160 HAUSTELLATA. LEPIDOPTERA. 



whitish fascia: posterior wings the same, with the transverse strigae less 

 distinct and generally but two in number: cUia inten-upted with fuscous. 

 Female with the wings more transparent and greenish, and the markings less 

 distinct. 



In some instances the insect is almost entirely black ; and the strigse vary 

 exceedingly in width and intensity, as also in their relative positions. 



Caterpillar variable, generally brown, spotted with griseous, with several longi- 

 tudinal pale streaks, bordered with black, the head rounded, and on the back 

 are 10 slightly elevated yellow tubercles, and two black ones beliind: legs 

 yellow tipped with reddish:— it feeds on the poplar, lime, and elm, and 

 appears in the perfect state in April : the pupa is short, rugose, dull black, 

 with a fine point at its extremity. 



Very abundant amongst poplars and limes in the immediate 

 vicinity of London, and not uncommon in other parts of the metro- 

 politan district. " Occasionally met with in the neighbourhood of 

 Bottisham." — Rev. L. Jenyns. 



Genus CLXXII. — Himera, Duponchel. 



Palpi very short, concealed within the hairs of the front, pilose, triarticulated. 

 AntenncE rather long, plumose in the males, each joint producing obliquely a 

 setaceous ciliated branch, shortest towards the apex and base ; subserrated in 

 the females : maxilla not very short, slender : head densely pilose, the hairs 

 forming a conical projection between the antennas : thorax robust, very 

 woolly : wings rather thin, all slightly dentate on the hinder margin, with a 

 central dark spot, the anterior with two strigae and the posterior with one : 

 body moderately stout, with an anal tuft in the male, very robust and acute 

 in the female, which is usually the smallest sex. Larva with 10 legs, cylin- 

 drical, smooth, with two fleshy points directed backwards on the penultimate 

 segment; head small, rounded : pupa superficial. 



This is the genus Metra of my Catalogue, but as Duponchel 

 has subsequently given the name it here bears, and detailed its 

 generic characters, I of course have adopted it: the only known 

 species is autumnal : the strongly pectinated antennae of the male, 

 and the subserrated ones of the female, combined with the bulk of 

 the thorax, and subangulated wings, distinguish the genus. 



Sp. 1. pennaria. Alis anticis rufescentihis, strigis duabus incrassatis adcostam 

 punctoque inter jecto fuseis, punctoque apicis nigra, albo adnata. (Exp. alar. 

 1 unc. 9 lin. — 2 unc. : ^ 1 unc. 6 lin. — 2 unc 3 lin.) 



Ph. Ge. pennaria. Linne.~Bon. viii. pi 287./ 2. —Metra pennaria. Steph. CataL 

 part Up. 118. No. 6457. 



