70 BRITISH MOTHS 



wines, and the elongated and upturned tail, give the insect, when at rest, a singular appearance (as figured in 

 my Introduction to the jModern Classification of Insects, vol. ii., p. 385, fig. 4). The wings have the outer 

 inarcrin denticulated. The females have the antennaj bipectinated. The larva is smooth, depressed, without 

 conical tubercles, and attenuated at each end. 



SPECIES 1.— PTEROSTOMA PALPINA. Plate XIV., Fig. 6. 



Pterostoma palpina, Germar ; Suphena (App. vol. 4, p. 385): 

 Curtis, Cat. 



SvNONYMES. — Phal. {Bomb.) palpina, Linnisus; Hawortb. 

 Ptilodontis palpina, Hubncr ; Stephens ; Boisduval ; Wood, Ind. 

 Ent. t. 6, f. 32. 



This species measures from \h to 2i- inches in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a very pale buff" 



colour, marked with numerous blackish stripes and spots, especially along the veins of the wings ; a rather dark 



brownish cloud runs obliquely across the middle, between which and the hind margin is a double row of 



punctures. The hiud wings arc brown, with the base pale. 



The caterpillar is green, with several pale lines, freckled with black along the back, and a yellowish lateral 



one freckled with red. It is found at the end of May and September upon poplars, willows, &c., and the moth 



appears at the beginning of those months. It is by no means a rare species, and is occasionally found in the 



woods round London. 



PETvVSIA*, Stephens. ASTEROSCOPUS, Boisduval. 



This genus differs in wanting the lobe on the hind margin of the fore wings (which have only a tuft of scales 

 in its place), and the crest on tlie thorax. The fore-wings are elongate-triangular, opaque, with dark longitudinal 

 streaks, and not dentated on the margin ; the autennie of the males bipectinated, and dontato-crenulated in the 

 females. The caterpillars, which are naked, fleshy, longitudinally striped, and with the extremity of the body 

 conical above, have the habit of stretching themselves out and assuming the attitude of the sphingideous larva. 



SPECIES 1.— PETASIA CASSINIA. Plate XIV., Fig. 7, 8. 



Synonymes. — Phal. (Bomb.) Cassinia, Wien. Vera.; Fabiicius ; | Asleroscnpus Cassinia, Boisduval, Ind. Meth. 

 Haworth ; Donovan, vol. xii.,pl. 379, fig. 2 ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. I Brachionicha Cassinia, Hiibner, Verz. hek. Schm. 

 Ent. pi. 6, fig. 36 (Petasia C.) 1 Bombyoe Sphinx; Esper, pi. 49, fig. 1—3. 



This moth has much the habit of one of the Noctuidaj ; indeed Ochsenheimer unites it with the genus Xylina 

 belonging to that family. It measures from I ^ to nearly 2 inches in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of 

 an ashy-brown colour, with numerous black short lines, one of which at the base, and another along the hind 

 margin, are more distinct ; besides which there is a faint interrupted pale strijie at the hinder margin, which is some- 

 times quite obliterated. The hind wings grey with a dark central patch, and the margin spotted with black. 



The caterpillar is green, with yellow longitudinal lines, two of which unite .at tlio aii.il jirominence ; it feeds 

 on the oak, beech, and other forest trees in Jlay, and the moth appears in September and October. The species 

 is widely dispersed through the country, but is most ordinarily found in the woods of the south of England, 

 although rare, especially in the winged state. 



* Derived from the Greek, and alluding to the outstretched attitude of the Sprawler, as the caterpillar is named by collectors. 



