THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

DAVIS

GIFT OF

W. HARRY LANGE

*^»lll-rV ^Ld^^i

LIBRARY OF

W. H. LAI^^

4 '■

II

:s^

.v-v

.^

THE

BRITISH NOCTU>E

AND

THEIR VARIETIES,

BY

J. 'y^. TUTT, F.E.S.

{Editor of the Entomologist's Becmd and Journal of

Variation^ and Vice-president of the City of

London Entomological Society).

VOL. I.

London :

SWAN, SONNENSCHEIN & CO.,

Paternostee Square, London, E.G.

MAY, 1891.

Printed by Messrs. Warne & Son,
T T"Dt^^ Illd Jient Road, Loudon, S.E.

^ERSITY OF QAUFC^iilA
DAVIS

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2007 with funding from

IVIicrosoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/britishnoctuth01tuttrich

PREFACE.

^HE study of the causes of the variation of lepidoptera has now
become such an acknowledged part of our work, that there
appears to be but little need to explain the necessity for bringing out a
systematic and descriptive volume of the varieties of a part of one of
our most interesting groups of lepidoptera.

At present, the whole of the records of our varieties are scattered
through numberless magazines and other works, published in different
countries. Through these, one has to wade for the items of informa-
tion required about any individual species, the search probably ending
in failure, and thus involving waste of valuable time.

Causes of variation cannot be successfully worked out, without
the widest and most general information concerning the species about
which enquiries are made. It is with the view of extending the
information at present available that the present volume is being pub-
lished.

There was an outcry a short time since, in certain quarters, con-
cerning the naming of varieties. Among our numbers there will
always be a certain proportion of collectors, who are unable, from
various causes to work up such a comprehensive subject as variation,
and yet wish to be thought quite au fait with every branch and
phase of it. The use of varietal names need not trouble such ; the
names are made for the use of those devotees in various countries who
wish to carry on their work without the waste of time, and who
cannot afford to make a long written description every time they wish
to speak of a certain varietal form.

The matter in the book is principally new, that relating to the
Cymatophoridce, Bomhycoidce, Apamidce, and Caradrinidce almost entirely
so. The skeleton of the material used in BryophiUdce, Leucanidce and
Apamidce (in part) appeared in a series of papers I wrote in the ' Ento-
mologist,' 1888 — 188y under the title of * Contributions towards a List
of the Varieties of the British Noctuas occurring in the British Islands.'
These, however, were of such a fragmentary nature that it was thought
best to write up the greater part of the general notes on the species
de novo, and simply use the varietal descriptions.

It remains for me to most heartily thank (1) those gentlemen, who,
on the withdrawal of the above-mentioned papers from the * Entomo-
logist,' kindly offered to subscribe to the present volume, and thus
guaranteed that no pecuniary loss should fall on me ; (2) Those friends
who have given me most kindly help either in obtaining material from
old entomological literature, in correcting the proofs and suggesting
additions, &c., or in providing me with unusual forms of lepidoptera
for description.

J. W. TUTT.

May, 1891,

Tt TNTRODUOTTON.

may not vary, or we may not have sufficient material to form a correct
opinion. My own experience tends frequently to the latter view, and
I have repeatedly noticed that species, presenting the most fixed and
constant characters in a certain locality, and which I have learned to
look upon as most constant in character, offer a very considerable
range of variation when obtained from another district, where a
different environment, or abnormal conditions have tended to develop
latent energies in the direction of variation. There are species, how-
ever, in which one rarely meets with the slightest divergence from what
we have learned to look on as their normal forms — Gonophora derasa
(in Britain), Cymatophora fluctiiosa, Cuspidia strigosa, Tapinostola elymi,
Neuria saponaricB, Chortodesbondu,Toxocampapastinum, smd Xylophasia
lithoxylea are examples of this kind in different genera, in which the
species are normally inclined to vary. Leucania litoralia, too, rarely,
if ever, varies except in shape. It then varies in a most remarkable
manner in the direction of the pointed wings of Meliana flammea.

