MOTHS. 183 



many genera of Noctuce ; the abdomen is rather long, and tufted 

 at the extremity (Fam. Apamidce). 



The genus Prodenia, Gue"n., is remarkable for the beautiful 

 pearly- white hind wings of most of the species; the fore wings 

 are generally brown or fawn-coloured. One species is found in 

 Southern Europe; the others are Indian or American (Fam. 

 Apamidce). 



The Cabbage Moth (Mamestra Brassicce, Linn.) is brown, with 

 transverse black markings on the fore wings, the centre of which 

 is marked with white. M. Persicarice, Linn., is a similar, but 

 much darker species, and the white mark on the fore wings comes 

 out much more conspicuously (Fam. Apamidce). 



The genus Agrotis, Ochs., one of the most typical of the Noctuce, 

 includes a great number of moderate-sized species with brown 

 fore wings, and grey or white hind wings. But the most con- 

 spicuous species of the Agrotidce are the Yellow Under-wings, 

 belonging to the genus Triphcena, Hiibn., which have brown or 

 reddish fore wings, and bright yellow hind wings, with a black 

 border, and sometimes a black spot in the middle. Several are 

 very common, and are frequently disturbed from strawberry-beds 

 and weedy places in the day-time, when they escape with a rapid 

 but rather heavy flight, resembling that of some grasshoppers. 

 Another handsome species is Ochropleura Plecta, Hiibn., which has 

 reddish fore wings, with a broad white bar on the costa, and 

 whitish hind wings. 



The Orthosiidce include a number of spring and autumn moths, 

 which are taken at the blossoms of the sallow and ivy. They are 

 either of a light uniform brown, or reddish brown, or yellow, in 

 the latter case frequently with orange markings. Some of the 

 American species have green fore wings. 



Cosmia Diffinis, Linn., is a conspicuous reddish-brown moth, 

 about an inch and a quarter in expanse, with two white spots on 

 the costa of each fore wing. An allied species, C. Trapezina, Linn., 

 is brown or reddish, with two pale lines on the fore wings. 



The larvse of this genus are green, and feed on trees, but will 

 often attack and devour other caterpillars (Fam. Cosmidce). 



Agriopis Aprilina, Linn., has pale-green fore wings, with trans- 

 verse zigzag black white-bordered marks. The hind wings are 

 brown, with two rather obscure white bands (Fam. Hadenidce). 



The genus Cucullia, Ochs., includes a variety of brown or grey 

 moths, with rather narrow and pointed fore wings, and a long 



