24 BRITISH MOTHS 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VI. 



Insects. — Fig. 1. Macroglossa stellataruiu (the Humming-bird Hawk-moth). 2. Tlit- Caterpillar. 3. The Chrysalis. 



*' Kiij. 4. Scsia Bnmbyliformis (the narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth). 5. The Caterpillar. 6. The Chrysalis. 



** Fig. 7. Scsia fuciformis (the broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth). 



*' Fig. 8. Ino statices (the Orecn Forester). 9. The Caterpillar. 10. The Chrysnlis. 



'* Fig. II. Anthrocera FilipcnduK'L' (tiie six-spotted Buraet-moth). 12. The Caterpillar. 13. The Chrysalis. 14. The Cocoon. 



" Fig. 15. Anthrocera Loti (the fine-spotted Burnet-moth). 



" Fig. 16. Anthrocera Loti (a variety). 



Plants. — F\g. 17. Galium aparinc (Goose-grass). 

 '* Fig. 18. Cardamine pratcnsis. 



** Fig, 19- Spiriea filipendula; (common Dropwort). 



" Fig. 20. Scabious succisa (Devil's-bit Scabious). 



1 had only figured two of the British species of the genus Anthrocera, having been tempted to consider the others as mere varieties. The 

 two species figured are, A. Filipendulie, with iU* spots and the fringe only of the posterior wings black ; and A. Loti, Viiih Jive spots and a black 

 harder on the posterior wing, within the black fringe. Mr. Stephens, however, assures me two other species must be allowed, namely A. Meliloti 

 and A. Trifolii ; A. Meliloti having the anterior wings semi-transparent, of a paler green, and the antennce much more slender, whilst on the 

 posterior wings the black border is less conspicuous than in A. Loti ; and A. Trifolii, being smaller than A. Loti, with the red marks much fuller in 

 colour, and the black border much deeper and more conspicuous. I shall, therefore, give figures of these two species in plate 8, drawn from 

 Mr. Stephens' specimens. I have not figured the larva of A. Loti, as I cannot but suspect that there has been some mistake respecting it ; for 

 while the species is, in its perfect state, so very similar to A. Filipendulap, the caterpillar is represented as totally difl^erent, not only in colour, but 

 also in shape, being what is termed'onisciform, similar to that of I. statices. The variety of A. Loti with the spots running into one long irregular 

 patcli and of a pale orange colour instead of red, is from a specimen in the British Museum, which was of the same brood as a specimen in the 

 collection of Mr. Stephens, in which the markings, though of the same pale colour, preserve their usual form. 



The perfect insects arc all from specimens in the British Museum ; and the larvK and pupre from Iliibuer, Sep]), and Guihrt. H. N. 11. 



SPECIES 1.— MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM. THE HUMMING-BIRD MOTH. 



Plate iv. fi'-. 1—3. 



SvNON^MEs. — Sphinx Stellatarum, Linnaeus ; Haworth ; Dono- 

 van, vol. 7. pi. 1.55. Harris. Aurelian, pi. 24, fig. f — 1. 



Macroylossa Stellatarum^ Ochscnhetmer ; Curtis, Brit. Eat. pi. 



747 ; Stephens; Wood,Iud. Eat. pi. 4, fig. 20 ; Duncan, Brit. Moths, 

 pi. 12, fig. 1. 



PsUhyros SteUatarxim, lliibner, Veiz. bek. Schuiett. 



TIk' expansion of the fore wings of this inteiesting species varies from 11 to 2 inches. They are of a dusiiy 

 brown colour, witli several more or less obsolete, and two more decided black, waved, transverse bars, and a 

 blackish discoidal dot ; the hinder wings are deep bright orange- coloured, with the base browuisli ; the margin 

 darker coloured, especially towards the outer angle. The body is brown, with the hind part of the abdomen 

 black ; the sides of the latter are varied with black and white, and the caudal tuft is black : the insect has the 

 power of expanding and shutting the latter up. 



The caterpillar is dark green, with a dusky line down the back, a white stripe along the sides termi- 

 nating at the tail, and a yellow line below this latter ; the true legs are yellow. It feeds on different kinds of 

 Galium (bed-straw), and Rubia (dyer's-weed). Mr. Haworth states there are three broods in the year, the 

 larva being found at the end of March, June, and August, and the imago at the end of April, June, and Septem- 

 'ber. Mr. Dale has, however, found it at the middle of October ; and Sir. Haworth mentions a specimen having 

 been taken at Christmas ; which makes it probable that some of the September brood may occasionally live 

 through the winter, like many si)ecies of Papilio. Mr. Curtis, however, thinks that there is a more or less 



