NOTICE ON THE PLUMBAGO LARPENLE. 
149 
large stones, or under rubbish, but as the spring advances, they again commence their 
ravages, and towards the end of April are full fed ; they then form a cocoon beneath 
the soil and become pupae, and the following June the perfect moths emerge. 
Silver-Ground Moth ( Cidaria Implicaria). This is quite a common insect, and attacks 
both the Auricula, Polyanthus, and Primrose. The caterpillars generally creep down into 
the heart of the plant they attack, and there forming a web, they reside and feed on the 
embryo leaves and flowers. They commence their depredations early in July, and 
continue feeding until September or October, when they become pupae, and the perfect 
moths appear the following June. When full grown, the caterpillars measure rather 
more than half an inch in length, are of a brownish green colour, with a row of white 
spots on each side. The wings of the moth, when expanded, measure rather more than 
1 inch. First pair dull white, with several small dark spots, and two very irregular 
dark bands. 
Primrose Moth ( Graphiphora Festiva). In some seasons this is a very plentiful 
moth; in others, scarcely any are to be met with. The wings measure, when expanded, 
rather more than an inch and a quarter. First pair pale brown, mixed with grey, and 
having four dark brown angular spots. Second pair pale grey, shining, with a faint 
dusky spot in the centre of each. The parent lays her eggs about the end of July, and 
the small caterpillars commence their depredations much after the manner of the genus 
Triphcena. On the approach of winter they bury themselves a sufficient depth to be secure 
from either the severity of the weather, or their natural enemies ; and there they remain 
in a state of partial torpidity, until the following spring, when they again commence 
feeding, and are full fed by the end of May, or beginning of June ; they then go into the 
pupa state, and the perfect moths appear in July. The caterpillars, when full grown, 
are about an inch long, of a dull greenish yellow colour, with a pale yellow line down the 
back, and a dark line on each side. 
Dark Tawny Moth ( Xylophasia Patrea). The caterpillar of this pretty moth is said 
to feed upon the Primrose, but we apprehend it chiefly confines its depredations to the 
wild places in the woods, as only one specimen, and that in the perfect state, has been 
met with by us. The usual time of appearance is in July. Of the habits and colour of 
the caterpillar we are unable to state anything satisfactory. The wings of the moth 
measure, when expanded, about an inch and a half. First pair pale grey, shaded with 
reddish brown, with a large dark brown spot on the upper edge ; a line of small brown 
spots extends from the base to the inner margin of each wing, and another broken and 
irregular one of similar dots on the margin itself. Second pair, pale blackish brown, with 
a black marginal line, and a pale fringe. 
Dark Porcelain Moth ( Argyromiges Sylvella). The little greenish white caterpillar 
so commonly found on the leaves of the Primrose and Polyanthus, forming its singular 
mines, is probably the Argyromiges Sylvella. It makes its excavations much after the 
manner of those on the rose, with this difference, however, that the path is not formed in 
so tortuous a manner, and is more confined to the mid rib of the leaf. 
NOTICE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF LADY LARPENT’S LEADWORT 
—PLUMBAGO LARPENTiE. 
By Mr. Geo. Eyles. 
On the 16th of October, 1846, Sir George Larpent received, at Roehampton, two cases of 
plants from China ; * and in a letter from Mr. Smith respecting them, this plant was 
particularly spoken of, as being one of the most ornamental he had seen in China, and 
was very rare even at Shanghai, also that it was the only plant in England of the kind. 
From these circumstances a more than ordinary interest was awakened in its favour ; 
* In our “ Magazine of Botany,” vol. xiv., t. 267, it is stated that seeds were sent from China to Sir George 
Larpent by Mr. Smith ; but we now understand that not seeds , but living plants, were sent by that gentleman. 
