jg(> BRITISH MOTHS 



near!)' obsnletp, tlio subapical one alone appearing very indistinctly, preceding tliree pairs of black dots, the middle 

 ones beinfr most distinct, tbe others being sometimes obsolete, as in the variety named Noctua bimaculata by 

 Hawortli. Other varieties occur vv-ith a dark reddish-brown striga before the anterior stigma, a bent one of 

 brio-liter colour between the stigmata, a bent one behind the posterior stigma, and another subapical one marked 

 as in tlie others with black dots, which are also occasionally obsolete. The caterpillar is black, varied with grey, 

 and a dusky red dorsal stripe. It feeds on the oak, and various other trees ; and the moth appears in April, 

 beiniT found on the trunks of oak ; also flying about Sallow blossoms, but very rare. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVIII. 



Tnsfcts. — Fig. 1. Orthosia stabilis (the common qnalcer). 



" Fig. 2. Ortbosia Miniosa (the blossom under wing). 3. Tlic Catci|)iliar. 



" Fig. 4. Ortlio&ia Litiira (tlie brown spot pinion). ': 



" *Figs. 5, 6 & 7. Ortliosia pistacinu, three varieties (the palchcaJed cbcsant). 8. Tbe Caterpillar. 



'* /^. Fig. "9. Ortbosia macilenta (tlie yellow line quakcr). 



" 9 Fig. TO, Ortbosia Lota (tlie retl line qnaker). 



" Fig. 11. Ortbosia pallida (tbe pale quaker). 



'* Fig. 12. Ortbosia Sparsa (tlic powdered qtiaker). ~* 



Plants. — Fig. 1.3. Cotabrosa aqviatica (water whorl-grass). 



Fig. 11 is from tlie cabinet of "Mr. Stephens ; all the other insects on this plate are from spoeiniens presented to nie by ls\v. H. Donbleday 

 — tlie caterpillars are frnin Iliiluur; in plate 20 will be found tlie larva of (), stabilis from a specimen sent me Ity Mr. Doubleday. 

 li. .\. H. 



SPECIES .5.— O. (T.T.NIOCAMPA) SPARSA. Plate XXVIII., Fig 12. 

 Synonvmks. — Kochia sparsa, llauoith; Stepliens ; Wi.od, Ind. Ent. [iI. U), tig. 175. 

 This delicately-coloured species measures about li incli in the expanse of tlie fore wings, which are of a 

 greyish-ashy colour, powdered with minute dusky atoms, and with a small blackish dot near the base of the 

 wings ; the stigmata are slightly ashy and very indistinct, the anterior one being very small, and both encircled 

 by a pale line scarcely distinguishable from the rest of the wing ; beyond this is a series of minute blackish dots 

 on the veins, forming a curved line, and followed by a narrow pale striga running parallel with the apical 

 margin, bordered in front with dusky ; the antenna', cilia, and fore niaxgin of tlie fore wings are fulvous buff; 

 the hind wings are light grey-brown, with the margin dotted with blackish ; a central lunule of the same colour, 

 and the fringe whitish. The ground colour of the wing varies in different specimens, from pale grey to rusty 

 grey, and deep brownish-ash ; the ordinary strigae are almost distinct. The caterpillar is described by Mr. 

 Haworth as feeding on the tojnnost twigs of Salix viminalis, which it draws together, and thus quite destroys its 

 powers of vegetation ; it is green, with a pale longitudinal line on the back and sides. The moth appears at the 

 end of Slarch and April, but is not a common species. It occurs in numerous localities round London. The 

 specimen figured is a male, with the antennae pectinated as in O. instabilis. 



SPECIES? 0— O. (T.BNIOCAMPA) PALLIDA. Plate XXVIII., Fig. 11. 



SvNONVMEs. — i\'ot/»a /)(;//)'(/«, Ilaworlb ; Steplicus; Wood, Iml. Kiit.pi. 1(1, Hl'. 17ii. 



This supposed sjiecies seems intermediate between the preceding and following ; it measures about 1^ inch 



in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a uniform pale reddish-brown colour, with a reddish striga near 



the tip of the wings, outwardly edged with whitish buff, iireeodcd by a series of very indistinct punctures placed 



on the veins, as in the former species, which are occasionally obsolete, and another row of rather larger punctures 



