NOCTUIDiE. ACONTIA. ' 113 



comparative nudity of the~ palpi, and by the dissimilar proportions 

 of their joints, as well as by their pied appearance, by which they 

 may be readily known from the Erastrise. 



Sp. 1. luctuosa. Alls ardicis fuscis nigro strigatis, niaculd costali roseo-albd; 



ponticis nigris fascia media, alba. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 1 — 2 lin.) 

 No. luctuosa. Hilbner. — Ac. luctuosa. Steph. Catal. part ii. p. 108. JVo. 6393. 



Black or fuscous ; the thorax behind red-brown ; the abdomen with the segments 

 edged with white : anterior wings deep fuscous, with black undated strigae, 

 with a large ti-apeziform white spot, tinted with rosy on the costa, behind the 

 middle, the hinder margin irregularly undulated Avith black and wliite, with 

 a patch of the latter colour on the anal angle, and the margin itself with an 

 interrupted rufescent line ; cilia white, with a dusky blotch in the middle : 

 posterior wings black, with a broad, slightly waved, white fascia in the middle, 

 and an obsolete spot of the same colour, near the anal angle ; cilia white, with a 

 dusky patch as on the anterior wings. 



In some examples, the white fascia in the posterior wings is very narrow, and 

 considerably attenuated towards the inner margin ; and the white spot near 

 the anal angle is obUterated. 



The caterpillar is reported to feed on the great plantain (Plantago major) :— the 

 imago appears in June, frequenting clover-fields. 



Not common ; the only localities that I am acquainted with are a 

 field to the north-east of Darenth-wood, and a chalky ridge near 

 Hertford, where I have occasionally obtained a few specimens : it, 

 however, occurs in other parts. " Dorking," — Mr. WaterJiouse, 



t Sp. 2. aprica ? " Alls anticis basi albis ; postics maculisque duabus costalibus 

 atris." — Haworth. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 1 ."^ lin.) 



No. aprica. Hilbner f — Ac. aprica? Steph. Catal. part il. p. 108. A'o. 6394. 



The above is the sole description which exists of the only indigenous specimen 

 known. Mr. Haworth, who describes the insect, as above, under the name 

 albo-ater, remarks, " that it comes very near the No. aprica of Hiibner, and 

 perhaps is not distinct from it. If it be that insect, the following character 

 from Treitschke wiU enable any one to discriminate it who may be fortunate 

 enough to obtain a specimen : " Alis anticis basi niveis, versus marginem ex- 

 ternum fusco coeruleoque marmoratis, puncto medio nigro ; posticis albis." 



I believe a single example only of this insect has been captured 

 in England : it was taken nearly half a century since by Mr. Tinley, 

 and now is in the collection of Sir John St. Aubyn, along with some 

 other unique moths. 



Sp. 3, Solaris. Plate 29. f. 3.— Alis anticis basi albis apice fuscis, macula 

 guadratd costali albd; posticis albis fimbria fused. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 5 lin.) 



Haustellata, Vol. III. 30th April, 1830. i 



