12 BRITISH MOTHS 



GEOMETRA, Leach, Stephens. ENNOMOS, Duponch., Boisduval. 

 I have followed Leach and Stephens in giving to the Thorn Moths the name applied by Linnaeus to the entire 

 group of Looper Jloths, in preference to that of Ennomos, the type of which, as first proposed by Treitschke, was 

 the Phalsena flexula ; for which Mr. Stephens has retained the name of Ennomos. These Thorn Moths, however, 

 can scarcely be conceived to have been regarded by Linnaeus as typical of the group ; for neither do they occur 

 at the head of his section, nor will their larvee agree with his observation, " Harum pectinicornium larva inprimis 

 referunt ita ramulum ultimum, cui, insident, ut difficile ab eo distinguantur." (Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, 2, p. 858, 

 note.) The French Lepidopterists, indeed, give the name of Geometra to G. papilionaria, which species was 

 placed by Linnaeus in the middle of his second section of the group. The species of the present genus 

 are distinguished by their elongated palpi ; male antennae bipectinated to the tips ; strongly denticulated 

 wings, which are elevated in repose, semewhat like those of butterflies ; the larvae are variable, but often 

 singularly nodose ; and their third pair of feet are larger than the preceding pairs. The synonymy of the species 

 is very much involved. 



SECTION I. — Autumnal Species. Hind wings distinctly angulated ; pectinations of antenna elongated. 



Species 1. — Geometra Tiliaria''. — (Plate LIX., Figs. 7) 8.) — This species varies from lA to H inch in 

 the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a fulvous colour, irrorated with brown, and with two subincurved 

 brown strigae, and a slight line at the extremity of the discoidal cell ; the hind wings less strongly atomose, with 

 a somewhat obsolete striga in the middle ; the thorax is robust and sulphur-coloured. The caterpillar is furnished 

 on the back with several pairs of acute tubercles ; it is of a brown colour, varied with dark brown and gray 

 markings, and pale buff irregular streaks. It feeds on the lime, alder, and other trees, and the moth appears in 

 August, and is very common. 



Geometra canaria, Hiibner ; Stephens ; Wood, fig. 474, is a probable variety, with paler vsings, destitute 



of dusky irrorations. 



'' S-iNONYMES. — Geometra Tiliaria, Stephens ; Wood, fig. 473 (not Tiliaria, Haworth, which is prohably a variety of Angularia). 

 Geometra alniaria, Haworth, but not of Liungeus nor of Donovan. 



Species 2. — Geometra erosaria ^. — (Plate LIX., Figs. 9, 10.) — This species varies from 16 to 19 lines 

 in expanse ; it has the wings angulated, truncated, and of a luteous colour ; the fore ones with two oblique, 

 straight or nearly straight strigae ; the hind wings angulato-dentated, immaculate, or occasionally with a central, 

 occasionally geminated, but very obsolete striga ; the thorax robust, fulvous in front and luteous behind. 



Geometra ochraria, Stephens ; "Wood, fig. 475, is rather smaller, with the angles of the hind wings less 

 produced ; the wings are pale ochre, with two obsolete, fulvescent striga ; the caterpillar is brown, varied with 

 fulvous patches and dark markings, and with obtuse tubercles on some of the terminal segments. The perfect 

 insect is found in August and September, and is not uncommon. 



* Synonyme. — Geometra erosaria, V^\^n. Verz. ; Hiibner; Treitschke; Haworth*, Stephens; Wood, fig. 476 ; but not of Esper. 



. . , Species 3. — Geometra quercinaria^ — This species varies from li to 14 inch in the expanse of its fore 



■2'*t. wings, which are grayish-bufi", very much freckled with brown atoms, or fulvous and but slightly atomose, and 



with two brown strigee ; from the last species it differs in having the fore wings less distinctly truncate at the 



apex ; the thorax is grayish-buff or fulvous. The perfect insect is found in August in the neighbourhood of 



lime-trees, and is not uncommon. 



'Synonvmes. — Geometra ^Jiercinaria, Hiibner ; Haworlh ; Bork- Geometra alniaria, Hiibner (female); Donovan, 8, pi. 275, 



hausen ; Treitschke; Boisduval; Stephens ; "Wood, fig. 477 bis. fig. 1. 



Ennomos erosaria, variety, Curtis. Geometra Tiliaria, Haworth. 



