THE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL MOTH. 

 Phal&na Fraxini. 



PLATE XXIV. 



Phalsena fraxini, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 843, No. 125 



Witt's Pap. No. 45, tab. i. A 2. Meriarfs Insects of 

 Europe, pi. 4 Roes. iv. pi. 28, fig. 1 Donovan's 

 Brit. Ins. vol. v. p. 89, pi. 171. Catocala Fraxini, 

 Curtis. 



THE wings are from three inches and five-sixths 

 to four inches in extent ; they are scalloped. Supe- 

 rior ones ashen gray, covered with numerous zigzag 

 markings of a darker colour ; under wings blue, 

 with transverse bands of black. The wings are 

 deflexed when at rest ; the antennae taper from 

 the base ; the thorax is crested. 



The under side is of a dull cream yellow, with 

 many black cloud- like bands crossing the wings. 



The male is easily distinguished from the female 

 by its smaller size. This moth is subject to con- 

 siderable variety, both in the markings and arrange- 

 ment of the spots, as well as in the degree of in- 

 tensity in the colours of both upper and lower 

 wings. We have examined some specimens from 

 the north of Europe, which were comparatively 

 null in their colours to those of Britain. 



