194 BRITISH MOTHS 



SPECIES 3.— APATELA ACERIS. Plate 41, Fig. 5, 6, and Plate 42, Fig. 17. 



Synonymes— P/ia/iS«a ( Noctua) aceris, Linn. ; Hiibncr; Haworth ; Donovan, 10, pi. 350 ; Albin, pi. 83, fig. a — d; Wilkes, pi. 67. 

 Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 14, fig. 311. Noctua hifuscata^ Hawortb (variety). 



This species measures from 1^ to If inch iu the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a slaty-gray colour 

 finely mixed with scales, and with undulating blackish lines, and a small black ring in the place of the anterior 

 stigma ; the basal striga is obliterated, but the base of the wing is marked with a trifid black mark. The 

 second striga is more distinct and dentate, being margined with dusky lines on eacli side ; the outer stigma is 

 much more obscure than the other, and is succeeded by a strongly curved series of pale arches edged on each side 

 with dusky lines, the apical portion of the wing being pale, with the veins rather darker ; the cilia is spotted 

 at the base with blackish. Varieties occur with the ground colour of the fore wings dark brown, but marked 

 as in the type of the species. Such specimens Mr. Ilaworth considered as a distinct species, but 5Ir. Stephens 

 has reared them and the typo from the same batcli of eggs. The caterpillar is thickly clothed with yellow 

 hairs, with golden brown tufts, as well as a series of pale cliain-like marks, edged with black down the back. 

 It feeds on the horse-chcsnut, sycamore, maple, &c. The perfect insect appears at the end of June, and is of 

 common occurrence. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLII. 



Insects. — Fig. 1. Aeronycta ligustri (the coronet). Fig. 112 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



" Fig. 3. Acronycta alni (tlie alder-moth). Fig. 114 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



" Fig. 5. Acronycta Psi (the dagger-moth). Fig. 116 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



" Fig. 7. Acronycta tridens (the dark dagger). Fig. 18 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



*' Fig. 9. Acronycta auricoina (tlie scarce dagger). Fig. 101 in Plate 41. Tlie Caterpillar. 



*' Fig. 11. Acronycta menyanthedis (the light-knot grass). 



" Fig. 13. Acronycta euphorbia) (the spurge moth). Fig. 141 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



" Fig. 15. Acronycta rumicis (the bramble moth). Fig. 121 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



" Fig. 16. Acronycta meg,acephak (the poplar gray). Fig. 142 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 



Plants Fig. 50. Menyanthcs trifoliata (the Buck-bean). 



'* Fig. 60. Rubus catsius (tlie De^vbcrry). 



All tlie motlis in this PKate are from the cabinet of Mr. Bentley; tlie caterpillars are from Hiibner. 

 Figs. 12, 13, 17, 19, 1 12, 114, 116, .are caterpillars, referring to Plate 41, and named in the description of that Plate. H. N. H. 



ACRONYCTA, Ochsenheimeh. 

 This genus, in the restricted state in which it is here (after Stephens) considered, is distinguished by the long 

 setaceous and simple antennas ; the palpi are moderately long and slender, elevated as high as the top of the eyes, 

 and porrected obliquely, with the terminal joint not concealed by the scales of the preceding joint. The head 

 with a slight frontal crest ; the thorax not distinctly tufted ; the fore wings moderately elongated, and generally 

 with dark, dagger-like markings, and the larvae variegated in their colours, and clothed with long and occa- 

 sionally clavate hairs ; some of the species having moreover a strong protuberance on the back of the fourth 

 segment of the body. The latter species are separated into a distinct genus by Guenee, under the name of 

 Semaphora. 



SPECIES 1.— ACRONYCTA LIGUSTRI. Plate XLII., Fig. 1, and Plate XLI. Fig. 112. 



SvNONVJiES. — Noctua Ligustn,'\\'\m.\ovT..; F.abr. ; Hubner ; Hawortb; Treitschke ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 14, fig. 313. 



Noctua coroiiula, Hawortb (v.ariety). 



The species measures about \h inch in the expansion of the fore wings, which are of a brown colour with a 



