201 



TRIPH^NA MATERNA. 



PLATE XXV. Fig. 2. 



Phal. Noctua materna, Linn. — Noctua hybrida, Fabr., Cramer, 

 Pap. Exot., pi. 267, fig. E. ; Drury, Exot. Ins., vol iL pi. 13, 

 fig. 4. 



Triph^na may be briefly defined as having the 

 fore wings bistigmatiferous, the palpi ascending, 

 the wings incumbent and entire, the thorax not 

 crested, the body flat, and the antenna? simple. It 

 contains a considerable number of well known and 

 conspicuous British moths, which are commonly 

 called yellow under- wings ; and it will be seen from 

 the specimen here figured, that the foreign species 

 bear a striking resemblance to them. 



T. materna expands about three inches and a 

 half; the antennae are setaceous, the palpi yellow, 

 with blue tips; the head is likewise tinged with 

 blue. The anterior wings are light brown, mottled 

 with grey and green, the surface glossy, and the 

 tints changing according to the direction in which 

 the light falls on them. Posterior wings yellow, 

 each of them with a round black spot in the centre ; 

 the posterior border likewise edged with black, the 

 inner margin of the band dentate, and the exterior 



