234 



BRITISH MOTHS 

 SPECIES 11.— PLUSIA CHRYSITIS. Plate LII., Fig. 6, and Plate LI., Fio. 12. 



Synonvmes. — PhalcBiui Noctua €hrt/sitis,h\uBxas; Fdhncius; Haworth ; HUbner ; DonoYau, 4, pi. 137 ; Albin, pi. 71, fig. a — d; 

 Harris, .\ureUan, pi. 22, fig. a — c; Stepbens; Wood, Ind. Eiit. pi. 16, fig. 402. 



This species measures from 1 ' to I^ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a pale brown, witli 

 two broad bars of greenish gold crossing the wings, the first occupying the space between the first and second 

 ordinary strigre, which are very slightly indicated by slender brown lines ; and the second much broader 

 between the third and the subapical strigje, and with the edges slightly waved. The characteristic portion of the 

 wing is narrow, especially behind, but bears the three stigmata ; the first small and round, the second ear-shaped 

 with a double edge-line, and the supplemental one small and rather oblong in form. The head and front of the 

 body fulvous ; the hind wings and abdomen brown : sometimes the golden bars are united by a longitudinal 

 stripe behind the supplemental stigma. The caterpillar is green, with a white lateral line, and interrupted 

 curved dorsal stripes. It feeds on the white Archangel, nettle, thistle, &c., and passes the winter in that state, 

 beino' full-fed in July, when it forms a coarse brown web, in which it changes to a black chrysalis, and the moth 

 appears in -Julv and August. It is a very abundant insect. 



SPECIES 12.— PLUSIA ORICHALCEA, Plate LII., Fig. 7. 



Nortna chrysa, Ksper. 



Phuliena Noctun arifera, Sowerby, Brit. Misc. 59, t. 29. 



Synonymes. Noctua orichalcea, Fabricius ; Iliibncr; Treitsclikc; 



Hawortb ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 10, fig. 405; Harris, 

 E.'iposition, plate 6, fig. 4. 



This fine species measures about I^- inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a cliesnut brown, 



with apical portion paler ; the basal strigas and stigmata scarcely discernible, and with a large quadrate patch 



of gold beyond the stigma towards the costa, through which the slender third striga passes ; the head and front 



of the thorax is red, and the hind wings and abdomen reddish-brown, the former with a rather indistinct central 



strio-a. The caterpillar is green, with pale whitish dorsal and lateral stripes and spots. It feeds on Eupatorium 



cannabinum, and the moth appears from June to August. It is a rare insect, although widely dispersed, having 



been taken at Ilethersctt ; Newbury, Berks ; Glanville's Wootton ; Crayford, Kent ; Ashdown Forest ; and 



near Manchester. 



SPECIES 13. — PLUSIA BRACTEA. Plate LII., Fig. 8. 



Synonymes- — Noclaa bractea, Fabricius ; HUbner ; Haworth ; Sowerby, Brit. Miscell. 57, pi. 28 ; Stepheos : Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. IG, fig. 40G. 



Plial. Nod. Sfcuris, Villcrs. 



This species measures If inch in the expanse of the fore wings, whicli are varied with purplish brown and 



grayish tints ; the stigmata and striga) indicated by darker markings ; the middle of the wing on the inner 



niaro-in marked witli a largo rich chesnut brown patch, extending to the two ordinary stigmata, and bearing near 



the middle of the wing an angulated pale golden patch ; apical portion of the wing beyond the dentate-subapical 



striga, pale brown ; head and front of the thorax rich ]iurplish red ; hind wings with a slight dusky fascia across 



the middle. This species is rare, but occurs in various parts of the north of England, Yorkshire, near Edinburgh, 



Isle of Bute, Derbyshire, Shropshire, near Birmingham, &c. Duponchel incorrectly states it to be common 



near London. 



SPECIES 14.— PLUSIA FESTUC^.. Plate LI., Fig. 9, 10. 



Synonvme. — Phalcona NiKina FestuoE, Linn.tus; Fabricius; Hawortli ; Donovan, vol. ii. pi. 4G ; Albin, pi. 84, fig. c — b ; Wilkes. 8, 



pi. 17 ; Stephens ; AVood, Ind. Ent. pi. 16, fig. 407. 



This elegant insect measures nearly 1^ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a dark brown 



colour at the base within, along the costa, and on the apical margin ; the other parts of the wing golden yellow. 



