248 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



the femora; hind tibiae with two pairs of spurs. Wings 

 usually entire, rarely dentated, fore-wings triangular, hind- wings 

 rounded ; the fore-wings usually marked with numerous zig-zag 

 lines ; the hind-wings nearly without markings. 



Larva cylindrical, with a small head ; pupa enclosed in a 

 cocoon. 



This is a very large Family, but most of the species are of 

 small or moderate size. Among them we find various 

 anomalies. One or two genera have apterous females, and 

 appear in winter, or early spring, like the Hybernitdcs; others have 

 large lobes on the hind-wings, giving them the appearance of 

 having six wings instead of four. Most of the larger species 

 are called " Carpets " by collectors, on account of their 

 festooned markings ; and these usually rest with the fore-wings 

 covering the hind ones. Many of the smaller species are 

 very similar, and mostly of dull colours, and rest with their 

 wings expanded, and these are known as " Pugs." 



The two species of this family figured illustrate the style of 

 markings of the lighter and darker " Carpets " respectively. 



GENUS MESOLEUCA. 



Mesokuca, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 326 (1826?). 

 Melanthia, Duponchel, Le*pid. France, viii. (i), p. 252 (1830). 

 Guene"e, Spec. Gen. Le'pid. Uran. et Phal. ii. p. 380 (1852). 



THE BEAUTIFUL CARPET. MESOLEUCA ALBICILLATA. 



(Plate CLI., Fig. I.) 

 Geometra albidllata^ Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 527, no. 



181 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 335, no. 1278 (1761); 



Clerck, Icones, pi. i. fig. 12 (1759); Hiibner, Eur. 



Schmett. v. fig. 76 (1798?) 

 Zerene albidllata, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. vi. (2) p. 228 



(1828). 



