
220 BRITISH MOTHS 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLVIII. 
Insects.—Fig. 1. Simyra musculosa of some collections (properly Leucania Phragmatidis). See Plate XLVIL., fig. 16. 
“s Fig. 2. Leucania musculosa of the Continent. 
- Fig. 3. Simyra nervosa (the tawny-veined wainscot), 
a Fig. 4. Simyra venosa (the powdered wainscot). 
Fig. 5. Phlogophora meticulosa (the angle-shades). 6. The Caterpillar. 
ch Fig. 7. Cucullia verbasci (the Mullein), 8. The Caterpillar. 
“ Fig. 9. Cucullia scrophularie (the water betony). 10. The Caterpillar, 
43 Fig. 11. Cucullia Thapsiphaga (the shepherd’s purse). 12. The Caterpillar. 
re Fig. 13. Cucullia Lychnitis. 14, The Caterpillar. ; 
ee Fig. 15. Cucullia Prenanthis. 
Piants.—Fig. 16. Verbascum pulverulentum (the powdered mullein). 
Simyra venosa is from a Continental specimen, in which the characters are much better defined than in any British specimens I have, which 
may perhaps not be the true venosa; the musculosa of the Continent is from Duponchel’s figure. 
As there is some confusion in British cabinets respecting the species of Cucullia here figured, I have had recourse to Rambur’s plate in the 
Transactions of the French Entomological Society, in which each species is carefully figured with its larva, all from specimens reared by himself. 
The common Verbasci, however, is from a specimen in the cabinet of Mr. Bentley, and the Lychnitis from a small Continental specimen, which 
perfectly agrees with Rambur’s figure, except in size, in which it seems to vary much, some specimens being even larger than Verbasci. The 
distinctions in the four first species, though slight seem constant and tolerably well-defined, whilst in the larva state it will be seen that they are 
more distinct, Thapsiphaga being quite differently marked ; that of Verbasci is more powdered with the smaller black spots, and in Lychnitis the 
ground is more yellowish, while the deep yellow markings form a continuous stripe through the black spots, not being separated as in Scrophulariz. 
Prenanthis (Blattarie Dwp.) is from Duponchel’s figure, and accords very closely with two dark specimens in Mr. Stephens’s cabinet, which 
are certainly distinct from the former species. H.N.H. 
SIMYRA, OcusenuErMer. 
This genus has the fore wings sublanceolate, and very acute at the tip, and destitute of the ordinary stigmatic 
markings; the palpi moderately acute and parallel ; the antennz simple in both sexes ; those of the males stout 
and pubescent beneath ; the thorax rounded. The caterpillars are pilose, somewhat resembling those of the 
genus Acronycta, and more or less clothed with hispid tubercles. They feed on herbaceous plants. The pups 
are enclosed in a cocoon. 
SPECIES 1.—SIMYRA VENOSA. Puare XLVIIL., Fie. 38. 
Synonymes.— Noctua venosa, Borkhausen; Treitschke ; Ste- Noctua degener, Hiibner. 
phens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 16, fig. 395. Noctua atomina, Haworth. 
This species measures rather more than 13 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a hoary white, 
or buff colour, thickly irrorated (as well as the thorax) with minute dusky atoms, which are scarcely visible to 
the naked eye ; with several long, slender, brownish streaks, visible more or less clearly in certain positions 
y] 
and 
in different specimens ; the hind wings and abdomen are white and spotless. 
The caterpillar is thick, and clothed with fascicles of erect hairs ; yellowish on the upper side of the body 
with spots and dots of red, brown, and black ; and with a yellow lateral stripe, which is interrupted by brown 
spots ; on the underside of the body it is rufescent, with the fore legs and head spotted with black. It feeds 
on a species of Carex, at the end of July, and the moth appears in the following June. It is found in marshy 
places, especially the fens of Huntingdonshire. 

SPECIES 2.—SIMYRA NERVOSA. Purare XLVIII., Fie. 4. 
Synonymes.— WVociua nervosa, Wien. Verz. Fab. ; Hiibner; Treitschke ; Haworth ; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 16, fig. 412 
Noctua oxyptera, Esper. tee . 
This species m : +i ‘ 
p easures about 14 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are sublanceol 
* 
brown, with the veins, in certain positions, of a fulvous or brownish hue, 
ate, pale ashy 
with broad whitish stripes running 

