196 BRITISH MOTHS 



with black scales, amongst ■which may bo traced the two ordinary basal duplicated strigas ; the anterior stigma 

 is pale, with a black ring and a dusky centre ; the outer stigma is much curved, and is followed by a larTe pale 

 patch, through which runs the much curved and arched third striga, the black outer edging of which forms a 

 series of very strongly marked black arches ; the subapical curved striga is pale, but almost indistinct ; the cilia 

 is pale gray, spotted with black ; the hind wings are white, with dusky veins, and a slender interrupted marginal 

 fimbria. Tliere is considerable diversity in the clearness of the characteristic markings, some specimens being 

 almost suffused, with the markings nearly obliterated, whilst others have them jiale and much more distinct. 



The caterpillar is described by Fabricius as hairy *, brown, spotted with red, with the head broader than 

 the body, and with a sulphur-coloured spot on the body behind. It feeds on poplars and willows ; and the 

 perfect insect, which is a common species, is found in May, and also in July and August. 



SPECIES 5.— ACRONYCTA AURICOMA. Plate XLII., Fig. 9, and Plate XLI., Fig. 101. 



SvN"NYMEs. — Notua avricoma, Wien. \cvz.\ Fabricius; Hiibncr ; Hawortli ; Treitsrlike; Stepliens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. 14, fig. 317 ; 



Duponchel ; Esper. 



This sjx'cies measures about H inch in the expansion of the fore wings, which are varied with ashy brown 

 and gray colours, with the two ordinary dentate germinated basal strigas of black colour ; the anterior stigma is 

 subocellated with a black ring and a brown pupil. The outer stigma is kidney-shaped and bordered with 

 black and white, with a black dentated line at the base. The third striga is very much dentated and black, and 

 terminates towards the anal angle in a black mark like the Greek letter Psi ; the apex is more or less varied, with 

 a pale subapical striga ; and the costa, as well as the cilia, is varied with black dots. The hind wings are 

 brown, with the base ashy-coloured in the males. Like the preceding species, the present varies very consider- 

 ably in the strength of the characteristic markings of the fore wings. The caterpillar is brown or black, with 

 a reddish spot on each segment, and the sides above the feet gray ; it is clothed with fulvous hairs, and feeds on 

 the beech, bramble, dewberry, &c. and the imago appears in May and July. It is a comparatively rare species 

 in the woods round London. 



NocTUA siMiLis, of Haworth, the scarce knot-grass (Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent.) is regarded as a 

 ])robable variety of Auricoma, measuring 1^'- inch in expanse, with the wings more ashy, with a slightly waved 

 striga before the middle ; another oblique brown abbreviated one in the middle, and a third submoniliform, and 

 hoary, placed on the apical portion of the wing ; the liind wings whitish, with a rather dusky fimbria. 



NocTUA Menyanthedis, the light knot-grass of Haworth, (but not of Hiibner), is also a variety measuring 

 I5 inch iu expanse, and of a hoary ashy colour, with the stigmata distinct, and a brown duplicated striga before, 

 and anotlier narrower and dentate one behind the middle, the latter terminating in a Psi-like mark. 



SPECIES C— ACRONYCTA MENYANTHEDIS, Plate XLII., Fig. U. 



SvNONYMES. — Noctna Alenyanthedis, Hiibuor ; Espcr ; TreitschVe ; Stephens, 111. Haust. 3, pi. 27, fig. 1 ; WooJ, Ind. Enl. pi. 14, fig. 31S. 



Acronycta Salicis, Curtis, Brit. Eut. pi. 136 (variety). 



This species measures about 1}, inch in expanse of the fore wings, which are of a pale slaty-gray colour, witli 

 tlie inner margin darker-coloured, and a dark dentated striga towards the apex of the wings. The base of the 

 wing is slightly clouded, and bears a strongly-marked black hook ; the striga preceding the stigmata is somewhat 

 more distinct, geminated ; the anterior stigma is very small, and formed of a black ring ; the outer one is larger 



* In the specimen represented in our plate, the liairs had probably been abraded, or the inseet miglit have been in the act of forming its cocoon 

 wlicn the hairs are shed. 



