





BRITISH MOTHS 
194 
SPECIES 3.—APATELA ACERIS, Puare 41, Fie. 5, 6, anp Prate 42, Fie. 17. 
Synonymes.-Phalena (Noctua) aceris, Linn.; Hiibner; Haworth ; Donovan, 10, pl. 330; Albin, pl. 83, fig. a—d; Wilkes, pl. 67. 
Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 14, fig. 311. Noctua infuscata, Haworth (variety). 
This species measures from 14 to 12 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a slaty-gray colour 
finely mixed with scales, and with undulating blackish lines, and a small black ring in the place of the anterior 
stigma; the basal striga is obliterated, but the base of the wing is marked with a trifid black mark. The 
second striga is more distinct and dentate, being margined with dusky lines on each side ; the outer stigma is 
much more obscure than the other, and is succeeded by a strongly curved series of pale arches edged on each side 
with dusky lines, the apical portion of the wing being pale, with the veins rather darker ; the cilia is spotted 
at the base with blackish. Varieties occur with the ground colour of the fore wings dark brown, but marked 
as in the type of the species. Such specimens Mr. Haworth considered as a distinct species, but Mr. Stephens 
has reared them and the type from the same batch of eggs. The caterpillar is thickly clothed with yellow 
hairs, with golden brown tufts, as well as a series of pale chain-like marks, edged with black down the back. 
It feeds on the horse-chesnut, sycamore, maple, &c. The perfect insect appears at the end of June, and is of 
common occurrence, 

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLII. 
Insrcts.—Fig. 1. Acronycta ligustri (the coronet). Fig. 112 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
f Fig. 3. Acronycta alni (the alder-moth). Fig. 114 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
rig Fig. 5, Acronycta Psi (the dagger-moth). Fig. 116 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
at Fig. 7. Acronycta tridens (the dark dagger). Fig. 18 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
le Fig. 9. Acronycta auricoma (the scarce dagger), Fig. 101 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
- Fig. 11. Acronycta menyanthedis (the light-knot grass). 
¥ Fig. 13. Acronycta euphorbiw (the spurge moth). Fig. 141 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
A; Fig. 15. Acronycta rumicis (the bramble moth). Fig. 121 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
= Fig. 16. Acronycta megacephala (the poplar gray). Fig. 142 in Plate 41. The Caterpillar. 
Prants.—Fig. 50. Menyanthes trifoliata (the Buck-bean). 
“s Fig. 60. Rubus czsius (the Dewberry). 
All the moths in this Plate are from the cabinet of Mr. Bentley; the caterpillars are from Hiibner. 
Figs. 12, 13, 17, 19, 112, 114, 116, are caterpillars, referring to Plate 41, and named in the description of that Plate. H.N.H. 
ACRONYCTA, Ocusenuermer. 
This genus, in the restricted state in which it is here (after Stephens) considered, is distinguished by the long 
setaceous and simple antennz ; the palpi are moderately long and slender, elevated as high asthe top of the eyes, 
and porrected obliquely, with the terminal joint not concealed by the scales of the preceding joint. The head 
with a slight frontal crest ; the thorax not distinctly tufted ; the fore wings moderately elongated, and generally 
with dark, dagger-like markings, and the larve variegated in their colours, and clothed with long and occa- 
sionally clavate hairs ; some of the species having moreover a strong protuberance on the back of the fourth 
segment of the body. The latter species are separated into a distinct genus by Guénée, under the name of 
Semaphora. 

SPECIES 1.—ACRONYCTA LIGUSTRI. Puare XLII, Fic. 1, anp Prater XLI. Fic. 112. 
Synonymes.— Noctua Ligustri, Wien. Verz.; Fabr.; Hiibner ; Haworth; Treitschke ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 14, fig. 313. 
Noctwa coronula, Haworth (variety). . 
The species measures about ]2 i i . : ; ; 
} € t 15 inch in the expansion of the fore wings, which are of a brown colour with a 

