146 CATALOGUE OF MOTHS. 



patch, and the next — they are all gone. Whatever the cause, 

 they have all been affected alike. After such a dispersal I have 

 never noticed them at sugar again that season. Stephens says 

 the larvse feed on Thorn, but that is an error. I have bred the 

 species, and the larvae feed at the roots of grass exactly as does 

 the next species. The larvae of these two are so nearly alike 

 that Mr. Buckler had great difficulty in distinguishing them. 



iH. suUustris is in the Twizell list, but it is probably an error 

 for lithoxylea. Sublustris does not appear to extend beyond 

 Yorkshire, where it is very rare). 



91. X. polyodon, (Linn.). Dahk Arches. 



JLylophasia polyodon. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 200. 

 ,, ,, :N"ewm. Brit. Moths, p. 285. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. iv., p. 362. 



Hadena ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 130. 



Laeva. Buck., vol. i., pi. Ixiii., fig. 2 ; O.Wils., pi. xxxiii., 



fig. 10. 

 One of our commonest species, occurring everywhere in great 

 abundance, and in considerable variety. The extreme black 

 form {infuscata, White), also occurs in all parts of the district, 

 but is not nearly so numerous as the type. Intermediate forms 

 in every possible degree are of constant occurrence. The darker 

 specimens appear to be affected by the same (? meteorological) 

 conditions as Lithoxylea, and the same peculiarities may be 

 noticed at sugar. Infuscata is at any time more alert than the 

 type, and must be taken quickly off the sugar if you want it ; 

 nor does it appear to remain on the wing so late in the season 

 as does the ordinary form. 



92. X. rurea, Fab. Cloud -bordered Brindle. 



Xylophasia rurea. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 199. 



,, ,, Newm. Brit. Moths, p. 283. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. iv., p. S68. 



Hadena ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 131. 



Larva. Buck., vol. iv., pi. Ixii., fig. 6. 



