
, BRITISH MOTHS 
234 
SPECIES 11.—PLUSIA CHRYSITIS. Puare LIL, Fie. 6, anp Puate LL, Fic. 12. 
Syvnonymrs.—Phalena Noctua chrysitis, Linneus; Fabricius; Haworth; Hiibner; Donovan, 4, pl. 137; Albin, pl. 71, fig. a—d ; 
| . Harris, Aurelian, pl. 22, fig. a—c; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 16, fig. 402. 
This species measures from 14 to 14 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a pale brown, with 
two broad bars of greenish gold crossing the wings, the first occupying the space between the first and second 
ordinary strigze, which are very slightly indicated by slender brown lines ; and the second much broader 
between the third and the subapical strige, and with the edges slightly waved. The characteristic portion of the 
wing is narrow, especially behind, but bears the three stigmata; the first small and round, the second ear-shaped 
wih a double edge-line, and the supplemental one small and rather oblong in form. ‘The head and front of the 
body fulvous; the hind wings and abdomen brown: sometimes the golden bars are united by a longitudinal 
stripe behind the supplemental stigma. The caterpillar is green, with a white lateral line, and interrupted 
curved dorsal stripes. It feeds on the white Archangel, nettle, thistle, &c., and passes the winter in that state, 
being full-fed in July, when it forms a coarse brown web, in which it changes to a black chrysalis, and the moth 
appears in July and August. It is a very abundant insect. 

SPECIES 12.—PLUSIA ORICHALCEA, Puare LII., Fia. 7. 
Synonymes.— Noctua orichalcea, Fabricius; Hiibner; Treitschke; Noctua chrysa, Ksper. 
Haworth ; Stephens; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 16, fig. 405; Harris, Phalena Noctua erifera, Sowerby, Brit. Misc. 09, t. 29. 
Exposition, plate 6, fig. 4. 
This fine species measures about 1+ inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a chesnut brown, 
with apical portion paler ; the basal strige and stigmata scarcely discernible, and with a large quadrate patch 
of gold beyond the stigma towards the costa, through which the slender third striga passes ; the head and front 
of the thorax is red, and the hind wings and abdomen reddish-brown, the former with a rather indistinct central 
striga. The caterpillar is green, with pale whitish dorsal and lateral stripes and spots. It feeds on Eupatorium 
cannabinum, and the moth appears from June to August. It is a rare insect, although widely dispersed, having 
been taken at Hethersett; Newbury, Berks; Glanville’s Wootton; Crayford, Kent; Ashdown Forest - 
3; and 
near Manchester. 
SPECIES 13.—PLUSIA BRACTEA. Puare LII., Fie. 8. 
Synonymes-—WVoctua bractea, Fabricius; Hiibner; Haworth ; Sowerby, Brit. Miscell. 57, pl. 28 ; Stephens ; 
Phal. Noct. Securis, Villers. 

Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 16, fig. 406. 
This species measures 1? inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are varied with purplish brown and 
grayish tints; the stigmata and strigee indicated by darker markings ; the middle of the wing on the inner 
margin marked with a large rich chesnut brown patch, extending to the two ordinary stigmata, and bearing near 
the middle of the wing an angulated pale golden patch ; apical portion of the wing beyond the dentate-subapical 
striga, pale brown ; head and front of the thorax rich purplish red ; hind wings with a slight dusky fascia across 
the middle. This species is rare, but occurs in various parts of the north of England, Yorkshire, near Edinburgh, 
Isle of Bute, Derbyshire, Shropshire, near Birmingham, &c, Duponchel incorrectly states it to be common 
near London. 

SPECIES 14.—PLUSIA FESTUCA. Puare LI., Fie. 9, 10. 
Synonrme.—Phalena Noctua Festuce, Linnzus ; Fabricius ; Haworth ; Donovan, vol. ii. pl. 46; Albin, pl. 84, fiz. e—h ; Wilkes, 8, 
pl. 17; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 16, fig. 407. 
This elegant insect measures nearly 14 inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a dark brown 
colour at the base within, along the costa 
, and on the apical margin ; the other parts of the wing golden yellow, 