In some species, we find a great amount of constancy in the indi-
vidual specimens of each sex, but considerable variation between the
sexes themselves. This sexual dimorphism is fairly common among
the NocTU^, although the sexes generally exhibit variation inter se,
and at the same time show a remarkable tendency to meet in some
particular form or forms. This tendency is exhibited in a very striking
manner by Agrotis cmerea,A.luntgera,A. valligera, A. svffiisa, Nonagria
geminipunctay N. arundmis, N. neurica, Aporophyla australis, and very
many others. Of those species which are sexually dimorphic, and in
which the sexes are more or less variable in themselves, but in which
there is very little tendency for the forms of one sex to overlap those
of the other, may be mentioned the following : — Chortodes arcuosa,
Ccenohia rufa, HydriUa palustris, Viminia myricce, Neuroma popularis,
Busina tenebrosa, and Noctua umhrosa among the more constant, and
Cuspidm iridens, C. psi, Nonagria cannce^ and Agrotis puta among the
rather less constant species.

We may now consider that most extreme form of variation, poly-
morphism, and mention some of those polymorphic species that show
endless variation in both sexes, where the different forms are equally
abundant in either sex, and where not only modifications of colour, but
modification of the size, direction, and position of the stigmata and
markings, give extreme forms which bear very little, if any, superficial
resemblance to each other. Among the NocTUiE these polymorphic
species are probably more abundant than in any other group. To
judge how far these species do vary, a very large quantity of material
is needful, and immense series of such species as Apamea didyma,
Agrotia tritici SLnd-Tceniocampa instabilis are necessary to get the faintest
idea of the very great range of variation which these insects present.
Although these species are, perhaps, the most variable British Noctua
we have, yet it must be confessed that Miana hicoloria, M. strigih's,
Crymodes exulis, Eydrcecia micacea, Bryophila glandifera, Noctua /estiva
(and conflua), N. xanthographa, Pachnohid hyperborea, Tceniocampa
gothica, Orthosia suspecta, Anchocelis pistacina, DiantJicecia carpophaga,
Charceas graminis, Agrotis segetum, A. cursoria^ A. corticea, Helo-
iropha leucostigma, Xylophasia polyodon and others offer a sufficient
range of variation to satisfy the most exacting. These species exhibit

INTRODUCTION. V!f

in most instances, not only great variation in markings, but a most
extreme range of colour variation.

Probably, extreme colour variation in the same species is more
strikingly exhibited among the Noctu^ than in any other gi'oup.
Bryophila perla var. pallida is in its extreme forms almost white, var.
suffusa is frequently almost black, whilst var. flavescens is often of a
bright orange. Miana hicoloria varies from pure white to deep
brownish or rusty-fuscous and bright red. Xylophasta polyodon from
pale greyish-brown, with white markings, to the most intense black.
The same range of colour extends through Viminia rumicia, Nonagria arun-
dinisyl/iiperma testacea,Apdmea hasilinea,A. didyma, HelotropJia leucostigmaj
Miana strigilis, Gi'ammesia trilinea, Agrotis corticea, A. cinerea, Noctua
glareosa, Tceniocampa opima, Epunda viminalis, Aplecta nebulosa, and
others, although the extreme black forms may be tinged with reddish
in some of these species ; Agrotis tritici and Tceniocampa instabilis not
only exibit this range of variation (from the palest grey to deep black),
but each has beautiful slate-coloured or bluish varieties as well.
Xylophasia rurea var. argentea is pure silvery- white, var. nigro-ruhida
intense reddish-black; Anchocelis pistacina goes through a similar
range. Most of the Leucanidce vary from whitish (in some instances
pure white) to the deepest red, in some species even to black. The
group can hardly be left without casually referring to the wonderful
colour variation which exists in our Scotch specimens of Triphcena
orhona (comes as it is sometimes called), the specimens from Forres
and Aberdeen, varying from the palest grey to brilliant red, and
intense black. In fact, there is probably a larger proportion of species
presenting extreme colour variation in this group than any other.

Size variation is frequently most marked. It may be due to
sex, or to environment, or there may be no very clear reason by which
such variation may be explained. Generally speaking, however, I be-
lieve, when variation in size is not sexual, that specimens which are
above the normal size have had a bountiful supply of nutritious food,
while those below the normal size have had an insufficient or innutri-
tions diet. That this is so, when insects are artificially reared, is beyond
question, and it is only reasonable to suppose that one foot-plant, less
nutritious than another, would, if it were the staple food in a district,
produce specimens below the normal size. In insects, as a rule,
females are larger than males, but this is not always so. Often among
the Nocture, the opposite is the case, striking examples existing in
Chortodes arcuosa, Nonagria rufd, Hydrilla pahstris, Busina tenehrosaf
Agrotis cinerea, Acosmetia caliginosa, Stilbia anomala and Noctua umbrosa.
But, generally, the great mass of the Noctua follow out the ordinary
rule, or there is very little to choose in size between the sexes. Certain
localities often give us large or small races* of special insects. The
normal size of Agrotis valligera and A. tritici from Sligo, is less than
that of the specimens of the same species from Deal ; Asphalia jiavicornis
from Scotland is normally larger than are those from Kent ; Luperina
testacea is very large at Freshwater in the Isle of Wight ; Noctua
f estiva is normally smaller from Aberdeen than are those from Kent ; the

*The most striking examples of variation in this direction exist among the
Geometry, e.g. Aspilates strigillaria, HypsipeUs elutata, and above all Thera
juniperata, and its var. scotica.

