AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. jq7 



13. Catocalidcs (Catcpliia, Catocala, Ophiusa, &c.) 14. Noctuo-Pbalsenides (Euclidia, Brephos, Anthophila, 

 Erastria, &c.) 



M. Guenec, who has especially studied the Noctuco of Europe, and has published a series of papers upon the 

 genera of these insects in tlie ' Annalcs do la Societe Entomologique de France,' has in the last volume of that work 

 (1841, p. 235) given a complete revision of the genera and species, which differs from that of Boisduval in 



several respects; for instance, he divides the gi'oup into eighteen tribes, arranged as follows: 1. Bom- 



bycoidi. 2. Noctuo-Bombycidi. 3. Bryophagidi. 4. Leucanidi. 5. Apamidi. 0. Noctuelidi. 7. Orthosidi. 

 8. Iladenidi. !». Xylinidi. 10. Heliothidi. 11. Plusidi. 12. Calpidi. 13. Amphipyridi. 14. Ophiusidi. 

 15. Catocalidi. 10. Pliala-noidi. 17. Acontidi. 18. Noctuo-Phatenidi. 



The benefits resulting from this cutting up of the group into so many minor divisions, are to be found in 

 an enlarged idea of the natural relations of the different genera. Jly reasons for not adoptinn- them in this 

 work are, first, that such an arrangement, foun<led only upon insects of a certain district, without the slightest 

 reference to those of other parts of the world, must necessarily be inaccurate and unnatural ; and secondly, 

 that it has been thought advisable in this work to follow, as far as practicable, the arrangements of recent 

 English authors upon this order. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXI. 



Insects. — Fig. I. Triphsna pronulia (tlie great yellow uodcrwing moth). 2. The variety called Innuba. 3. A (lark variety. 11. The 



Caterpillar. 

 " Fig. 4. Tripha^na Orbona (the lesser yellow undcrwinj;). 12. The Caterpillar. 



** Fig. 5. Tiiphrcna subscqua. 



" Fig. 6. Tripha^na fimbria (the broad bordered yellow underwing). 7. A dark variety. 13. The Caterpillar. 



*' Fig. 8. Tripluena intcrjecta (the least broad border). 



'* Fig. 9. Triphlcna Janthina (the lesser broad border). 



" Fig. 10. Cerigo cythcrea (the sti-aw-coloured undorwing). 



Plants. — Fig. 15. Tragopogon ])orrifolius (Ooat's-beard). 

 ** Fig. 16. Stellaria media (coraraon chickwced). 



" Fig. 1-4. Primula elatior (the Oxlip). 



The whole of the above insects are from specimens presented to mo bv Mr. H. Doubleday, with the exception of C. cythcrea from the British 

 Museumand T. subsequa from Curtis. The Caterpillars, 12 and 13, are from Hlibncr. 11 is from a living specimen. The Primula elatior is 

 from a specimen sent rae by Mr.H. Doubleday, from Banfield, Essex, wlicre there are several acres nearly covered with it, and where it constantly 

 preserves its drooping character, and never throws up single flowers from the base, as is frequently the case with the common Oxlip, which is 

 generally considered a hybrid. Mr. Doubleday thinks the present plant may be the true Primula elatior of Linne'. It is perfectly scentless. — ■ 

 H. N. H. 



TRIPILENA, OCHSENHEIMER. 



This very well marked group has the antennas simple in both sexes ;' the palpi reaching beyond the head 

 and ascending; the terminal joint very short ; the thorax smooth, or but very slightly crested in front; the 

 abdomen broad and flatfish, reaching beyond the hind wings ; terminated by a brush in both sexes ; the fore 

 wings narrow and elongate, with the two ordinary m.arks distinct ; the hind wings yellow, with a broad dark 

 submarginal bar. When at rest, the fore wings are carried almost flat. The caterpillars have sixteen feet, and 

 are smooth, thick, cylindrical, somewhat attenuated in front, and fleshy, with the ordinary lines distinct. They 

 feed exclusively on low plants or grasses, and keep themselves hidden during the day under stones. The pup» 

 are smooth, shining, and cylindric-conic, and are inclosed in cocoons of earth, of a slight consistence, but at a 

 considerable depth underground. The perfect insects are amongst the most powerful fliers iu the order. 



p 2 



