AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. 209 



small tubercles ; in some species tl.ey are obliquely fasciated. They generally feed on the leaves of trees, rarely 

 on low-growing plants. The perfect insects are autumnal. 



SPECIES 1.— XANTHIA FLAVAGO. Plate XLV., Fig. 1, 2. 



SYNONTMEs.-Ar<,<.<„„ _^„„„,_,„^ p,,,,;,,,,, . ,i„^.„,,j.„ . p^^.,;^ . ^^^^^^^ „chracea,,o, Borkhausen. 



Stephens : Wood, I„,l. Knt. ,,1. 15, fig. 345 ; Albin, pi. 68, fig. a-d. Noctua Hlago, Hubner ; Gu,5uee; Doubkday ; Boisduval. 



Noclua togala, Espcr. 



This species measures \\ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a rich golden yellow colour, 

 with various spots, dots, and a spotted oblique fascia, beyond the middle of the wing, of a purple brown colour : 

 of these spots, one at the base is large and costal, a central flexuous mark in the middle of the wing ; the inner 

 stigma is almost obsolete, the outer one n.arked by a dark dot in its hind part; the striga following the 

 stigmata is of yellow, bordered on each side with dark spots; towards the apical margin is a row of brounish 

 spots ; the cilije are purplish ; the hind wings are white, with yellowish ciliaj. 



The caterpillar is pale brown, with a darker lateral stripe, and the belly pinkisli. It feeds on sallow, and 

 also on plantain. The moth aj)pears in September and October, frequenting the woods round London, where 

 it is not a rare species. Mr. Douglas has taken it from ivy blossoms. 



SPECIES 2.— XANTHIA FULVAGO. Plate XLV., Fig. 3,4. 



Synonymes. — Phaleena Noctua fulvago, Liniwus; Fabricius ; 

 Haworth ; Curtis ; Stcpliens; Wood, hid. Eut. pi. 15, fig. 34G ; Albin, 

 pi. 38, fig. 52, a—d. 



Ph. iV. crocea^ Villers. 



Noctua flavescens, Espcr ; Borldiauscn. 



Noctua cerago, Hubner ; Treitscbke ; Borkhauscu ; Gu^uee ; 

 Duponchc4 ; Boisduval. 



Phalwna Noel, rubago, Donovau 10, pi. 338, fig. 2. 

 PhaltBiia citrago, Wilkes 5, pi. 8. 



This species measures from 1^ to 1 J^ inch in the expansion of the fore wings, which are of a more or less 

 bright sulphur yellow colour, varied with purple brown markings ; of these, a patch on the costa towards the 

 base, (behind which is a small spot,) is succeeded by a slender and but slightly indicated waved striga, preceding 

 tiie anterior stigma, which is almost obsolete, the slender circle by which it is margined alone being visible ; 

 beyond this is a deep curved purple-brown fascia, the chief spot of which appears to represent the outer stigma ; 

 the third ordinary striga is represented by a yellow much curved line preceded and followed by some small dark 

 triangular or arched spots, which are dilated on the costa, with a large triangular patch extendinrf nearly to the 

 tip of the wing ; parallel with the apical margin runs a row of small brown spots. Varieties, such as our fig. 3, 

 occur, in which the dark-coloured markings are much less extensive, and others darker ; other varieties have the 

 ground-colour varying in intensity ; the hind wings are pale- whitish buff. The caterpillar is pale, with a 

 brown head. It feeds on birch ; and the moth appears in September and October. It is a rather common 

 species, and is found in woods and on ivy blossoms. 



Noctua gilvago, of Haworth ; Wood, pi. 15, fig. 347, is considered by 3Ir. Stephens as a probable variety of 

 the preceding insect, with which it is taken occasionally in company, differing from it in being very nmch paler- 

 coloured, and without the maculated fascia and cloudings, and in bearing a series of subapical brown dots, and a 

 spot in the place of the posterior stigma. Mr. Stephens also doubts whether it be the N. gilvago of Fabricius, 

 which species is considered by the German and French Lepidopterists as quite distinct from fulvago, and, as the 

 gilvago is common near Paris, this opinion appears confirmed. 



