44 



BRITISH MOTHS 



the preceding species ; whilst his fig. 596, judging from the shape of the wings, seems to belong to a 



different genus. 



I SvNONYMES. — Geometra prceformaia, Hiibuer ; Curtis ; Wood, fig. 597 ? 

 Lareniia cassiata, Treitschke. 



SIONA, GODART. ID^A, OCHSENHEIMER. 



The antennae are simple in both sexes ; the palpi short, slender, and porrected obliquely beyond the head : 

 the abdomen long and slender in the males ; the fore wings subtrigonate, with the tips not acute ; the disk above 

 destitute of markings. 



Species 1. — Siona dealbata h. — Measures about ]|- inch in expanse. The body and wings are of a 

 yellowish white colour, with the veins dusky ; beneath white with black veins, with a dark fascia. Takenjin 

 woods in July, in the south of England, but not a common species. 



i" SvNONYME.— PAa/. Geometra dealbata, Linnasus ; Hiibner ; Haworth ; Stephens ; Curtis ; Brit. Ent., pi. 691 ; Wood, fig. 598. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE LXV. 



Insects.- 



-Fig. 1. Abraxas ultuata (the scarce magpie). 2. The 

 Caterpillar. 

 Fig. 3. Abraxas pantaria, (a variety of the preceding). 

 Fig. 4. Abraxas grossulariata (the magpie). S & 6. 

 varieties. 7. The Caterpillar. 8. The cocoon. 

 9. The Chrysalis. 

 Fig. 10. Melauippehastata (the argent and sable). 11. The 



Caterpillar. 

 Fig. 12. Melanippe hastulata. 



Insects. — Fig. 13. Zerene albicillata (the beautiful carpet). 



,, Fig. 14. Zerene procellata (the chalk carpet). 



,f Fig. 15. Zerene adustata (the scorched carpet) 



, , Fig. 1 6. Zerene rubiginata (the blue bordered carpet). 



„ Fig. 17. Zerene plumbata (the dark blue bordered carpet). 

 M. hastulata is from a specimen in the cabinet of Mr. H. Double- 

 day, kindly lent for the purpose of being figured in this work ; he 

 considers it a distinct species, and not a variety of hastata. The rest 

 are from the cabinet of Mr. Bentley. H. N. H. 



ABRAXAS, Leach. ZERENE, Duponchel. 

 The palpi are extremely short and slender ; the antennae short and simple in both sexes ; the body rather 

 short, and spotted with black ; the wings large, ovate, rounded at the tips, and with the margins entire and 

 marked with maculated fascise. The caterpillars are but slightly elongated, smooth, with a few hairs scattered 

 over the body. The flight is slow and weak. 



Species 1. — Abraxas pantaria '. — (Plate LXV., Fig. 3.) — Measures 1.2. inch in expanse of the fore 

 wings, which are cream-coloured, with the bar and a patch at the inner angle of fulvous, between which latter 

 and the apical angle are several almost indistinct fulvous and grey spots : hind wings with a fulvous patch, at 

 the anal angle, and two rows of fulvous and grey spots. Very rare : taken in Somersetshire, near Oakhampton 

 Park and Devonshire. As this insect is common in the south of France, appearing in May, whilst the next species 

 does not generally appear till the following month, I doubt whether it ought to be regarded as a variety of the latter. 

 ' Synonyme. — Geometra pantaria, Linnaius ; Hiibner ; Haworth ; Stephens ; 111., H. 3, pi. 32, fig. 1 ; Wood, fig. 600. 



Species 2. — Abraxas ulmata, (Plate LXV., Figs. 1,2.) — This species measures from I i to J |- inch in expanse 

 of the fore wings, which are white, with a dark fulvous brown patch at the base, and another at the inner angle varied 

 with silvery scales, a large patch of gray near the center, behind which are several smaller ones, and a curved 

 row of spots beyond the middle ; the apical margin also irregularly grey : hind wings with a fulvous brown 

 patch at the anal angle, and a curved row of gray spots. The caterpillars vary much in colour, some being 