VTTT TNTBODtrrTTON.

small grey typical form of Agrotis ripoe appears to be almost confined
to the Lincolnshire coast. Many other species might be mentioned
varying in size according to locality and environment. But where any
species abounds, many specimens may usually be taken both above and
below the normal size. Such variation may then be due to heredity,
or what appears to me more probable, to the partial failure of the food
supply in the larval stage. I have very small specimens of Leucania
phragmitidis, Caradrina morpheus, Agrotis tritici, A. puta, A. valligera,A.
suffusa, Calamia lutosa, GoHyna ochracea, Eydrcecia micacea,Noctua ruhi
and others.

In shape, some specimens exhibit considerable variation. I have
a number of Agrotis tritici in my cabinet, with the fore and hind wings
all remarkably broad compared with their length, giving these particular
specimens quite a distinct facies. Strange to say, this abnormal con-
dition is sometimes more marked on one side than another. I have
specimens of Agrotis suffnsa and A. valligera of a similar cliaracter.
Specimens with wings much narrower than the normal width are com-
mon in very many species. Another strange abnormity frequently
occurs in Viminia albovenosa, Leucania litoralis, and occasionally in
other species. Normally the wings in these species are well developed,
but appear always to have a slight tendency to a pointed apex. Fre-
quently, this peculiarity is developed quite abnormally, and the wings
become narrower and are drawn out in the same way as is normal in
Meliana flammea. Often too, this peculiarity is more developed on one
side than the other, and I have a specimen of Caradrina taraxaci
(hlanda) quite normal on one side, but exhibiting this same abnormity
in a very marked manner on the opposite side. I feel satisfied that
these, and similar variations in shape, if not, indeed all variations in
shape, are due to disease, or to injury to the larva at the exact period
of j)upating. I remember seeing an abortive specimen of Orthosia
vpsilon belonging to Mr. A. Robinson, of Brettanby Manor, Darlington,
and the abortion was so apparently due to disease, that I considered it
a kind of corroboration of my previously formed ideas on this subject.

With regard to the markings, we come to an exceedingly wide
path in our subject, and it is very rare indeed, that some particular
species in a genus do not exhibit some characteristic variation in mark-
ings, although the genus as a whole, may not tend in that direction.
On the other hand, we find certain genera where almost every species
presents such a tendency to vary ; but it is strange, how, in very
closely allied species, one will vary indefinitely, while another will be
most constant. Apamea didyma and A. ophiogramma offer a striking
example, as also do A. gemina and A. unanimis in the same genus. In
the Cymatophoridce, there is a general tendency for variation to take
place in the size of the stigmata and also in the width between the
transverse lines near the centre of the wing. Perhaps this is better
exhibited in Asphalia flavicornis than any other species in the group.
Individual specimens also frequently show an asymmetrical character
both in the stigmata and markings, and I have noticed that asymmetry
IS not at all an infrequent character in many genera. A strange pecu-
liarity in the old genus Acronycta — the Viminia, Cuspidia and Bisulcia of
Cliapman— is the variation with regard to the position of the stigmata,
the normally separate stigmata being frequently united. This same

