LEPIDOPTERA, 207 
Among his Noctuz proper, the caterpillars of some, and the 
greater number, have sixteen feet. Of these we will notice the 
NV. sponsa, Fab., Rees., Insect. IV, xix. Cinereous grey; tho- 
rax crested; wings lapping: upper surface of the superior ones 
obscure grey, with strongly undulated black streaks, and a 
whitish spot divided by several black lines; that of the inferior 
bright red with two black bands; abdomen entirely cinereous. 
The caterpillar lives on the Oak; it is grey, with some obscure 
and irregular spots, and little tubercles; a hump on the fifth 
ring surmounted by a yellow plate. This species and some others 
are called Zichenées, on account of their colour, which resembles 
that of a Lichen. Their four anterior membranous feet are the 
shortest, and they walk in the manner of the Geometre. 
N. pacta, Fab. Distinguished from the others by the red co- 
lour of the under part of its abdomen. It is only found in the 
north of Europe(1). 
The caterpillars of some have but twelve feet. The superior 
wings of the perfect Insect are frequently ornamented with 
golden or silver spots. Such are the two following species(2). 
N. gamma, Fab., Res., Ins., I, Class II, Pap. Noct., V. 
The thorax crested; superior surface of the upper wings brown, 
with lighter shades of the same colour, and a golden spot form- 
ing a lambda or gamma, laid on the side, in the middle. By 
pressure, two tufts of hairs may be made to protrude from the 
extremity of the male’s abdomen. The caterpillar lives on va- 
rious culinary vegetables. 
N. chrysitis, Fab.; Esp., Noct., cix, fig., 1—5. Superior 
wings light-brown, traversed by two bands of the colour of 
polished brass. 
Some caterpillars, like those of the JV. verbasci, N. artemi- 
siz, N. absinthii, &c., have the habit of feeding on the flowers 
of plants peculiar to them(3). 
genus. It is very remarkable, inasmuch as the two posterior legs are shorter than 
the others, unarmed, and almost useless for the purpose of locomotion. This 
Insect, on account of its pectinated antenne, distinct proboscis, and antenne 
which are twice the length of the head, should be placed near the genus Calyptra 
of Ochsenhejmer, or our Herminiz. 
(1) These two species belong to the genus Catocala, Ochsenheimer. 
(2) Genus Plusia of the same. 
(3) They belong to the genus Cucullia of Schrank and other Lepidopterolo- 
gists. For the other species, see Olivier, Encyc. Méthod., art. JVoctuelle; Lat. 
Gen. Crust. et Insect., IV, p. 224, and in particular Ochsenheimer’s work on the 
