240 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



GENUS RHYPARIA. 



Rhyparid) Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 305 (1822 ?); 



Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Uran. et Phal. ii. p. 197 



(1857); Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. mo 



(1862). 



A widely-distributed genus, but not very numerous in species. 



The antennae are more strongly pectinated than in most genera 



of the family. 



RHYPARIA MELANARIA. 



(Plate CXLVIIL, Fig. 3.) 



Geometra melanaria, Linnaeus, Syst Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 521, 



no. 138 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 326, no. 1240 (1761); 



Clerck, Icones, pi. 4, fig. 2 (1759); Esper, Schmett. v. 



p. 115, Taf. 23, fig. i (1795?); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. v. 



fig. 86 (1798?). 

 Zerene melanaria, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. vi. (2), p. 236 



(1828). 

 Rhyparia melanaria^ Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 316, 



pi. 45, ng. 7 (1882). 



This species is found in most parts of Central and Northern 

 Europe, except the north-west; and in Northern Asia. It 

 expands from an inch and three-quarters to two inches. 



The fore-wings are dingy white, something like raw silk, 

 with rows of black spots of different sizes, which are generally 

 arranged more or less as follows : At the base there are three 

 rows close together, and here the ground-colour is varied with 

 yellow, as is also the costa. In the central area there are 

 again three rows, with a larger spot at the commencement of 

 the first row, usually containing a white pupil. In the marginal 

 area are two rows, with small dots between them. The fringes 

 are chequered with black and white or yellowish, and are 

 bordered with a white line. The hind- wings are rich golden 



