108 HAUSTELLATA. LF.PIDOPTERA. 



or less flavescent ; cilia somewhat elongate : posterior rather large^ of brilliant 

 colours, with the margin and a broad central lunule darker ; cilia rather long. 

 Larva slender, mostly spotted on the sides, with sixteen legs: pupa sub- 

 terranean. 



The species of Heliothis may readily be known from the Plusise 

 by the total absence of all metallic ornament on their anterior wino-s; 

 they are however of gay and lively colours, and their posterior 

 wings also partake of their gaiety, unlike those of the Plusise, which 

 are generally of a sombre cast : they may also be distinguished by 

 the absence of the thoracic crest, their abbreviated palpi, com- 

 paratively short abdomen, and by the more elongated form of the 

 anterior wings. They fly by day, and again in the evening. From 

 Anarta, with which genus they nearly agree in the proportion o^the 

 joints of the palpi, their large size and flavescent tints, as well 

 as their subrepanded anterior wings, elongated abdomen, smooth 

 thorax, naked eyes, &c. distinguish them. 



Sp. 1. marginata. Alls anticis Jlavo-ferrugineis strigis rufo-fuscis fasciSque 

 externa fused, posiicis luteo-albidis, limbo nigro. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 5 — 6 lin.) 



No. marginata. Fabricius. — Don. v. pi. 150. f. 1. — He. marginata. Steph. 

 Catal. part ii. p. 107. No. 6387. 



Head, thorax, and anterior wings of a ferruginous-yellow, or tawny ; the latter 

 with several nearly equidistant strigae; the first at the base a little bent ex- 

 teriorly; the second beyond triangulated and flexuous ; the third behind the 

 anterior stigma angulated outwardly ; the fourth placed very obliquely be- 

 hind the stigmata ; and behind this a broad fuscous fascia gradually shaded off 

 to the hinder margin, and in which is placed a fifth undulated striga, com- 

 posed of fuscous lunules ; and on the hinder margin itself is a sixth formed of 

 delicate united crescents : the margins of the stigmata are alone conspicuous, 

 and are of a rufous-brown; cilia fulvous, with the tip purplish: posterior 

 wings yellowish- white, or ochraceous, with the base, a central lunule, and the 

 hinder margin fuscous; the extreme edge of the latter rufous-ash; cilia 

 whitish. Anterior wings sometimes fuscous at the base; in other respects 

 similar to the above. The ground colour of the insect varies slightly. 



Caterpillar green, with reddish-brown clouds, a dusky line on the back, and a 

 whitish stripe on each side; it feeds on the Restharrow (Ononis spinosaj : — 

 the imago is found in the beginning of June. 



Far from an abundant species, chiefly occurring in the woods of 

 Kent, especially at Darenth and Birch Woods ; 1 have also seen the 

 insect taken at Coombe-wood ; and I believe it has likewise oc- 

 curred in the New Forest and in Devonshire. 



