.2;}8 BRITISH MOTHS 



SPECIES 3.— ANARTA VIDUA. Plate LIII., Fig. 9. 



Synonymes. — Noctua vidua, Hiibner ; Trcitschke; Duponcliel ; Curtis's Guide ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pi. 17, fig. 4i;i. 



Anarta tnelanopa, Thunberg ; Boisduv.al. 



This species measures about an inch in tlie expanse of the fore wings, which are dull grayish-brown, with 

 the strigJB darker, undulating and dentated, and the stigmata distinct, with dark edges ; the hind wings are 

 blackisli-brown, with the base paler, and with a discoidal dark lunule ; the cilia pale, and the body rather 

 slender. Specimens from the north of Scotland are in Mr. Curtis's and Blr. H. Doubleday's cabinets. 



HELIODES, Gu£nee. ANARTA, r. Stephens. 

 The antennaj are perfectly setaceous in both sexes ; the palpi very minute and scarcely discernible ; the 

 abdomen slender ; the fore wings large and triangular, without distinct markings, and the hind ones broad ; 

 when at rest they are extended as in the Geometridse. The caterpillars are short, naked, with a small head, 

 and longitudinally striped. They feed on low plants. 



SPECIES 1.— HELIODES HELIACA. Plate LIIL, Fig. 10. 



Synonymes. — Noctua heliaca, Wien. Verz. ; HiibDer ; Ochsen- Nociua arbuti, Fabricius ; Haworth ; Donovan 10, pi. 343, f. 3 ; 



heimer; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent, pi. 17, fig. 414 ; Harris, Aurelian, Curtis, 

 pi. 33, fig. o. Noctua fasciola, Esper. 



Phaltsna domestica, Hufnagle. 



This pretty little insect measures about i of an inch in the expanse of the wings, which are brown, thickly 

 irrorated with ftdvous, red and dusky atoms, a darker shade crossing them about the middle, followed by a paler 

 transverse shade, then a dusky bar terminated irregularly by the pale subapical undulated striga, which is almost 

 obsolete ; the hind wings are black, with a bar of bright orange running across the middle ; the cilia of the fore 

 wings is alternately dark and light, that of the hind wings entirely pale luteous. 



This is rather a common species, and is widely dispersed, fl.ving in the afternoon sunbeams at the end of May 

 and June in meadows, and over grassy places. 



ACONTIA, OCHSENHEIMER. 



This genus has the antcnnro simple in both sexes, the palpi curved upwards higher than the eyes, slender and 

 with the terminal joint distinct and acute; the abdomen rather slender, and tufted in the males ; the wings are 

 prettily variegated, and the cilia are party coloured : they fly by day. The caterpillars are elongated, 

 attenuated behind, slightly setigerous, with only tu-o pairs of iitemhrcnwus jyrolec/s, resembling those of Euclidia. 



SPECIES 1.— ACONTIA LUCTUOSA. Plate LIII., Fig. 11. 



Synonymrs. — A'oc/?/o/«c/wos«, ^\'icll, Veiz. ; Huinier; Trcitschke; I Noctua Italica, Fabricius; Dcvilliers. 

 Boisduval ; Haworth ; Stephens; Wood, lud. Ent. pi. 17, fig. 415. | Nocttia leucotnetas,Fue&s\y. 



This species measures from 1 to IJ^ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a dark blackish-brown, 



with slender undulated black striga; ; the anterior stigma sni.all and round ; in the place of the outer stigma is a 



large square rosy white spot extending to the costa, where are two small dark dots ; at the anal angle is a pale 



patch, from which runs a series of black arches to the costa, edged with gray on the outside, and an interrupted 



row of reddish marginal dots ; the cilia white, with the middle portion black ; the hind wings blackish, with a 



