AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. jyg 



the terminal joint distinct ; the head scaly ; the thorax with a slightly trilobed crest ; the fore wngs generally 

 pale in their ground colour, with dark markings ; the caterpillars smooth, cylindrical, with longitudinal lines. 



SPECIES a.— POLIA ADVENA. Plate XL., Fio. 1. 

 Synonymes.— A''oc<i/o adrena, Wicn. Vcrz. lliibner; Treitschke ; Hawortii ; Stephens: Wood, Ind. Ect. pi. 13, fig. 205. 



This species measures from 1^ to 2 inches in expanse of the fore wings, which are of an asliy-brown colour, 

 with a silvery shining gloss, with three stigmata and three strig» of a somewhat paler colour, but more or less 

 obsolete ; the first striga is before and the second beyond the middle of the wing, between which are the two 

 ordinary and a club-shaped supplemental stigma, of wliidi tlie margins alone are conspicuous ; the third, or 

 sub-ajiical striga, is formed of a series of angulated, fulvous, confluent spots, margined externally with paler colour ; 

 the apex itself with a very slender waved striga, formed of black curved lines ; the costa is obsoletely spotted 

 with whitish ; the liind wings are pale brown, with a broad dusky border. Occasionally, as in our fitrure 1, the 

 wings are almost entirely coneolorous, with only a sligjit white edging to the stigmata, and a reddish patch 

 behind the anterior, and another beyond the posterior stigmata. This is rather an uncommon species, frequenting 

 gardens in June and at the beginning of July ; the caterpillar feeding on lettuce and dandelion. Found in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Devonshire, Essex. 



NocTUA NiTENs, Haworth (Stephens, Wood, Ind. Ent., pi. 13 fig. 296) has been regarded as a variety of 

 the preceding species, than wliich, however, it is smaller, measuring 1^ inch in the expanse of the fore wino-s, 

 which are of a redder brown colour, witli the extremity more silvery ; the supplemental stigma larger, the apical 

 striga more distinct, and formed of angulated, confluent spots ; the antenna are setaceous and naked, and not 

 furnished with bristly pectinations. 



Noctua Thapsi, Borkbausea ; Bnihm. 



Noctua grandiSf Donovan; vol. x., pi. 341, f. 1. Haworth. 



Noctua poli/odon, lUiger. 



SPECIES 2.— POLIA NEBULOSA. Plate XL., Fig. 2, 3 



Synonymes. — Polia rieiii/osrt, OchsonhciuiLi-; ISoittluval; Gucucu; 

 Doublcday. 



Noctua pleheia^ llUbncr; Ouponchel. 



Noctua bimuculosa, Esper ; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. I3,f.297. 



This fine species measures from 1 {; to 2,'- inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a grayish white 

 colour with a silvery gloss, varied with blackisli markings and streaks. The two striga at the base of tlie wing 

 are more or less distinct, and edged witli black angulated lines on each side ; the anterior stigma is round, and 

 tlie outer one broadly ear-shaped ; behind the anterior one is a darker supplemental stigma, partially edged with 

 a black hook -like mark : tlie tliird striga is indicated by a series of black dots on the veins, the subapical striga 

 being more distinct, and formed of a row of black angulated marks more or less confluent and differing in size, 

 the largest being towards the anal angle ; along the apex as well as on the costa, is a row of black dots ; the 

 hind wings are obscure grayish brown, witli a darker border : the female is darker than the male. 



This is a widely disperse<l and common species, found in June on the trunks of trees. The caterpillar, as 

 represented by Hiibner, is of a grayish buft" colour, with the back more fulvous, having a central longitudinal 

 white line interrupted by black dots, and with brown angulated patches on each side ; the sides of the body with 

 oblique dark lines : it feeds on Verbascum Thapsus. 



SPECIES 3.— POLIA TINCTA. Plate XL., Fig. 6. 



Synonymes. — Noctua tincla, Biahni ; Treitschke; Stephens; Wood, Noctua advena, Vicweg. 



Ind. Ent. pi. 13, fig. 298. 

 Noctua tritiiaculosa^ Esper. 



bner. 



Noctua hepatica, Hiibn 

 Noctua argeiUina, Hawoith. 



This species is very closely allied to the preceding, the expansion of the fore wings measuring from Ij to 



