XANTHIA. 57 



hind-wings are yellowish-grey, with a slight central spot, and 

 yellowish fringes. 



The larva feeds on oak, beech, elm, pear, and other trees. 

 It is velvety-black, tending towards brown, with a rusty-brown 

 head. The cervical plate is black, and square, bordered on 

 each side with a fine yellow or white line. The sides and belly 

 are pale clay -colour. On the anal segment are two longitudinal 

 yellow streaks, and on the sides are two slight dark longitudinal 

 lines. On the second, third, fifth, and eleventh segments are 

 white spots above the legs. The legs are shining black, but 

 the pro-legs are of the same colour as the belly, with only a 

 black spot. The whole surface of the body is covered with 

 small scattered hairs. The moth appears in September and 

 October, and again in the spring after hybernation. 



GENUS XANTHIA. 



Xanthia, Hiibner, Tentamen, p. i (1816); Ochsenheimer, 

 Schmett. Eur. iv. p. 82 (1816) ; Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. 

 v - ( 2 )> P- 34 1 ( I 825); Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Noct. i. 

 p. 389 (1852). 



The type of this genus appears to be X. sulphurago (Den. & 

 Schiff.), an East European species, but I have described 

 one of our British species. The moths of this genus are 

 all much alike, and have yellow or ochreous fore-wings, which 

 are broad, moderately long, and slightly pointed at the tip, the 

 hind-margin waved, and slightly more oblique below the middle 

 than above. The antennae are ciliated. 



The larvae are velvety, and rather short and thick, with the 

 abdomen not so short as in the preceding genera. When 

 young, they feed on the buds of trees ; but when older, they 

 descend to the ground, and hide themselves among low plants, 

 upon which they then feed. 



