AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. 15 I 



SPECIES l.-AMPHIPYRA PYRAMIDEA. Plate XXX., Fig. 11, 12. 



Synonymes.— PAa/. Noctua pyramidea, Linnaus ; F.-ibr. ; Treitsrhkc ; Hilbner ; Donovan, vol. 6, pi. 193 ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. 



pi. 11, fg. 213. 



TIlis species varies from 1^ to 2 inches in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a brown colour, mucli 

 varied with pale gi-cjish brown ; near the base of the wing is a small angulated pale striga, edged with black, 

 and another similarly edged and very dentated before the anterior stigma, which is small, pale, and round, with 

 a black dot in the centre, followed by a large dark patch extending nearly to the costa, where are two blackish 

 spots ; then follows another very irregular, ]iale, undulated striga, edged with black, and a dark subapical bar, 

 emitting pointed longitudinal streaks, directed towards the base of the wing, and a row of minute, apical, curved 

 dark lines. The hind wings are bronzed red, with the co.stal portion broad and brown. The body is brown. 

 The caterpillar is naked and green, with white dorsal and lateral lines and a conical protuberance near the 

 extremity of the body. It feeds on oak, elm, poplar, hazel, nut, plum, and other trees in May and June, and the 

 moth appears in August ; it is fond of hiding itself in crevices, or burrows in the bark of the oak, formed by 

 other insects, where it sits with its shining eyes only exposed at the entrance. It is a rather common and 

 widely-distributed species. • 



PYROPHILA, Stephens, Hub.neh, p. (SCOTOPHILA, Boisduval. PHILOPYRA, c. Gviyiz.) 

 This group is closely allied to the preceding, but ditt'ers in liaving the terminal joint of the recurved and velvetty 

 palpi short ; the fore wings are almost destitute of markings, with the apex not dentated ; the hind wings are 

 pale coppery brown, all the wings being very glossy. The antennte are elongate, slender, and setaceous. The 

 caterpillars are green, with white lines, but without the angular elevation at the extremity of the body. They 

 feed on various low-growing plants, and the moths ai>pear at the middle and end of the summer. 



SPECIES ].— PYROPHILA TRAGOPOGINIS. Plate XXX., Fig. 13, 14. 



Synonymes. — PAa/. Noct. Tragopoginis, Linn. ; Haworth ; Ilubni-r ; Wood, Ind. Ent., pi. 11, fig. 214. 

 This species measures about \\ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are entirely of a brown mouse- 

 colour, with no other markings than a dusky si^ot in the place of the anterior stigma, two others in the place of the 

 outer stigma, and a very ill-defined subapical striga. The hind wings are livid brown, with the margin darker. 

 The caterpillar is green, with a white line on the back and two on each side, and various white dots on each 

 segment. It feeds on Tragopogou pratense, and Spiuacea oleracea, Serratula arvensis, &.c., in JFay and June, and 

 the moth appears in July and August. On one occasion I found a considerable number hidden beneath the 

 bark of a rotten tree, at Netley, Salop; and 51. De Villiers has noticed them in such situations ranged side by 

 side, generally touching each other, and with the head always turned in the same direction, and which if 

 disturbed do not attempt to fly, but run upon the backs of their companions, which exhibit no marks of alarm • . 



SPECIES 2.— PYROPHILA TETRA. Plate XXX., Fig. 1.5. 



Synonimes. — i\octna letru, F.ibricius ; Haworth; lliibiicr ; ' Ph. Iragopoginis, Donovan, 7, pi. 2-3, f. 2! Albin, pi. -/. 

 Treitschkc. 1 fig. 41, h— k ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 11, fig. 215. 



This species is described as rather larger than the preceding (17 lines broad) ; the fore wings dark bi-own, witij 

 three dark spots placed as in Tragopoginis, and with several small white dots on the costa ; near the apex and 



Ann. Soc. Eut. dc Fiance, .\i. Hull. p. .\ii. 



