138 BRITISH MOTHS 



the fore wings, which are of a plain grey colour tinged with reddish brown, and slightly varied with minute dark 

 atoms and small blackish spots, whereof three form a small triangle near the base of the wings ; several others 

 form a very indistinct transverse lino preceding the anterior stigma, which is small and dusky-coloured, as is also 

 the outer stigma, which is distinct and of the ordinary size ; beyond this is a minute curved row of dots, those 

 towards the costa being tlie largest, followed by an indistinct pale subapical stripe, the margin itself spotted with 

 black. The hind wings are pale brown, with almost white cilia, having a rosy tint: Varieties occur in which 

 the ordinary siriga3 arc rather more distinct, and the stigmata united. The female is duller coloured. The 

 caterpillar varies from greenish brown to red, with yellow lines on each side, and the back irrorated with white, 

 and the head green ; it feeds on various trees, and the moth appears in JIarch, frequenting the flowers of the 

 sallow, and resting upon oaks. It is a very common species. 



SPECIES 10.— O. (T^NIOCAMPA) PUSILLA. Plate XXVII. Fig. 10. 

 SvNONYMES. — Noctua pusilla, Hawortli ; Stejiliens ; WooJ, Ind. Ent. jil. 10, fig. 180. 

 This species measures an inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a dull-grey colour, with the 

 stigmata contiguous but obsolete and of a brown colour, with a broad, brown, interrupted lino running from 

 the anterior stigma to the base of the wing; the a])ical margin marked with a row of brown punctures; the 

 abdomen is proportionately stouter than in the last, with a great beard having a black dot. Considered by Mr. 

 Stephens as a variety of O. cruda ; but Mr. Ilaworth states that the wings are more rounded or retusc in fr)rm. 

 Taken in Richmond Park, but rare. 



SECTION B.— ORTHOSIA PROPER. 



SPECIES WHICH ARE AUTUMNvVL IN THE TIME OF THEIR APPEARANCE IN THE PERFECT STATE. 



SPECIES 11.— ORTHOSIA LITURA. Plate XXVIII., Fig. 4. 



SyNONVMF.s. — Phaliena Noctita litura, Linn.; Hiihner ; Fabr. ; 

 Trcitschke ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Eut. pi, 10, fig. IHI. Guence 

 (Anchocelis I.) 



Noctua Polluta, Espcr. 



Noctua depuneta, Boikhausen (variety). 



Noctua Ornatria;, Freyer (variety). 



This species measures from 1 {- to li inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a greyish brown, 

 with five black short lines or dots upon the costa, one being transverse at the base of the wing, another 

 also forming a dot before the middle of the wing, this being united behind to a simple or geminated striga 

 formed of reddish somewhat undulated lines ; the third and fourth costal marks are opposed to the .stigmata, 

 which are brown and circled with a whitish line ; the space between them and the costa being liver- 

 coloured, which also extends backwards to the hind margin ; beyond this is a broad darker brown fascia, followed 

 by a narrow subapical one, marked on the costa by the fifth black mark, the apex of the wing itself being 

 also darker brown. The hind wings and cilia are dark brown. The colours are occasionally much brighter 

 than ordinary, and the stigma connected. 



The caterpillar is yellowish green, with a dark dorsal line and a pale stripe on each side, and the head pale 

 brown ; it feeds on the willow, birch, and other trees, as well as upon trefoil, &c., at the beginning of the 

 summer ; and the moth (wliich is rather rare, but widely distributed over the country) appears in September. 



SPECIES 12.— ORTHOSIA PISTACINA. Plate XXVIII., Fig. 5, G, 7, 8. 



SvNONVMF.s. — Noctua Pistacina, Fal)r. ; Iliiliner ; Haworth ; 

 Stephens; TiLitschke ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 10, fig. 182. Guenee 

 (Anchocelis P.) 



Noctua serinay Espcr. 



Noctua Lychnidis, Fabr. Duponchel (variety). 



Noctua canaria^ Esper (variety). 



Noctua lineola, Haworth; Donovan. 10. pi. 360, fig. 2 (variety). 



Noctua Schtenobtena, Esper (variety). 



Noctua xphwrulatina, Haworth (vaiiety). 



Noctua rubetra, Esper (viiriety). 



Noctua ferrea^ Haworth (variety). 



Noctua renosa, Haworth (variety). 



This most variable insect measures from 1\ to ];} inch iu the expanse of the fore wings, which vary from 



