AND THEIR TRANSFORJIATIONS. ^95, 



ring and a coronet-like mark towards the extremity of the wing of a pale whitish colour ; towards the base of 

 the wing is a transverse-geminated black striga, a second similar but much more undulating precedes the anterior 

 stigma, which is round and brown with a white margin (forming the ring above mentioned) which colour is 

 ako extended to the costa ; the supplemental stigma is also distinct and pale-coloured, and beyond the second 

 stigma is the larger pale coronet-like marking, through which runs the third dentated striga ; the apical margin 

 is ashy or whitish spotted with brown, indistinctly representing the subapical striga ; the cilia with a row of 

 brown spots, the hind wings brown. The variety, named coronula by Haworth, differs in having the character- 

 istic markings of a brownish colour. 



The caterpillar is cylindrical and pale yellowish green, with three pale yellow longitudinal stripes, and is 

 clothed with long slender black hairs. It feeds on the privet, and the moth appears in May and June. It is 

 occasionally taken in the woods in various parts of the south of England. 



SPECIES 2.— ACRONYCTA ALNI. Plate XLII., Fig. 3, and Plate XLI., Fig. 114. 



SvNONVMEs. — Phalana (Xoctua) alni, Linnn-us ; Hiibner ; Donovan 10, pi. 327, fig. 2 ; Haworth ; Treitsclike ; Stepliciis ; 



Wood, Iml. Ent. pi. 14, fig. 314. 



This species measures about \h inch in the expansion of the fore wings, which are of an ashy o-ray colour ; 

 the inner margin being broadly suffused with black ; at the base of the wing is a broad dark black streak, 

 another similar one being near the anal angle, the angle itself being pale ashy ; the striga preceding the stigmata 

 is pale and margined with dusky on each side, but is obliterated towards the inner margin of the win"-, the 

 stigmata are almost obsolete, and the two apical strigre are of a pale colour, nearly white. There is also a small 

 patch of the same colour in the middle of the inner margin of the wing ; the hind wings are whitish-buff, with a 

 pale brown border. 



The caterpillar is black, with orange-coloured dorsal patches and clavate hairs. It feeds on various trees, 

 preferring the alder, and the moth appears in May and June. It is a rare species, although found in many 

 parts of the country. 



SPECIES 3.— ACKONYCTA STRIGOSA. 



Synonymes. — Noctua striyusa, AVicn. Vciz. ; Falir. ; Ticitsclikc ; Hiibner ; Dupondicl ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 52, fig. 10G7. 



Xoctua favillacea, Hiibner; Esper. 



A specimen of this insect was in the collection of the late Mr. Haworth, whence it was described by 



Mr. Stephens, and ligured by Mr. AYood, as being about \\ inch (1 J inch. Wood) in the expanse of the fore 



wings, which are " whitish gray mixed with dusky brown, with a pale striga before the middle, and an arcuated 



one behind, and pale stigmata, the interior one of which is bordered with black, and the latter partially so ; the 



inner edge of the wing is fuscescent, with three longitudinal black streaks ; on the hinder margin is a slender 



black line ; the (ulia white, interrupted with dusky ; posterior wings grayish ash, with a transverse striga beyond 



the middle, and a narrow marginal line*. Caterpillar yellowish green, with an irregular broad yellowish brown, 



dorsal line, sprinkled with black ; head reddish. It feeds on the blackthorn and iiiountaiu-ash." Supposed to 



have been taken in Norfolk. 



SPECIES 4.— ACRONYCTA MEGACEPHALA. Plate XLII., Fig. 1G, and Pl.^te XLI., Fig. J42. 



Synonvmes. — Xoctua megacephala. Wien. Vcrz. ; Fabiicius ; Hiibner; Haworth; Stephens; Wood, Imi. Ent. pi. 14, fijr. 312. 

 This species measures \^ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are grey, thickly irrorated and clouded 



* Jlr. Wood's figure represents the apical portion of the wing behind the stigmata as pale, slightly varied with pale brown, and with several 

 conical black dashes. 



c c2 



