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nearly obsolete, the subapical one alone 
136 BRITISH MOTHS 
appearing very indistinctly, preceding three pairs of black dots, the middle 
ones being most distinct, the others being sometimes obsolete, as in the variety named Noctua bimaculata by 
Haworth. Other varieties occur with a dark reddish-brown striga before t] 
a bent one behind the posterior stigma, and another subapical one marked 
1e anterior stigma, a bent one of 
brighter colour between the stigmata, 
as in the others with black dots, which are also occasionally obsolete. The caterpillar is black, varied with grey, 
and a dusky red dorsal stripe. It feeds on the oak, and various other trees; and the moth appears in April, 
being found on the trunks of oak ; also flying about Sallow blossoms, but very rare. 


DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVIII. 
Insrets.—Fig. 1. Orthosia stabilis (the common quaker). 
es Fig. 2. Orthosia Miniosa (the blossom under wing). 3. The Caterpillar. 
as Fig. 4. Orthosia Litura (the brown spot pinion). ; 
“ ' ead fad  - . ~<a . - . . ’ . 
‘Figs. 5, 6 & 7. Orthosia pistacina, three varieties (the pale-headed chesnut). 8. The Caterpillar. 
“ yo Fig. ‘Q. Orthosia macilenta (the yellow line quaker). 
“6 
g Fig. 1. Orthosia Lota (the red line quaker). 
“ Fig. 11. Orthosia pallida (the pale quaker). 
= Fig. 12. Orthosia Sparsa (the powdered quaker). 
Prants.—Fig. 13. Cotabrosa aquatica (water whorl-grass). 
Fig. 11 is from the cabinet of Mr. Stephens; all the other insects on this plate are from specimens presented to me by Mr. H. Doubleday 
—the caterpillars are from Hiibner; in plate 29 will be found the larva of O. stabilisfrom a specimen sent me by Mr. Doubleday, 
H. N. H. 
SPECIES 5.—O. (TZZNIOCAMPA) SPARSA. Puate XXVIII., Fie. 12. 
Synonymes.— Voclua sparsa, Haworth; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 10, fig. 175. 
1 3 ; > — i 8) ay 7 1 ’ if 21) 1 ~ } ay . . 
This delicately-coloured species measures about 13 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a 
ereyish-ashy colour, powdered with minute dusky atoms, and with a small blackish dot near the base of the 
wino: = , io ata ar io 5 or j istine ‘] j 2 j 
ngs; the stigmata are slightly ashy and very indistinct, the anterior one being very small, and both encircled 
by a pale line scarcely distingui "es ing ; is i ; 
y a} scarcely distinguishable from the rest of the wing ; beyond this is a series of minute blackish dots 
on the veins, forming a curved line, < y ‘] i i i 
or: ed line, and followed by a narrow pale striga running parallel with the apical 
margin, bordered in fr V1 cy; the ee, cill , oi 
gin, ered in front with dusky ; the antenne, cilia, and fore margin of the fore wings are fulvous buff; 
the hind wings are light grey- m, Wi oj 2d wi ish ; 
gs ¢ ght grey-brown, with the margin dotted with blackish ; a central lunule of the same colour, 
and the fringe whitish. The er C ring varies in ditfer speci 
g ground colour of the wing varies in different specimens, from pale grey to rusty 
orey, a : rownish-ash ; dinar “io a8 . : : 
erey, and deep brownish-ash ; the ordinary strige are almost distinct. The caterpillar is described by Mr. 
Haworth as feeding on the st twigs of Salix viminalis, which 1 i 
g on the topmost twigs of Salix viminalis, which it draws together, and thus quite destroys its 
powers of vegetation ; it is green, with a pale longitudinal line on the back and sides. The moth appears at the 
end of March and April, but is not a common species curs 1 : iti ’ 
pril, pecies. It occurs in numerous localities round London. The 
specimen figured is a male, with the antenne pectinated as in O. instabilis. 

SPECIES? 6—O. (THNIOCAMPA) PALLIDA. Prare XXVIIL. Fic. 11 
———— *) re e 
Synonymes.—lVoctua pallida, Haworth; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 10, fig. 176 
This supposed species seems intermedi : ' 
ermedi: twee > pr 2 ee . 
PP ate between the preceding and following ; it measures about 13 inch 
in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a uniform pale reddish-brown colour, with a reddish striga near 
> c 
the tip of the wings, outwardly edged with whitish buff, preceded by a series of very indistinct punctures placed 
on the veins, as in the former species, which i S( 
; I f ch are occasionally obsolete, and another row of rather larger punctures 
