jg^ BRITISH MOTHS 



SPECIES 1 G HADENA OBSCURA. 



Synonymf. — Koctua obseura, H;uvorth ; Stcpliens ; Wood, Ind. Eiit. pi. 52, fig. 1663. 

 The followin"- is Mr. Ilawortli's description of this doubtful species : — • " Closely allied to H. remissa, 

 contifua, &c., and perhaps only a variety of one of them. Tlie fore wings are more obscure or fuscous-ashy, 

 with a larwe paler patch at the base of the oosta, adjoining to which within, are several deep black lines ; towards 

 the posterior margin is a nearly obsolete, undulating, slightly-pallid striga ; the hind wings asliy-brown." No 

 locality is given to the species by Haworth. 



SPECIES 7.— HAUENA GLAUCA. Plate XXXIII., Fig. 7, 8. 



Synonyme. — iVoc/Hfl (//flWfa, Hiibner ; HiiwoiUi ; Ochseuheimcr ; Godart ; Boisduvul ; Steplicne ; Wood, Ind. Eiit. pi. 12, f. "230. 



This and several of the succeeding species constitute a small group, first pointed out by Mr. Haworth under 

 the name of Noctuje fisso-notata, on account of the fore wings having a small, pale, notched mark in the 

 centre ; they constitute Boisduval's eighth section of Hadena. Tlieir pupas also differ from the rest of the 

 genus, having the hinder segments produced into prominent angles, giving them the appearance of being 

 dentated. 



The present species measures about 1 ;} inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a glaucous brown 

 colour, clouded with lighter shades ; the costa marked with several black spots, indicating the origin of the 

 ordinary striga;, which are not very distinct, but are edged with black on both sides ; the anterior stigma is 

 rather obscure and edged with black, having a spot of the same colour behind, and adjoining to it, also edged 

 with black ; the second stigma is large and pale, with a dusky centre, and edoed with black ; beyond it the wing 

 is paler, and has a very curved and not very distinct striga; and towards the hinder margin is a not very distinct 

 pale striga, having several black arrow-headed marks towards the anal angle, placed upon the less strongly 

 defined W-like mark. The hind wings are brown, with a yellowish tinge. 



The caterpillar is yellowish-red marked with brown, with a paler dorsal line, and a blackish spot on each 

 segment ; and on each side of this line is a whitish dot, edged with blackish. It feeds, in July and August, on 

 Tussilago farfara and Cypripedium calceolus ; and the perfect Insect appears in May and June. It is a rare 

 species, but has occurred near London, Clieltenham, and Matlock. 



JVote, — -Mr. Curtis states tliat be possesses a line male specimen of a Hadena talcen at Kinnordy, wbicb agrees pretty well witli Godart s 

 figure of Hadena Lappo (vol. 7, pi. 116. f. 3), and wbicb he suspects may be the male of IT. glauca. 



SPECIES 8.— HADENA PLEBEIA. Plate XXXIII., Fig. 9, 10. 



NiKtita nana, Espcr (variety). 



Nocitia leucostiyma, Haworth ; Stephens (variety). 



Synonymes. — Nociua plebeiu, Liun. ; Haworth ; Stephens ; Cuitis; 

 Wood, lud. Ent. pi. 12, fig. 240. 



Noctua dentina, Fahr. ; Hilbner ; ITawonh (variety). 



Tliis species also measures about ] \ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are much more variegated 

 than in the last species ; the costa pale, with about eight black spots, the two basal ones succeeded by a waved 

 striga edged with dark colour, which does not extend to the inner margin of the wing, but is inflexed towards 

 the base, and succeeded on tlio disc of tlie wing by a pale patch with two black dashes ; beyond which is the 

 second striga edged with dark colour, and nearly straight; then follow the two stigmata, the basal one with 

 a dark patch adjoining to it on either side ; the stigmat:i are pale ; the outer one, however, brownish in the 

 inside, the space before and beyond the basal one, dark brown, as also beyond the second one, which is divided 

 by pale longitudinal .stripes. The supplemental stigma is dark coloured and rather small, resting upon a blackish 



