76 ‘PLATE LXV. 
FIG. JL. Ui. 
PHALENA SEMI-ARGENTELLA. 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
TINEA. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, 
Superior wings gold, with ftripes of filver, inferior wings grey-brown. 
Fig. II. natural fize. E ig. II. magnified appearance. 
Pha. Semi-argentella is without exception one of the moft brilliant 
little moths we have -the natural fize is fearcely fufficient to difplay 
its fuperior elegance, but when e: camined by the microfcope, imagi- 
nation cannot paint a more refplendent objeét, for we inftantly difcover 
- a moft wonderful combination of all'the varied thades of molten filver 
and burnifhed gold; its fuperior wings are entirely adorned with plates 
which exhibit in one view the appearance of thofe coftly metals, but 
vary with every direGtion of light ; that which appears gold in one point 
of fight becoming red, or bright orange, while the fhades which 
were before of a dark brown, aflumes the re{plendence of burnifhed | 
gold; the thorax glitters with the fame fplendor; the head, antenna, 
and even the legs, partake alfo of this rich colouring in fome changes 
of light; the inferior wings are of a very delicate texture, grey colour, 
changeable, and though comparatively fmall, are farrounded by a deep 
fringe, which gives them the appearance of proportion. 
We are unacquainted with the works of any author that contain a 
3 figure of this infect, or we anight perhaps be enabled to determine 
; whether 
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