AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. 
177 
1+ inch ; they are of a pale castaneous colour, with the posterior margin brown, and with a large angulated fascia- 
like dark bl i in 
blotch in the middle, in which are placed the stigmata, being towards the fore part of the blotch, 
which does not extend either to the fore or hind margin; the anterior stigma is rounded with a pale margin 
which alone renders it conspicuous, being, indeed, occasionally almost obliterated ; the posterior stigma is lunate 
and white, with the centre rather greyish ; the apical margin has a slender dusky brown fascia, and occasionally 
the basal part of the wing is almost concolorous with the centre part and the apical portion with a broadish white 
fascia, and sometimes almost uniformly pale brown ; along the apex is a row of black dots. The abdomen and 
hind wings are brown. 
The caterpillar is of a dirty whitish colour, with a brown’head, and the back reddish brown, with some dusky 
spots. It feeds on the Iris pseudacorus. The moth is very local. It was found in profusion at Whittlesea- 
mere, in July, 1822; and Mr. Douglas has taken it feeding on sugar placed as a bait on fruit-trees at the 
} . . = 
beginning of August. 

SPECIES 2.—APAMEA NICTITANS. Purare XXXVII., Fie. 3, 4. 
Synonymes.—Phal. Noct. nictitans, Linneus; Treitschke; | Noctua cinerago, Fabricius. 
Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 12, fig. 264. Noctua erythrostigma, Haworth ; (variety). 
Noctua chrysographa, Wien. Verz. ; Hiibner. Hydrecea niciitans, Guenée ; Doubleday. 
Noctua auricula, Haworth; Donovan, 12, pl. 397, fig. 3. Luperina (ttttttTt) nictitans, Boisduval. 
This species measures from 1} to 14 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a reddish brown 
colour, obsoletely shining with a golden tinge in certain lights, with rather obsolete, undulating, or flexuose 
strigee, six in number and nearly equidistant, but generally more or less obsolete; the anterior stigma is 
small, round, and obscurely golden brown, or obsolete ; the posterior one large, reniform, and of a golden white 
tint, inwardly margined with brown; along the apical margin of the wing is a row of black dots, the hind wings 
are of a blackish tinge, with brown ciliz. Intermediate varieties occur, some being of a reddish grey colour, with 
the strigee more distinct, and both the round and kidney-shaped stigmata of a reddish colour; the anterior stigma 
is however often indistinct. 
This is by no means a common species, especially near London. It has been taken near Margate by Mr. 
Hatchett, near Birch Wood, in Devonshire, the New Forest; taken also on Putney Heath from the flowers of 
lime-trees, as well as in the Isle of Arran. It appears in the winged state in the months of July and August. 

SPECIES 3.—APAMEA OCULEA. Puate XXXVILI., Fie. 7,8, 9. 

Synonymes.— Phal. Noct. oculea, Linneus; Haworth ; Stephens ; | Noctua lugens, Haworth. 
Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 12, fig. 267. | Noctua I-niger, Haworth ; Stephens; Ill.; Wood, Ind, Ent. pl. 12, 
Phal. Noct. nictiians, Villers. fig. 268. 
Noctua didyma, Esper; Ochsenheimer; Treitschke ; Stephens ; Noctua rava, Haworth; Stephens; Catal. H. p. 86. 
Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 12, fig.266. Noctua furca, Haworth; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 13, fig. 
Noctua nictitans, Esper. 271. 
This very variable species measures from 11 to nearly 14 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are 
subdenticulated at the apex. In some specimens (as in our fig. 8) they are nearly of a uniform mouse-brown 
colour, with the slightest indication of the strigze. In others, (as in our fig. 9) they are of a rich dark chocolate 
brown, and shining, with still less distinct traces of the strige, except the wings be held in a certain position, 
when they may be perceived of a duller hue than the rest of the wings; whilst some (as in our fig. 7) have the 
fore wings much varied along the inner margin, and beyond the posterior stigma, with a pale luteous buff. In 
almost all these varieties the posterior stigma is more or less distinct and accompanied by a white dot, and the 
undulating subapical striga is succeeded by a darker tinge, forming an irregular margin along the apex of the wing. 
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