112 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



variety of plants, including nettles, thistles, wild mint, &c. It 

 is green, with a number of fine white lines on the back. On 

 the thoracic segments is a white dorsal line, and on the sides a 

 broad white stripe. The whole of the body is set with fine 

 white hairs, and the incisions are yellowish. Sometimes there 

 is a green dorsal line, and green streaks on the sides. It 

 weaves a slight cocoon, and the pupa varies from dark reddish- 

 brown to blackish-brown. 



THE GAMMA OR SILVER Y MOTH. PLUSIA GAMMA. 

 (Plate CXXIX., Fig. 4, larva.) 



Noctua gamma, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 513, no. 

 91 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 312 (1761); Esper, 

 Schmett. iv. (i), p. 204, Taf. in, figs. 1-4 (1789?); 

 Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. iv. fig. 283 (1799?). 



Plusia gamma, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (3), p. 185 (1826); 

 Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. iii. p. 103 (1830); Kirby, 

 Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 265, pi. 40, figs. 3-3 b 

 (1881) ; Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid. vi. p. 112, pi. 102, 

 figs. 8-8 b (1895). 



The Gamma Moth. 



This common and well-known species has a wide range, extend- 

 ing throughout the Palaearctic Region from Greenland to Abys- 

 sinia and occurring also in North America. It has even been 

 seen fluttering in the sun at the top of Mont Blanc, no doubt 



