AND TIIKIR TRANSFOiniATIO.VS. jy- 



If inch ; they are of a pale castaneons colour, with the posterior margin brown, and with a large an<nilated fascia- 

 like dark blotch in the middle, in which are placed the stigmata, being towards the fore part of the blotch 

 which does not extend either to the fore or hind margin ; the anterior stigma is rounded with a pale margin 

 which alone renders it conspicuous, being, indeed, occasionally almost obliterated ; the posterior stigma is lunate 

 and white, with the centre rather greyish ; the apical margin has a slender dusky brown fascia, and occasionally 

 the basal jjart of the wing is almost concolorous with the centre part and the apical portion with a broadish white 

 fascia, and sometimes almost uniformly pale brown ; along the apex is a row of black dots. The abdomen and 

 hind wings are brown. 



The caterpillar is of a dirty whitish colour, with a browiHiead, and the back reddish brown, with some dusky 

 spots. It feeds on the Iris pseudacorus. The moth is very local. It was found in profusion at AVhittlesea- 

 niere, in July, 1822; ami Mr. Douglas has taken it feeding on sugar placed as a bait on fruit-trees at the 

 beginning of August. 



SPECIES 2.— APAMEA NICTITANS. Plate XXXVII., Fig. -3, 4. 



Synokysirs. — Phal. Nod. nictitatis, Linna}us ; Trcitschkc; 

 Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 12, fig. 264. 



Noctua chrysographa, Wicn. V'ci7,. ; Hubncr. 



Noctua auricula^ Haworth; Donovan. 12, jil. 397, fig. .3. 



Noctuii cineraijo^ Fabricius. 

 Noctua erylhrostigma, Haworth ; (variety). 

 llydrtEcea nictitanSj Guenee ; Doubleday. 

 Luperina (tttttttt) niclitans, Boisduval. 



This species measures from li to 1^ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a reddish brown 

 colour, obsoletely shining with a golden tinge in certain lights, with rather obsolete, undulating, or flexuose 

 striga;, six in number and nearly equidistant, but generally more or less obsolete ; the anterior stigma is 

 small, round, and obscurely golden brown, or obsolete ; the posterior one large, reniform, and of a golden white 

 tint, inwardly margined with brown ; along the apical margin of the wing is a row of black dots, the hind wings 

 are of a blackish tinge, with brown ciliie. Intermediate varieties occur, some being of a reddish grey colour, with 

 the strigcB more distinct, and both the round and kidney-shaped stigmata of a reddish colour ; the anterior stigma 

 is however often indistinct. 



This is by no means a common species, especially near London. It lias been taken near Margate by Mr. 

 llatchett, near Birch Wood, in Devonshire, the Xew Forest; taken also on Putney Heatli from the flowers of 

 lime-trees, as well as in the Isle of Arran. It appears in the winged state in the months of -luly and August. 



SPECIES 3.— APAMEA OCULEA. Plate XXXAII., Fiu. 7,8, 9. 

 Synonymes. — Plial. Noel, oculea, Linui'us ; Haworth ; Stephens ; '' Noctua lugcns, Hawortli. 



Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 12, fig. 2C7. 

 Phal. Noct. nictitaJis, Viliei-s. 

 Noctua didyma, Esper : Ochsenheimcr ; Trcitschkc ; Stephens ; 



Noctua /-Hi(/cr, Haworth ; Stephens; 111.; Wood, lud. Ent. pi. 12, 

 fig. 2C8. 



Noctua ravn, Haworth ; Stephens ; Catal. H. p. 8G. 



Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 12, fig.266. 1 Noctua /una, Haworth; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Eut. pi. 13, fig. 



Noctua nictitans, Esper. I 271. 



This very variable species measures from 1 1 to nearly 1}, inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are 



subdenticulated at the apex. In some specimens (as in our fig. 8) they are nearly of a uniform mouse-brown 



colour, with the slightest indication of the strigae. In others, (as in our fig. 9) they are of a rich dark chocolate 



brown, and shining, with still less distinct traces of the strigte, except the wings be held in a certain position, 



when they may be perceived of a duller hue than the rest of the wings ; whilst some (as in our fig. 7) have tlie 



fore wings much varied along the inner margin, and beyond the posterior stigma, with a pale luteous buff. In 



almost all these varieties the posterior stigma is more or less distinct and accompanied by a white dot, and the 



undulating subapical striga is succeeded by a darker tinge, forming an irregular margin along the apex of tiie wing. 



