AMPHIPYRA. 123 



shape, and with sixteen legs. Moths resembling Geo- 

 metrida, with slender bodies, short palpi, and slender, 

 silky wings ; the hind-wings are large, folded in repose, 

 and similarly coloured to the fore-wings. Stilbiidce. 



FAMILY AMPHIPYRID^:. 



GENUS AMPHIPYRA. 



Amphipyra, Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur. iv. p. 70 (1816); 

 Treitschke, Schmett, Eur. v. (2), p. 276 (1825); Guenee, 

 Spec. G6i. Lepid. Noct. ii. p. 411 (1852). 



In this genus the antennae are simple; the palpi long, 

 ascending, recurved, and approximating; the abdomen flattened, 

 with the extremity pointed ; the legs thick, with strong 

 spurs. The wings are rather broad, indented, or slightly 

 denticulated ; the fore-wings are oblong, with the hind margin 

 only slightly curved. The larvae are green, with distinct lines, 

 and the penultimate segment often humped ; they live exposed 

 on trees and low plants. The pupae are enclosed in cocoons 

 of silk or rubbish on the surface of the ground. 



THE MOUSE MOTH. AMPHIPYRA TRAGOPOGONIS. 



Noctua tragopogonis , Clerck, Icones, pi. i, fig. 5 (1759); 



Linnaeus, Faun. Suec. p. 316 (1761); Esper, Schmett. iv. 



(2) i, p. 622, Taf. 170, figs, i, 2 (1794?); Hiibner, Eur. 



Schmett. iv. fig. 40 (1799 ?). 

 Noctua tetra (nee Fabr.), Haworth, Lepid. Brit. ii. p. 164, 



no. 12 (1809). 

 Amphipyra tragopogonis^ Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (i) p. 277 



(1825); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 186(1880); 



Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid. vi. pi. 103, fig. 3-3 b (1895). 

 Pyrophila tragopogonis, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. ii. 



p. 165 (1829). 

 Pyrophila tetra, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. ii. p. 165 (1829). 



