54 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



measurements of a medium-sized D. euphorbiae. The upperside of the imago* is 

 similar to that of D. euphorbiae, but the ground-colour of the forewings is more grey- 

 green ; between the spots at the base and that in the middle on the costa stands yet 

 a third small spot, so that a distinct band is formed in the middle of the wing, 

 which is pale yellow in colour, green-grey below and at the tip. The thorax 

 is black-margined before the white hairs. The underside is more like that of 

 D. gailii, but less distinctly defined, all the colours lighter in tone and mixed 

 with a dirty flesh-colour, and the yellowish band on the forewings shows through 

 less. D. phileiiphorbia differs at first glance from D. gailii on the upperside through 

 the lack of the white spots along the middle of the abdomen, and from D. euphorbiae 

 through the grey-green antennae, which are always white in the. latter species. 

 Three larvae were found near Berlin in August, 1838, on Euphorbia cyparissias, 

 resembling D. gailii ', but no description was made of them; 2 s moths emerged 

 in June, 1839, which were evidently neither D. gailii nor D. euphorbiae, but either a 

 new species or a hybrid, but, as hybrids are usually sterile, the recurrence of 

 similar larvae in larger numbers in September, 1839, induced the writer to 

 consider it as a new species [Mutzell, Arch. Nat., vi., 1, pp. iyi-4, pi. viii., fig. 

 1 (1840;]. [The name phileiiphorbia is erected on p. 172.] 



Bartel writes (Pal. Gross-Schmett., ii., p. 76): "The hybr. 

 phileiiphorbia, Miitz., originates from a crossing of gailii and 

 euphorbiae, most probably a $ of the former with a $ of the 

 latter." The larva, he says, has quite the appearance of that of 

 gailii, and he then quotes Miitzell's description verbatim. Finally he 

 summarises the differences by stating that C. hybr. ph He uphoj'bia differs 

 from C. gailii in the entire lack of the abdominal row of white spots, 

 in the more unicolorous red of the hindwings, and in the dark 

 grey dusted ground-colour of the lower part of the forewings. The 

 antennae, whose upper sides are only white at the tip, and the 

 form of the oblique band of the forewings, sufficiently separate this 

 hybrid from H. euphorbiae. As already indicated above, only bred 

 near Berlin, from larvae taken at large. 



* The imagines, a typical example of which is in the collection of the Museum fur 

 Naturkunde, at Berlin, approach far more nearly/), euphorbiae in their forewings than 

 D. gailii. The dark olive-green oblique baud agrees in form with the latter species, 

 but projects outwards in a serrated form. The costa, which is of a lighter olive- 

 green than in D. gailii, is broadest at the base, and appears in the middle in a 

 large spot, which projects into the pale yellow ground-colour. Before it stands a 

 small, indistinct spot in the ground-colour. This is grey in the upper part of the 

 wings, in the under part mixed with whitish and dark sprinkled, which never seems 

 to occur in D. gailii, but very often in D. euphorbiae. Glossy light grey colouring 

 extends before the outer margin of the forewings. Fringes light grey, in places lighter. 

 The markings and colour of the hindwings likewise agree far more with those of 

 D. euphorbiae. The black colour at the base occupies a smaller area than in D. 

 gailii, and the band of the same colour before the border is narrow and much 

 serrated. The red colour enclosed by the two is not whitish or yellowish in its upper 

 part, as in D. gailii, but is here only a little lighter than in D. euphorbiae. Colour 

 behind the black transverse band reddish, much more extended than in D. gailii. 

 Fringes whitish, especially on the inner margin. Spot before the aual angle white. 

 Underside similar to that of D. gailii. In the middle of the forewings stands a black spot 

 near the costa, and the yellowish ground-colour is more extended ; the colour before the 

 outer margin, as also thai of the hindwings, is mixed with reddish. The latter bear 

 traces of dark transverse bands, but these are far more indistinct than in D. gailii. 

 In general all the shades of colour are lighter and the markings more weakly 

 expressed. Ground-colour of the body dark olive -green. Palpi white, olive- 

 coloured at the tip ; the latter above with a line white line. Antennae above 

 somewhat lighter olive-green than in J), gailii, only at the tip white. Head and 

 thorax white-margined. On the sides of the abdomen stand two alternately black 

 and white spots, and the incisions of the lour terminal segments are here, likewise, 

 white-margined. It is striking that the dorsal line of spots on the abdomen, which is 

 always present iii D. gailii, is entirely wanting. Underside of body dirty yellow- 

 brown; abdomen with white rings in the incisions (Bartel, Pal. Gross-Schmett., ii., 

 pp. 76—77). 



