GL.EA. ^3 



Cerastis, Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur. iv. p. 84 (1816); 

 Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (2), p. 395 (^1825); Guenee, 

 Spec. Gen. Lepid. Noct. i. p. 377 (1852). 



The Chestnuts may be known by their obtuse, almost uni- 

 formly coloured wings, which are held nearly flat when at rest ; 

 and the broad, depressed, and rather short abdomen. There 

 are three British species, which are very similar, two of which 

 are common, and the third and largest (C. erythrocephala, 

 Denis & Schiffermiiller) rare. 



The larvae are smooth, velvety, and cylindrical, and hide by 

 day among the low plants on which they feed. The moths 

 appear in late autumn and early spring. 



Stephens rightly objects to the name Cerastis, as being too 

 similar to Cerastes to be retained. 



THE CHESTNUT MOTH. GL^A VACCINII. 



Noctua vacrinii, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 832, no. 166 

 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 320, no. 1212 (1761); Esper, 

 Schmett. iv. p. 549, Taf. 161, figs. 1-6 (1791); Hiibner, 

 Eur. Schmett. iv. fig. 177 (1799?). 



Cerastis vacrinii, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (2), p. 401 

 (1825) ; Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid. v. pi. 93, fig. 5-5 c 



Gl<za vacrinii, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. ii. p. 161 



(1829). 

 Orrhodia vacrinii, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 184, 



pi. 34, fig. 9 (1880). 



The Chestnut Moth is common in most parts of Northern 

 and Central Europe, to Armenia and Siberia, it expands about 

 an inch and a quarter. 



The fore-wings are yellowish rusty brown, with pale transverse 



