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196 BRITISH MOTHS 
with black scales, amongst which may be traced the two ordinary basal duplicated strigz ; the anterior stigma 
is pale, with a black ring and a dusky centre ; the outer stigma is much curved, and is followed by a large pale 
patch, through which runs the much curved and arched third striga, the black outer edging of which forms a 
series of very strongly marked black arches ; the subapical curved striga is pale, but almost indistinct ; the cilia 
is pale gray, spotted with black ; the hind wings are white, with dusky veins, and a slender interrupted marginal 
fmbria. There is considerable diversity in the clearness of the characteristic markings, some specimens being 
almost suffused, with the markings nearly obliterated, whilst others have them pale and much more distinct. 
The caterpillar is described by Fabricius as hairy *, brown, spotted with red, with the head broader than 
the body, and with a sulphur-coloured spot on the body behind. It feeds on poplars and willows; and the 
perfect insect, which is a common species, is found in May, and also in July and August. 
SPECIES 5.—ACRONYCTA AURICOMA. Puare XLII., Fie. 9, anp Puare XLI., Fic. 101. 
Synonymes.— WVolua auricoma, Wien. Verz.; Fabricius; Hiibner ; Haworth; Treitschke; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. 14, fig. 317 ; 
Duponchel ; Esper. 
This species measures about 14 inch in the expansion of the fore wings, which are varied with ashy brown 
and gray colours, with the two ordinary dentate germinated basal strige: of black colour ; the anterior stigma is 
subocellated with a black ring and a brown pupil. The outer stigma is kidney-shaped and bordered with 
black and white, with a black dentated line at the base. The third striga is very much dentated and black, and 
terminates towards the anal angle in a black mark like the Greek letter Psi; the apex is more or less varied, with 
a pale subapical striga ; and the costa, as well as the cilia, is varied with black dots. The hind wings are 
brown, with the base ashy-coloured in the males. Tike the preceding species, the present varies very consider- 
ably in the strength of the characteristic markings of the fore wings. The caterpillar is brown or black, with 
a reddish spot on each segment, and the sides above the feet gray ; it is clothed with fulvous hairs, and feeds on 
the beech, bramble, dewberry, &c. and the imago appears in May and July. It is a comparatively rare species 
in the woods round London. 
Nocrua simizis, of Haworth, the scarce knot-grass (Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent.) is regarded as a 
probable variety of Auricoma, measuring 1,, inch in expanse, with the wings more ashy, with a slightly waved 
striga before the middle; another oblique brown abbreviated one in the middle, and a third submoniliform, and 
hoary, placed on the apical portion of the wing ; the hind wings whitish, with a rather dusky fimbria. 
Noctua Menyantuepis, the light knot-grass of Haworth, (but not of Hiibner), is also a variety measuring 
13 inch in expanse, and ofa hoary ashy colour, with the stigmata distinct, and a brown duplicated striga before, 
and another narrower and dentate one behind the middle, the latter terminating in a Psi-like mark. 

SPECIES 6.—ACRONYCTA MENYANTHEDIS, Puare XLII, Fre. 11. 
SynonymMes.— Noctua Menyanthedis, Hiibner; Esper; Treitschke; Stephens, Ill. Haust. 3, pl. 27, fig. 1; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 14, fig. 318. 
Acronycta Salicis, Curtis, Brit. Ent. pl. 136 (variety). 
= . ] . f . i rn a . . 
This species measures about 13 inch in expanse of the fore wings, which are of a pale slaty-gray colour, with 
the inner margin darker-coloured, and a dark dentated striga towards the apex of the wings. The base of the 
wing is slightly clouded, and bears a strongly-marked black hook ; the striga preceding the stigmata is somewhat 
m Yr i i i + os eg 7 7 . . 
ore distinct, geminated ; the anterior stigma is very small, and formed of a black ring ; the outer one is larger 

In wip specimen represented in our plate, the hairs had probably been abraded, or the insect might have been in the act of forming its cocoon 
when the hairs are shed. 

