. 92 



(1825). 

 Miana humeralis, M. terminalis et M. rufuncula, Stephens, 111. 



Brit. Ent. Haust. iii. p. 14 (1829). 

 Hadena furuncula, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 236 



(1881). 

 Miana furuncula^ Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid. iv. p. 102, 



pi. 68, figs. 4, 4 a (1891). 



The Cloaked Minor is common in Europe and Northern 

 and Western Asia. It expands from about three-quarters of 

 an inch to a little over an inch. 



It is very variable in colouring. The head and thorax are 

 whitish-grey, with a crest, and a brown-edged collar. The 

 antennae are dark brown and slender, slightly stouter in the 

 male than in the female. The abdomen is ashy-grey, with 

 small blackish tufts of hair on the middle of the back, and a 

 black anal tuft in the male. The legs are reddish or brownish, 

 ringed with white, 



16 D 



