
A ee ee ere nn OE EIA Se LS TEV R ET OO FL eg eee 


EEE 

205 BRITISH MOTHS 
strongly curved pale slender striga, beyond which on the costa is a somewhat triangular grayish patch, bounded 
by a dusky line, which indicates the rudiment of the submarginal striga. Along the apical margin is a row of 
minute black dots. The hind wings are shining, and variable in colour from brown to reddish, with a dusky 
margin. 
The caterpillar is of a light transparent green or a dusky colour, with a line of light yellow along each side. 
It feeds on the oak, birch, and various other trees. It will, however, devour other caterpillars. When full- 
orown it spins up amongst the leaves, and changes to a red chrysalis, covered with a fine bloom, about the end of 
June; and the moth appears in July. It isa very abundant species. I have described and figured a singular 
anatomical peculiarity exhibited by this species in the Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects, 
vol, ii. p. 395. 
SPECIES 5.—COSMIA FULVAGO. Puarer XLIV., Fie. 14. 
Synonymes.— Noctua fulvago, Wien. Verz.; Hiibner; Treitschke; Noctua gilvago, Borkhausen. 
Duponchel ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. 15, fig. 344, but not of Linnzus. Noctua angulago, Hatchett, Ent. Trans. (old series) vol. i., 
Noctua pallacea, Esper. p. 244, pl. fig. sup. Haworth. 
This species measures from 1.3, to 12 inches in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a clay or yellow 
colour, marked at the base by a very short transverse striga. The second is angulated and reddish brown, being 
placed before the middle of the wing, followed by the stigmata, which are pale and edged with a reddish brown 
pale line ; the outer one marked within with a dusky spot behind, which is rather darker clouded, extending 
to the inner margin of the wing. Beyond the stigmata is a much curved slender third striga. The apical 
portion of the wing being pale, or with a slightly indicated subapical undulated pale line ; the margin with dusky 
reddish spots more or less distinct. The under ‘wings are pale yellowish. The caterpillar is green, with pale 
dorsal and lateral lines. It feeds on the birch; and the moth, which is extremely rare, appears in August. 
Taken occasionally at Birch Wood, Kent. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLV. 
Insects.—Fig. 1. Xanthia flavago (the pink-barred sallow). 2. The caterpillar. 
es Fig. 3. Xanthia fulvago (the sallow). 4. A more strongly-marked variety. 
3 Fig. 5, Xanthia aurago (the barred sallow). 
es Fig. 6. Xanthia centrago (the centre-barred sallow). 
- Fig. 7. Xanthia citrago (the orange). 8. The caterpiflar. 
ae Fig. 9. Xanthia croceago (the orange upper wing). 10. The caterpillar. 
- Fig. 11. Orbona rufina (the flounced rustic). 12. The caterpillar. 
a Fig. 13. Orbona ferruginea (the brick-coloured moth), 
3 Fig. 14, Gortyna micacea (the rosy rustic). 15. The caterpillar. 
s Fig. 16. Gortyna flavago (the frosted orange). 17. The caterpillar. 
Fig. ] is from the’cabinet of Mr. Marshall. Figs. 11, 13, and 14 are from specimens furnished by Mr. H. Doubleday, and all the others are 
from the cabinet of Mr. Bentley. 
The caterpillars of X. flavago,G. micacea, that of X. croceago from Duponchel, and the others from Hiibner. H. N. H, 
XANTHIA, Hiner. 
This genus is distinguished by the setaceous antenne, ciliated with hairs beneath, the palpi obliquely 
projecting, the terminal joint short and obtuse, the thorax crested, the fore wings generally of a bright yellow 
or occasionally red colour; they are deflexed at the sides of the body while at rest, and are slightly hooked at 
the tip. The caterpillars are glabrous, thick and fleshy, with the first segment scutellated; the others, with 