INTRODUCTION. IX

peculiarity becomes common again in Tceniocampa. The development
of dots in certain of the Leucania although not normally present in
such species is noticeable. The claviform stigma is indefinitely modi-
fied in certain genera, being entirely absent and developed into a
longitudinal black streak in different specimens even of the same
species. This is particularly noticeable in certain species of the genera
Apamea and Miana as well as parts of Agrotis and Hadena. "When the
claviform is thus developed into a black streak it unites the two trans-
verse lines, immediately before and beyond the stigmata, and presents
a remarkable banded form in its extreme character. Perhaps Apamea
gemina var. remissa is one of the best examples we have, although some
of the banded forms of Apamea didyma and Miana strigilis are almost as
remarkable. The development of this claviform stigma also, by joining
the transverse lines shows up another common line of variation in the
same genera, viz. the difference in distance between these two lines as
they reach the inner margin. The width of these varies indefinitely in
Apamea gemina, A. connexa, A. didyma, Miana strigilis, M. fasciuncula,
M. literosa, and many species in other genera, such as Agrotis and
Noctua. The variation in the space between these lines has been pre-
viously referred to as existing in Asphalia flavicornis and other Cymato-
phoridce. Some species, such as Charceas graminis, HeliopJiobus hispidus and
Helotroplia fibrosa, offer very great variation in the amount of sup-
pression or development of certain special markings, as also do certain
species of Tceniocampa and Dianthcecia ; but in this direction certain
species of Agrotis, viz-. — tritici and cursoria, and to a lesser extent ripce
and nigricans— oSer the most striking development. These species have
each two well-developed forms, one of which has the whole of the
wing of a certain ground colour, with the stigmata more or less well-
developed and with a varying number, generally three or four, trans-
verse lines crossing from the costa to the inner margin, but practically
without the slightest trace of longitudinal markings. The second form
has the same ground colour as the first, and the stigmata equally well-
developed, but the transverse lines are reduced to a minimum, and a
pale (variable in colour, from white to ochreous) streak, varying in
width and intensity, runs along the costa from the base to the apex,
while another pale streak runs along the central nervure and the bases
of its branches. In my previous writings on these forms, I have always
called the group of varieties which have this pale costa the pale-costa
group, whilst the former which do not possess a pale costa, I have
called the non-pale-costa group ; but it is really remarkable, that in
every gradation of colour from pale whitish-grey, ochreous, reddish
and black to which these species attain, every colour variety has these
two parallel forms distinctly developed. The relation of these to allied
species is suggestive, the normally pale-costa part of the genus including
Agrotis valUgera, A. obelisca and A. ravida, whilst the normally non-
pale-costa part of the genus includes Agrotis segetum, A. lunigera, A.
exclamationis, A. corticea, and A. cinerea, although we frequently find
traces of a pale costa in exclamationis, and there is a non-pale-costa
foim of obelisca (var. ruris) on the Continent of Europe. The presence
or absence of the row of cuneiform spots which appear to be developed
by the filling in of the spaces between the nervures in direct con-
nection with the subterminal line, appears to give a great deal of

X INTRODUCTION.

superficial difference in the appearance of the specimens, which possess
or are devoid of such a row of spots. These spots are frequently very
clearly developed in Aplecta nebulosa, A. tincta, A. occulta, Hadena
adusta, H. glaiica, H. dentina, Agrotis cursoria, A. trittci, A. valligera,
Charrpas grammis, Aporophyla australis, Agriopis aprilina, Folia chi, Dinn-
thcecia albimacula, Xylophasia polyodon and Tceniocampa munda, whilst
many other species exhibit variation in this direction in a lesser degree.
Sometimes these spots are incorporated, as it were, with the subtermi-
nal W-like line, and give this a special character, whilst at other
times, but much more rarely, the cuneiform spots are carried out be-
tween the nervures to the outer margin, thus forming a series of long
dashes. I notice that this occurs occasionally in specimens of Aporo-
phyla australis, Agrotis valligera and Charceas graminis. The line just
outside the reniform, commonly known, from its shape, as the
shouldered or elbowed line, is worthy of notice, being frequently com-
posed, in its simplest form, of dots, and in its more complex forms of
a series of lunular arches with almost all intermediate forms, in the
same or in different species. The metallic markings in Plusia are
worthy of extended notice, but I will simply remark that the two
central spots of Plusia festucce, when compared with the characteristic
gamma (y) marks of P. iota and P. pulchrina, give us a good idea of
the superficial development of these marks into metallic spots or
blotches.

