NOCTUID.E. — ACRONYCTA. 41 



thoracic line; anterior wings grayish- white, a little tinted with luteous, with 

 a strongly ramose black lineola at the base, and a powerful undated black 

 posterior striga, in which are two dark ^/.-Uke marks; the stigmata are nearly 

 as in the last, and the ciha whitish-ash, spotted with black: posterior wings 

 whitish, with a dusky central lunule, transverse striga behind the middle, and 

 posterior fimbria. 



There is an insect in Mr. Hateliett's collection which appears to 

 agree with the above : it was taken near Dulwich ; but as several 

 years have elapsed since I saw the specimen in question, it is pro- 

 bable that I may be mistaken in the identity of the species. If it 

 be not this species, it is a most extraordinary variety of the pre- 

 ceding. 



Sp. 8. auricoma. Alls cinereis, unticis cam nigroque nebulosis, striga posticd 

 dentatd nigra, ad angulum ani charactere psiformi. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 5—7 



lin.) 

 No. auricoma. Wien. T.-Ac auricoma. Steph. Catal. part ii. p. 92. No. 6285. 



Head and thorax cinereous, the latter whitish on the sides, with a black margin; 

 anterior wings clouded with hoary and cinereous, or black ; with a dentate 

 black Una at the base, then a geminated waved striga, and towards the hinder 

 margin an arcuated and considerably dentate one, having, near its termination 

 at the anal angle, a black oblique streak, which, with the curved portion of 

 the striga, forms the letter 4 : the hinder margin has sometimes an obscure 

 waved pale striga, at others some faint dusky spots: cilia cinereous, spotted 

 with fuscous: anterior stigma suboceUated, with a black iris, and cinereous 

 pupil; posterior cinereous, edged with hoary and black: posterior wings 

 fuscous, with the base rather ashy in the males. 

 A very variable insect: some examples are nearly immaculate, with the trans- 

 verse strigae very distinct ; others, on the contrary, are very much clouded or 

 suffused with black, with the striga; more or less evident. 

 CaterpiUar black, with a reddish-yellow spot on each segment, and orange legs: 

 hairs yeUowish-red:-it feeds upon various plants, especiaUy the birch, aspen, 

 heath, bramble, dewberry, whortleberry, &c., and is found in the autumn :- 

 the imago appears in the beginning of June. 



Not uncommon in certain years at Coombe-wood, and in Rich- 

 mond-park, reposing during the day on the trunks of birch trees 

 especially. In the year 1816 the insect was in great abundance at 

 the former place, but since that period one or two solitary examples 

 only have been obtained. 



Sp. 9. simUis. Alis cinereis, strigd subundatd atrd ante viedium, alid fused 

 ohliqudahbreviatd medio, tertidque cand subvioniliformi limbi postici; posticis 

 albidis fimbria subfuscd. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 5 lin.) 



No. simihs. HaworiJu-Ac. simiUs. Steph. Catal. part ii. p. 93. No. 6286. 



