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200 BRITISH MOTHS 
This is also an extremely variable species both in the intensity of the markings and the ground colour of the 
wings ; the hind wings are ashy white, with a central dusky lunule and a dusky border, in which are sometimes 
a row of white dots. The Caterpillar is yellowish gray, with a black head ; it feeds on lichens, and the moth 
appears in July and August, sitting on walls and palings. It is a very common species round London and 
elsewhere. 

DIPHTHERA. HdUsnenr. 
The antenne are alike in both sexes, the underside slightly crenulated ; the palpi are rather long and slender, 
the head clothed with compact scales, the maxillary spiral tongue nearly as long as the antenne. The thorax 
rounded, the abdomen rather slender and tufted ; the fore wings ample and beautifully varied in colours and 
markings ; and the caterpillars clothed with long hairs like those of the Arctudz: they feed upon the leaves of 
trees. 1 OEE Sie ee 
SPECIES 1.—DIPHTHERA ORION. Puarw 41, Fic. 11, anp Puatre 42, Fie. 112. 
Synonymes.— Voctua Orion, Esper; Curtis, Brit. Ent., pl. 404 ; Noctua runica, Gmelin ; Ochsenheimer ; Haworth. 
Harris, Aurelian, pl. 42, fig. e; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent., pl. 14, Ph. Noct. aprilina, Fabricius; Hibner ; Panzer; Donovan, 
fig. 324. vol. 10, pl. 347, fig. 1. 
Like the species of the genus just described, the present insect is very variable in its markings, which has 
Jed to much confusion in its synonymes; and I believe English authors are not yet decided whether our native 
specimens do not constitute two species, although a contrary opinion prevails on the Continent. The expansion of 
the fore wings is between 14 and 1+ inch, and they are of a lovely green colour, with two longitudinal white 
stripes, and various black markings. The basal striga is obsolete ; the second is composed of a semicircular 
series of black confluent patches; there are also two large black patches of irregular form in the middle of the 
wing, the front one of which comprises, the two stigmata and extends to the costa. The third striga is formed 
of a broad, irregular, black crenulated bar, bearing several white spots within and two brown patches without, 
and with two or three subapical black dots, and a row of black and white marginal spots. The hind wings are 
brown, with a broad dark border; the cilia of all the wings spotted with black and white. The caterpillar is 
blackish brown, with three pale stripes across the back, and each segment with a row of red piliferous tubercles 
between, and a row of small white dots. It feeds on the oak, birch, &c. in the autumn, and the perfect insect 
appears in May and June, being found on the trunks of trees. Itis a rare species, although very widely dispersed 
throughout the country. 
Phalena Noctua ludifica, Linneeus (Wood, Ind. Ent., pl. 54, fig. 46), has been improperly introduced into the 
British lists. Its fore wings are greenish white, with various black markings, and its abdomen yellow, spotted 
with black. It is a native of the middle of Europe. 
a 
THYATIRA, Ocusenynemer. 
The antennz are nearly alike in both sexes, clothed beneath with short hairs; the palpi are longer than the 
head, and porrected, with the third joint exposed ; the head rather broad ; the thorax with a transverse crest ; the 
abdomen slender and tufted at the tip ; the wings broad and obtuse, with the ordinary characteristic markings of the 
family obliterated. Two species have been united together under this generic name, but not only do they 
differ very materially from each other in their general appearance, but also in the structure of their feet, T. Batis 
having the fore legs fasciculose, and T. derasa the intermediate ones. The caterpillars also are so much unlike 
each other, that it is with great hesitation that I leave them under the same generic name. 