The variation in the hind wings of Noctu^ is principally in the
direction of colour, the markings being frequently limited to a dark shade
and lunular mark, although these have really as much direct relation to
colour as to markings. The colour of the hind wings is very often the
outward sign of sexual dimorphism, the hind wings of the males being
generally paler than those of the females, the hind wings of many
species in the males being pure white whilst those of the females are
dark grey with certain modifications. The markings of the hind wings
of Nocture then must be looked upon as generally restricted to a lunular
mark towards the centre of the wing and a dark shade roughly parallel
to the outer margin. The amount of the development of this shade is
frequently sexual, many species having, as has just been stated, per-
fectly white hind wings in the male, with this lunule and shade
developed in the female as in Agrotis segetum and A. lunigera ; in other
species the hind wings, white in the male, have in the female, not
only a dark band and lunule, but dark nervures, as in Cuspidia tri-
dens, whilst in others, the white wings of the male are replaced by
wholly grey ones in the female, as in Agrotis puta, A exclamationis, Viminia
myricce, Polia chi, Epunda lutulenta and E. nigra, whilst in A. cinerea,
the males only have the grey band developed, the hind wings of the
females being entirely grey. In A. valligera and A. ripce we get every
intermediate form, the hind wings of some specimens, both in males and
females, being white, others of both sexes having the band, others en-
tirely grey. In some of the Cuspidia — aceris, megacephala and alni —
and to a lesser extent — tridens, the outer margin has the nervures
strongly black, with a series of black spots, sometimes very strongly
developed instead of the band. In Triphoena where the yellow colour
causes the lunule in some of the species as T. orhona {comes) to stand
out conspicuously, its absence is very noticeable. It is, of course, in

INTRODUCTION. XI

these species which have brightly coloured or white hind wings, that
the modifications of the typical markings are most distinct, but I be-
lieve that a large amount of variation exists in every species.

Either in markings or colour or both combined, I find it usual for
species in the same genus to vary in the same direction and between the
same extremes of colour and markings ; or in other words, for species in
a genus to vary in the direction of normal forms of other species in the
same genus whenever that genus is natural and consists essentially of
closely allied species. I have already touched on this subject with
regard to certain Agrotidce in the paragraph on variation in
markings, but the following examples will perhaps explain more fully.
Apamea nnammis rarely varies, but has a fixed and constant appearance
(transverse lines), so also have A. ophiogramma (dark costa) and A,
pabidatricula (central band) in other directions. The polymorphic
Apamea didyma varies in the direction of all these species and has
well developed forms in each. A. gemina varies in the same directions,
as also does Miana strigilis which has no apparent structural difference
from Apamea. The genus Acronycta offers similar parallel varie-
ties in its species, both in the markings of the fore and hind wings
although perhaps, this parallelism of variation is better exhibited in the
way Agrotis tritici and A. cursoria follow in their variations the other
species of Agrotis, and the species of Tceniocampa each other. The
species of the latter genus are very striking in this particular, as
they have not only parallel varieties in colour but in markings.
Thus T. instahilis may be looked upon as the most polymorphic of the
group and varies from the palest grey to black. T. gracilis has a
parallel range, varying from greyish-white to black, some of the red
and brown forms being most remarkable. In T. opima we find the
same range in coloration, and dark varieties of this species and instahilis
are sometimes very difficult to separate without careful examination.
The typical grey coloration of gracilis is found not only in opima and
instahilis, but also in munda, stahilis and cruda. The typical red colour
of stahilis is found in instahilis, gracilis, mnnda and cruda. Some of the
specimens of T. instahilis are of the peculiar slaty-grey of populeti,
others red like typical stahilis, others grey like gracilis, and so on. In
markings, the typical central band in instahilis, becomes developed in
certain varieties of stahilis, munda, gracilis, opima, cruda, and populeti.
The typical row of dots forming the elbowed line just outside the
stigmata in populeti, finds parallel varieties in other species where such
dots are abnormal. In fact there appears to be in all natural and
closely allied genera a tendency for the species in such genera to be
formed on parallel lines.

Different genera also frequently show parallel ranges of variation,
but it is doubtful whether such genera are not very frequently closely
allied. This is certainly the case between Aplecta, certain parts of
Hadena, Mamestra and Apamea.

With regard to the probable causes of variation, it is almost im-
possible to speak of them in a few short paragraphs. So little is
positively known about the matter, and the connection between cause
and effect is frequently so indistinct and uncertain, that one appears
to be dogmatising when one really does not mean it. Perhaps the
subtlety in the working of Nature in this direction has led so many

Xn INTRODUCTION.

to take interest in the subject since the publication of Darwin's theory
of " natural selection," but whether this be so or not, it is beyond
question that the study of variation has become the favourite hobby
of a large percentage of entomologists.

