92 BRITISH MOTHS 



Spilosoma Urtic.e ? Ilawortl), Stephens, Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 7, fig- 7^, and our pi. 18, fig. 10, appears 

 to nie to be another variety of Sp. Jlenthastri, from \Yhich it is chiefly distinguished, according to Mr. Stephens, 

 by " the antennse being white, with dusky radii, the abdomen very slightly fulvescent, and the greater purity of 

 tho white colour of the wings." This description is evidently made from Mr. Stephens' male specimen ; but it 

 is to be observed, contrary to Mr. Stephens' description, that the antenna; of the males of Menthastri, in fine 

 condition, are white, witli dark nays. Mr. Stephens further mentions that his specimen differs from Sp.Papyratia 

 in form, whereas the Urticffi of the continental authors is identical witli Papyratia. 



.ff.J> 



SPECIES 2.— SPILOSOMA LUBRICEPEDA. Plate XVIII., Fig. 17, J», 19. 



SvNiiNvsiEs. — PhahL'ia (Bombi/.r) liibricepeda, hmna:ns; Mar- I 24, fig. 35, a — c; "Wilkes, pi. 4,'); Harris, Aurelian, pi. 17, fig. 

 sliam ; Linn. Trans. I, pi. 1, f. 2 ; Donovan, l(i, pi. 568 ; Albin, pi. | g— c; AVooil, Ind. Eat. pi. S. fig. 7C. 



This abundant species measures from 1^ to 1a inch in tlic expanse of its fore wings, which are of a yellowish 

 buff colour, varying in depth of tint, with an interrupted oblique row of spots beyond the middle, and various 

 other spots, one being on the costa towards the base, and another beyond the middle ; a spot being also mostly 

 visible at the extremity of the discoidal cell. The hind wings are rather paler, with two or three black dots. 

 The head and thorax are buff, and the abdomen or.ange, with black spots. 



The spots on the wings are very variable, being sometimes almost obsolete and sometimes dilated and 

 running together into long patches, as in our fig. 19, which represents a specimen of the supposed species, 

 Sp. radiata, of Ilaworth. I possess a specimen from Mr. Ilaworth's cabinet e.xactly intermediate between these 

 two extremes. 



Tho caterpillar is brown and hairy, with the sides paler, tho dark back separated by two blackish longitudinal 

 lines. It feeds on various herbaceous plants in August, and the moth appears in the following June. 



SPECIES a— SPILOSOMA PAPYRATIA. Plate XVIII., Fig. 15. 



Synonymfs. — Phalana papyratia^ IVIarsham in Linn. Trans., 1, t Wootl, Ind, Ent. pi. 7, fig. 75. 

 pi. 1, fig. 4; Donovan, vol. IG, pi. 571 : -Mbin, pi. 21, fig. 30, c — h ; | Bombyx Urticte,\ivihaet\ Esper ; Odiscnlieinier ; Godiirt. 



This rare species measures rather more than Lj inch in the expanse of the wings, which are of a pure white 

 hue ; the anterior with two or four spots on the disc, and a slight row of dots near the tip ; often, iiowever, wanting; 

 the hind wings, occasionally, with a very few dark dots. The antennas of the males are white, with black rays. 

 The abdomen is orange-coloured, with black spots, and the tip white. 



The caterpillar is brown and fulvous, with a few bl.ack spots. It feeds upon various water-plants, and the 

 moth appears in .June in marshy places, but is of comparatively rare occurrence. 



CYCNIA, HiBNER. (DIAPHORA, Stephens.) 



This genus differs from the preceding in the semi-transparency of the wings, which differ remarkably in colour 

 in the opposite sexes, and in the slightly spotted abdomen. The palpi are small, with the third joint of equal 

 length with the preceding ; the antennw in the males are but moderately bipcctiuatod. 



SPECIES 1.— CYCNIA MENDICA. Plate XVIII., Fig. 20, 21, 22. 



S^NONYMEs. — PhaliBna (BorriOi/.i) ineiidk-a, Linnctus ; Marsliani ; Ijinn. Tians. 1, pi. 1, f. 3 ; Donovan, vol. ii. pi. 3S8 ; Harris 



Aui(-'li.in, pi. 35, fig. rb ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 7, fig. 77-78. 



This singular species varies from IJ- to 1,^ inch in the expansion of the wings. The male is entirely brown ; 



