174 BRITISH MOTHS 



and other herbs ; and the moth appears in June, but is very rare in this country, l)aviiig only occurred near 

 London, at Birchwood, and in Norfolk. 



SPECIES S.— MAMESTRA NIGRICANS. Plate XXXVI., Fig. 7. 



Synonymes. — Noclua itiyricans, Viowcg? Stejihcns, 111. II. 2, pi. 24, fig. 2; Wooil, lud. Ent. j)l. 12, fi". 254. 



Noctua objecta, Hubnor. 



This species measures If inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are nearly of a dull uniform 

 blackish, or olive brown hue, with the strigaj scarcely visible, except the subapical one, which is slender and 

 angulated, but very obscure, as is also the striga beyond the second stigma ; the costa is marked with several 

 rather darker spots ; the stigmata are slightly edged with dusky, the posterior one bein"- rather brighter, with 

 several whitish punctures, and succeeded by several blackish dots in a curved line ; the bind wino-s are dirty 

 white, with the nervures and margin dusky ; there is also a row of small lunate dark lines at the base of the 

 cilia. Very rare ; two specimens only found in the New Forest by Mr. Bentley, and in Darenth Wood at the 

 end of -June. 



SPECIES 6.— MAMESTRA BRASSICiE. Plate XXXVI., Fig. 8, 9. 



Synonymf.. — Phal. Noct. Brassiae, Linn. ; Iliibner ; Hawoith ; Albin, pi. 28, fig. 42, 43, a — e ; pi. 29, fig. 45, c — b ; pi. 67, .Ig. a — d ; 



pi. 78, fig. a— il; Stephens; Woud, Ind. Eut. pi. 12, 255. 



This very common insect measures from l^- to 1^ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which arc of a 

 brown colour, (variable in its tints in different specimens) clouded with darker shades ; the costa is marked 

 with several dark dots, arranged in pairs, indicating the commencement of the strigas ; the basal one is distinct 

 and much angulated, but abbreviated behind ; the second one is transverse and wavy, preceding the anterior 

 stigma, which is of a moderate size and rather paler than the rest of the wing, and edged with a blackish line ; 

 behind this is a small, blackish, ringdike mark, representing the supplemental stigma; the outer stigma is 

 marked on its exterior part with several whitish specks, and is followed by a very curved striga composed of 

 numerous small blackish arches. The subapical striga is whitish, and very much and irregularly curved, with 

 the central part deeply denticulated ; along the margin is a row of small black arched dots ; the cilia is brown, 

 with wliite dashes ; the hind winss are brown, with the base rather lighter coloured. 



The caterpillar is green, and more or less varied with grey or blackish ; it has a dark dorsal stripe, bearing 

 a pale indistinct hue ; at the sides is also a dirty yellow stripe, with the spiracles white. It feeds on cabbages, 

 lettuces, &c., eating out the heart ; and as it occasionally appears in great numbers, the injury which it commits 

 is extensive ; the only remedy is that of hand-picking before the caterpillars descend into the ground, where they 

 undergo their transformation, being full fed in the Autumn, and the moth appearing in May and June. 



Ohs. — Jlr. Ilaworth has described an insect under the name of Noctua albidilinea, which he states to be of 

 the size and general form of N. Brassiere, the fore wings being blackish coloured, with the ordinary sticmata 

 and a very deeply dentated white striga close to the posterior margin, as in the Brocade moths. Mr. Stephens 

 considers it as a variety of M. Brassicte. 



SPECIES 7.— MAMESTRA ALBICOLON. Plate XXXVI., Fig. 10. 



Synonymes. — Noctua aWicoloii,Odism\Kvme\; Trcitscbke ; Hiibner ; Stephens; III. Ilaust, 2, pi. 24,fig. 3; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 256. 

 This very distinct but dull-coloured insect measures about 1 i inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are 

 of a greyisli brown colour, mottled with darker shades, indicating, but not very clearly, the situation of the 

 ordinary strigre, the costa being also spotted as usual. The two ordinary stigmata are slightly paler than the 