First and foremost of the causes which tend to develop variation,
my own observation places "natural selection." But "natural selection "
is based on such a complex combination of circumstances that it is
perhaps advisable to take some of these into consideration, isolating
each particular factor as much as possible, but bearing in mind, that
whilst each factor is working in its own particular groove towards a
certain end, it is modified in every possible way by other factors, the
sum total producing the final effect as seen in the varying character of
our insects, and which we term "natural selection." Meteorological
causes appear to be the most direct active factors in the production of
variation, and inaseries of papers entitled "Melanism and Melanochroism
in British Lepidoptera " which I am contributing to the pages of
* The Entomologist's Eecord and Journal of Variation,' I am working
out what appear to me to be the chief active agents in the production
of this particular form of variation, and at the same time, I have
attempted to correlate the different suggested causes with each other
pnd with " natural selection." I have also freely criticised previously-
formed theories and attempted to prove or disprove them by the ma-
terial we now have at hand. Although meteorological causes appear
to me to be the more or less active agents in producing variation ;
there can be but little doubt that heredity, disease, food, &c., each adds
its share towards producing the sum total of variation. We will
therefore, now look briefly at each of these probable causes.

That " natural selection " has a very great deal to do with varia-
tion, no one who has made observations on the subject can doubt.
Among the species in the group that we are considering, some striking
examples occur. Take for instance the imagines of the Bryophilidce,
clothed in various shades of green, grey and yellow, with black or
reddish marks in the various species. These assimilate so closely to
the lichens on which the larvee feed, that only a trained eye detects
them resting in their chosen habitation, on the stone walls where they
occur. Different walls have variously coloured lichens growing on
them, and it is found that the environment determines the prevailing
colour of the species in a given locality. The greyer the lichens on
the wall, the greyer will be BryopJiila glandifera, and the greener the
lichens, the greener will be the moth. Hence on the former walls,
var. par will preponderate, on the latter, typical glandifera. Certain walls
in Deal are covered with yellow lichens and there BryopJiila perla var.
jiavescens occurs, whilst on the old dark granite walls, and on the
dark damp walls of the west coast we find var. svffusa, and so on with
the different varieties in this genus. But in such localities, other forms
will, of course, occur with whatever may be the prevailing form ; these
other forms are due without doubt, to hereditary influence, but a large
percentage will be of a characteristic form. The same facts hold good
with the typical form, and with the vars. suffusa and olivacea of Polia
clii. These different forms are found to be prevalent in different
localities, each assimilating in its own particular direction with its own
special surroundings, the white, dark, and greenish forms all respond-

INTKODUCTIOK, XlII

ing most absolutely to their environment. Polia Jiavicincta, which also
rests on lichen covered walls, offers parallel ranges of variation, and
whilst the prevailing form of this species at Huddersfield is exces-
sively dark with a large percentage of black markings and scarcely a
trace of ochreous, those from Driffield in the same county are
ochreous in colour, and it is of rare occurrence for a single specimen to
be noticed so dark as the Huddersfield specimens. In Somersetshire,
a tendency to a reddish tint prevails, whilst some splendid dark
specimens, darker perhaps than the Huddersfield specimens, which
were captured in Guernsey by Mr. A. J. Hodges, assimilated exactly
to the rocks on which they rested. Again, whilst the specimens oiEpunda
lichenea from Plymouth are dark green in colour, mottled with red,
and similar to the Lancashire specimens ; those from Portland (a
locality comparatively near to Plymouth), but obtained from the pale
limestone rocks, are of a pale silvery-white colour with the red and
green reduced to a minimum. Here we see that in distant localities,
similar surroundings produce the same or similar phases of variation,
whilst, given a different environment, a different phase of variation
becomes apparent. The reason of these special forms in special dis-
tricts is easily explained. Those specimens which assimilate most to
their surroundings, escape their many enemies, and hence, year after
year a gradually increasing number of specimens of that particular
form, which most readily assimilates to its surroundings, is developed
and a local race is formed. Turning from those species that rest nor-
mally on lichen-covered rocks and walls, we find among those species
which normally rest on fences, trees, &c., that many, such as CucuUia,
Xylojphasia, Axylia, &c., assimilate exactly, to pieces of cut wood, &c.,
but the great mass of our Noctu^ rest on the ground, and hence the
geological character of a district has much to do with colour. Agrotis
ripce is white, ochreous, reddish, or greyish in ground colour, according
to the sand on which it rests. Agrotis valligera, A. cinerea, A. cursorial
A. tritici, A. nigricans, &c., also go through various shades of colour,
according to locality, as do various species in other genera. The
genera Leucania, Nonagria and their allies offer a good illustration of
structural variation responding to environment in another direction.
The species of these families sit head downwards, with their wings
closely appressed to the reed, &c., on which the particular species feeds,
and there look exactly like nodes on the stem. Endless other
instances might be cited, but sufficient appear to have been pointed
out, bearing on the general subject of " natural selection," especially if
we consider that all species exhibit some phase, or are modified by it
in a greater or less degree.

