J56 BRITISH MOTHS 



CALOCAMPA, Stephens, GuENiE. 



This genus is very closely allied to such of the preceding species as X. semibrunnea, which have elongated 

 wings, which is peculiarly the case in the present group ; the peculiarly quadrate thorax, with the lateral anterior 

 angles produced, is also a character they possess in common, although not represented by Mr. Curtis in his 

 delineation of the type of the group, which he unites with the other Xylinas. The antenna? are robust and 

 ciliated Avith hairs beneath in the males, and the labial palpi have the terminal joint short and not exposed. 

 The fore wings have the cilia somewhat dentated. The caterpillars ai'e smooth, very much elongated, and varied 

 with gay colours, and they feed upon various low-growing plants. They descend to a considerable depth into the 

 earth to undergo their transformations. The perfect insects are autumnal. 



SPECIES 1.— CALOCAMPA EXOLETA. Platr XXXI., Fig. 9, 10. 



Synonvmes. — Phal. Noel, e.toleta, hinn. ; Hiibner; BoisJuval ; Haworth ; Stephens; Donov. 6, pi. 187; (lar\a). 



Curtis, Brit. Ent. pi. 2ti6 ; Wilkes 8, pi. 18. 



This fine species measures from 2 to 2j inches in the expanse of the fore wings, which have the anterior or 

 costal portion brown, the inner portion grey or ashy brown, and the apical portion more bufF. Towards the 

 base arc numerous very slender black pencilled lines, forming various zig-zags, and which are in effect the 

 ordinary basal strigfe singularly displaced* ; the stigmata are near together, towards the middle of the wing 

 they are but slightly indicated by a dark, slender, marginal line ; the posterior, however, has a dark patch on its 

 hinder part ; annexed to this are several wedge-like, dark streaks, and between these and the apical margin are 

 one or more arrow-headed slender marks, and a double row of small black dots placed on the veins, the margin 

 itself marked with conical dusky dots ; the hind wings are greyish brown, with a darker lunule towards the base ; 

 the margin with a row of small dark dots, and the cilia pale ochre. The front of the thorax is pale ochre, with 

 two dark arches between the base of the fore wings, and the hind part of the thorax dark brown-grey. The 

 caterpillar is green, dotted with white, with a yellow lateral lino and a red one above the feet on each side. It 

 feeds on various low plants, especially the Iris and Serratula tinctoria, and the moth appears at the close of the 

 autumn as well as at the beginning of summer. It is a comparatively rare but widely-dispersed species. 



SPECIES 2.— CALOCAMPA VETIISTA. Plate XXXI., Fig. 11, 12. 



Synonvmes. — N'octua vetustay Hiibner ; Trcitschke ; Duponcbel ; BoisJuval ; Stepliens. 

 N. exoleta, Donovan, vol. 6, pi. 187 (imago) ; Esper. 



This species is very closely allied to the preceding, measuring rather more or less than 2 inches in the expanse 

 of the fore wings, which are of a richer tone than in that species ; the anterior stigma is almost obsolete, and the 

 outer one accompanied by a single black dot ; the inner margin of the wing darker brown, and the apex of the 

 wing with more strongly-marked, zig-zag, pale and dark streaks. The caterpillar is dark green, spotted with 

 white, with a pale lateral line, in which are placed the spiracles, which are red. It feeds on Carex. Rare. 

 Darenth Wood, at the beginning of September. 



* It would be .in iuteresting object of inquiry to trace the manner in which tlie typical markings of this extensive family become modified 

 or lost as we apprcacli the confines of the group. 



