Descriptions

This illustration is a page from a volume of William Buckler’s watercolour drawings of butterfly and moth caterpillars. Reverend John Hellins, a friend of Buckler’s and the vicar at Exeter jail, complied it. Hellins writes ‘Figures commenced to be placed in this book Feb 21 1861 with very few exceptions they are by Mr W Buckler – of Emsworth, Hants – who has generously sent me his figures of all species of Lepidopterous larvae – which for any reason were not secured at once in his own Book. J.H.’

The notes read:

WB Leucania Lithargyria. + see page 31. α. April 3. 1861. moth out July. 10. Exeter β. April 16. 1861 moth out July 11. Do [Exeter] γ. May 6th 1861 [moth out] July. 10. Do [Exeter] δ. May 11 1861 [moth out] July. 14. Hants on grass. ε. April 9. 1862. moth out July 15.

WB Leucania Littoralis. May 4. 1861. May 7. 1861 } moths out July 1st. Hants sea shore. γ.May 23. 1865 on mat grass.

WB Leucania Impura. α. May 6th 1861. moth out June 27. on grass. Hants δ. May 20. 1867. out July 9. should be more of a flesh colour β. May 9th. 1862. Moth out July 8. on Luzula. γ. May 12. 1865. out July 5. on grass. ε. may 9. 1863.

WB Leucania Pallens E.M.M.III.68 α. May 11. 1861. on grass Hants. β. March 14. 1866. on Aira caespitosa. full fed April 8. γ. May 30th 1866. full fed June 9th. moth out July 9th from eggs Sept 1865. hibernated as larvae.

WB Leucania straminea. E.M.M.VIII.248. α. magnified segment for description. the blue arrow points towards the head. The pencil arrow points out the dorsal line.

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