Turning now to the causes which accompany or modify the all-
important " natural selection." In all species there appears to be an
inherent tendency to vary if placed under distinctly and decidedly ab-
normal conditions, whatever such conditions may be. The ordinary
normal conditions of a locality tend to produce the normal forms found
in that locality, whilst abnormal conditions develop latent tendencies,
and variation is the result. It follows that if such abnormal conditions
become gradually permanent in any locality and what were previously
abnormal conditions become normal, a permanent change will take
place in the character of the race inhabiting such a locality. That

XIV INTRODUCTION.

such an inherent tendency to vary exists is certainly beyond question,
for if it were not present, variation would apparently be an utter im-
possibility. This general hereditary tendency to vary will also be
more or less influenced in any particular brood by the character of the
parent moths ; whilst in seasonally dimorphic species, which, however,
are almost unknown in British Noctu^, but which are common among
the DiURNi, GEOMETR-aE, &c., the different seasonal forms appear to
vary indefinitely inter se, and also to vary towards each other, such
variation being undoubtedly due to heredity.

Of the abnormal conditions mentioned above as tending to produce
variation, those connected with meteorological phenomena undoubtedly
stand first, and of these, moistures appears to me to be by far the most
important, and, in the production of melanic and melanochroic forms
of variation it appears to be the all-important factor, in developing the
inherent tendencies to vary in this direction. Our melanic or melan-
ochroic varieties abound in the most humid districts and become
generally less and less in number as the districts become drier and less
humid. Whether the humidity accompanies a high or low latitude or
high or low altitude, or whether it be produced by nearness to the
sea, by ocean currents (as in the Gulf Stream and Black Current of
Japan), or brought about by excessive condensation by mists, clouds
and fogs, the result appears to be always the same, — the increase of
melanic or melanochroic varieties accompanies in a more or less direct
ratio, the areas of greatest humidity. This is not only so in the British
Islands, but the general principle is proven by reference to the fauna
of the Continents of Europe, Asia and North America and to that of New
Zealand, and there is no doubt that the theory is of general application,
subject only to local considerations and explicable disturbing causes.
Among our own extreme melanic forms, some of the most striking
are — Xylophasia polyodon vars. infuscata and nigra, Bisulcia ligustri var.
nigra, Apamea didyma vars. nigra, lugens, leucostigma and alhistigma,
Miana strigilis vars. fasciata and cethiops, whilst Agrotis lunigera, A.
cinerea, A. corticea, A. segetum, A. nigricans, and A, pyrophila, have each
an absolutely black form. Epunda viminalis var. ohscura from York-
shire is, in its extreme forms, perfectly black ; Dianthcecia conspersa
from the Shetlands, Hebrides and West Coast of Great Britain, Epunda
lutulenta from the West Coast of Ireland and Dianthcecia ccesia from Ire-
land and the Isle of Man also offer striking examples of intense melanic
variation, when compared with the normal European forms. These are all
extreme in the development of their melanic tendencies, but a very
large number of other species have similar melanochroic tendencies
developed in a lesser degree. Although moisture appears to act so
strongly in the development of these melanochroic tendencies, it un-
doubtedly obtains its greatest power by combination with the generally
applicable and broad features of "natural selection."

It may be well here to point out that Lord Walsingham in his
Presidential Address to the Fellows of the Entomological Society of
London, January 1891, pointed out that moist areas are frequently
such as exclude a large proportion of the sun's rays, and that, there-
fore, the lessened number of chemical rays may tend to produce
melanism. This phase of the subject is fully dealt with in the
' Entomologist's Eecord and Journal of YariatioUj'vol. ii., No. 1, pp. 4.-7.

