250 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



Melanippe, Duponchel, Lepid. France, viii. (i), p. 277 (1830); 

 Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Uran. et Phal. p. 386 (1857). 



THE ARGENT AND SABLE MOTH. RHUMAPTERA HASTATA. 



(Plate CLL, Fig. 2.) 



Geometra hastata, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 527, 

 no. 180 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 335 (1761); Clerck, 

 Icones, pi. i, fig. 9 (1759); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. v. 

 fig. 256 (1801 ?). 



Cidaria hastata, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. vi. (2), p. 207 (1828). 

 Melanippe hastata, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. iii. p. 248 



(1831). 

 Larentia hastata, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 380, 



pi. 48, fig. 8 (1882). 



The Argent and Sable Moth is found in Northern and Central 

 Europe, Northern Asia, and America. It expands from an 

 inch and a quarter to an inch and a half. 



The wings are white, with black transverse lines composed 

 of more or less confluent spots, arranged as follows : The 

 base is black, usually intersected by a white line or spots; 

 then comes a black band spotted with white ; and on the 

 hind margin is a black band more or less divided by a white 

 zig-zag line. The fringes are chequered with black and white. 

 The larva feeds on birch and sweet gale. It is dark brown 

 with a black dorsal line, and a series of horseshoe-shaped 

 golden-yellow spots on the sides, connected by dots of the 

 same colour, so as to form a chain. 



The pupa is formed between leaves, and is at first shining 

 yellow, but afterwards becomes reddish-brown. 



FAMILY EUBOLIID^E. 



Antennae simple or pectinated ; palpi and proboscis well 

 developed ; abdomen moderately long and stout : legs thick ; 



