EREBUS FLUCTUOSUS. Alis fuscis, fasciâ communi pallidâ, marginibus latè
nigris internè dentatis, anticis ocello magno auriformi. (Expans. Alar. 3
unc. 1½ lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) fluctuosa, _Drury_, _App. vol._ 2.
HABITAT: Sierra Leone.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ setaceous. Head and thorax brown. Tongue spiral.
Wings dark hair-coloured, or russet brown; divided into two compartments
by a clay-coloured line, which beginning at the anterior edges of the
anterior near the middle, and crossing them and the posterior, meets at
the extremity of the body: the inner compartment being brown, the outward
one clay; which is again separated by an irregular waved line, beginning
at the tips and ending at the abdominal corners. All the outward part is
brown. Two black spots are placed on the anterior wings next the anterior
edges, and near the middle.
{27}_Under Side._ Palpi distinct, and like bristles at their extremities.
Breast, legs, and wings light brown. A row of cream spots, angularly
shaped, are placed along the wings; the outward part being furnished with
about twenty-eight small cream spots irregularly placed. Margins of the
posterior wings dentated, of the anterior entire.
According to Mr. Smeathman this species is easily disturbed during the day.
It flies exceedingly rapid, and has a method of striking a leaf or bough at
two or three feet distance from the place where it really settles. Whether
this be done to break the violence of its motion, and enable it to settle
without injury to its body; or for the purpose of deceiving its pursuers,
is not easily ascertained; it has, however, the latter, and probably both
effects; most of the locusts do this, for they certainly strike some branch
with a good deal of violence just before they alight, the motion of which
deceives the eyes and baffles the pursuer.