140 H AUSTELL ATA. LEPIDOPTERA. 



with a central spot, two transverse fascix^, the hinder margin, and the nervures 

 hlack ; cilia white, spotted with black : abdomen black, with white rings. 



Extremely variable: the black or the lighter markings predominating in dif- 

 ferent specimens ; so as sometimes to reverse, as it were, the ground colour, 

 especially of the posterior wings ; which may be said to be occasionally black, 

 with a central ovate flavescent spot, and two undulated transverse strigfe, in- 

 terrupted by dusky nervures, towards the hinder margin of a similar colour, or 

 white. 



Caterpillar reddish-white, with a dusky dorsal and whitish lateral Une ; head 

 brown, with light stripes and dusky spots : it feeds on the Medicago falcata : 

 — the imago appears towards the end of June in fields. 



A very common species ; occurring plentifully in various parts 

 throughout the metropolitan district. " Near York, and in Suffolk." 

 — W. C. Hewitson, Esq. " Rather common ; Davidson's-bank, 

 Black-hall, &c."— T. C. Heysham, Esq. « Monks'-wood, Hunts." 

 —C. C. Babmgton, Esq. " Epping."— Jfr. DouUeduTj. " Netley 

 and Wales."— -Ret. F. W. Hope. " Raeliills."— iJet;. W. Little. 



LEPIDOPTERA SEMIDIURNA. 



By wliicli term I propose to distinguish such Lepidopterous insects 

 as possess, more or less determinately, the foUov/ing characters : 



Palpi two, occasionally four ; short, rounded or cylindric-conic, or sometimes 

 elongate and recurved, mostly triarticulate, the terminal joint generally least : 

 maxillcE short and membraneous, or wanting: antennce setaceous, pectinated 

 or simple: head usually small: ei/es prominent: thorax in general slender, 

 velvety or squamous, never crested or tufted : bodi/ for the most part slender 

 and elongate; the males with a shght anal tuft; stouter with the apex 

 somewhat acute in the females: wings undivided, large in proportion to the 

 bulk of the body, during repose placed horizontally, or but little, rarely much, 

 deflexed,sometimes erect, the posterior with a single fold on the inner edge ; 

 form considerably diversified: legs slender, sometimes much elongated; four 

 posterior generally with spurs at the apex. 



Larva varies with from ten to fourteen legs, the anal ones sometimes wanting: 

 body slender, glabrous, much elongated ; exposed, with a geometric motion, 

 excepting in those which have no anal legs ; or concealed in a slight folliculus 

 amongst curled leaves, and with a direct or retrograde wriggling gait. 



Of this beautiful section, vi'liich, not only in habit but in manners, 

 is in several respects closely allied to the Diurna, several hundred 

 species are found in Great Britain, but, like the preceding insects, 