IJTTRODUCTION. XV

Next to moisture, heat, and cold, must be considered the most
important factors in producing variation. All excessively cold areas,
if not subjected to the primary influence of humidity, appear to produce
pallid varieties with ill-developed and suffused markings. Lord
Walsingham, in his Presidential address to the Yorkshire Naturalists'
Union, 1885, referred to the melanic tendencies of high latitudes as of
common occurrence. This was pointed out in * The Entomologist's
Record,' vol. i., pp. 232-233, as an error, and it was shown
that insects from such latitudes did not produce insects which
were generally melanic, but on the contrary more pallid varieties,
and that melanism rarely occurred in high latitudes unless
accompanied by excessive moisture. This was acknowledged
by Lord Walsingham in his Presidential address to the Fellows
of the Entomological Society of London, 1890, when he stated
that he had in mind the general suffusion of markings which species
from such latitudes undergo, rather than actual melanism. For a long
time, cold was considered as the prevailing factor in the development
of melanic forms, the idea probably originating in the fact that most of
the known Alpine forms tended to be melanic ; but there appears to be
but little doubt now, that the melanism of high altitudes is due to mois-
ture rather than cold, since cold apart from moisture, as I have already
pointed out, appears totally unable to develop melanic forms, as the
almost entire absence of this tendency in the lepidoptera of the cold
icy plains of the Old and New Worlds abundantly testifies.

Whilst cold apparently tends to produce pallid ill-marked speci-
mens, heat on the other hand tends to produce brilliantly coloured and
well-marked ones, and we find that almost all our species, having a
wide geographical range, become gradually brighter as we pass from
high latitudes towards the tropics. Cold, too, by delaying larval and
pupal existence is supposed to have an effect in the direction of dar-
kening the colour of lepidoptera, whilst heat is assumed to have an
opposite effect. In the present state of our knowledge, however, it is
difficult to say that this is, or is not so, but Nature, in those polar dis-
tricts, where larval and pupal existence is frequently delayed, pro-
duces as I have already pointed out, rather pallid than dark insects.

Cases are on record in which disease undoubtedly appears to have
caused variation, and there is but little doubt that this is frequently
the case. Every entomologist who has bred lepidoptera largely, knows
that crippled specimens frequently vary in a remarkable manner from
the type. One of the most remarkable examples of this kind that I
have seen among the Nootu^ is a specimen (previously referred to) of
Orthosia upstlon, belonging to Mr. A. Eobinson of Brettanby Manor,
Darlington. This example accompanying a deformity in shape,
exhibits a complete variation in markings, the typical markings being
practically absent, and the specimen being characterised by a series
of longitudinal black marks, in connexion with disease. Dr. T. A.
Chapman of Hereford records in " The Entomologist's Record,' &c.,
vol. i., pp. 271-272, a brood of Cuspidia alni, which all varied more
or less from the normal form, chiefly in the direction of losing
their stigmata, and darkening of ground colour. This brood came
from a race, which was interbred for some time, and during the
time that they interbred freely, the specimens were normal, but the pro-

XVI IKTKODUCTION.

duction of these varieties was accompanied by a failure to produce
fertile eggs. Dr. Chapman connected it with a change of constitution
and did not consider it necessarily the result of disease.

Food is another factor in producing variation, but it is doubtful
whether direct phy tophagic varieties are ever anything but variations in
size. With plenty of succulent and nutritious food, lepidoptera attain a
large size and it is a common occurrence to find races of the same species,
of different sizes, living in localities comparatively near to each other; one
race, living on more succulent food, of large size, the other, living on
less succulent or less nutritious food, of small size. This is especially
noticeable in certain Geometry as Hypsipetes elutata, Cidaria testata,
Eupithecia satyrata and its var. callunaria and many others. Among
the NocTU-s;, I cannot point to a striking example in this direction,
although undoubtedly such exist, and in confinement if larvas be kept
short of food, dwarfs are the natural result. Generally speaking, the
larger races of such species as these, appear to be more clearly marked,
but this I do not consider in any way due to food, but to the combined
influences of " natural selection " and to the fact that the dark mark-
ings on the smaller moths, are, as it were, placed more closely together
and thus obscure more completely the (generally) paler ground colour.
As all the larger races of the species mentioned feed on bushes, shrubs,
willow, &c.,and the smaller ones on low-growing plants (Vaccimum), it
can readily be seen that the surroundings of these races are very
different, and the influence of *' natural selection" would be correspond-
ingly large.

In an introduction of this kind, anything like an exhaustive essay
would undoubtedly be out of place, but I think sufficient has been
written to show that the phases of variation in our British NocTUiE are
many and striking, that the causes of these are as yet most imperfectly
known and exceedingly complex in their character, and that a large
field is open to scientific workers in this direction as the systematic
classification of the material that we have continually coming to hand
is worked into a more definite form.

THE BRITISH NOCTURE AND THEIR
VARIETIES.

Class :— NOCTU^, Linn.

I. Sub-Class : — Bombycifokmes, Gn.

1. Family : — Cymatophoridce, H.S., Noctuo-Bombycidce, Gn.

COMPAEED with some of the families we shall have to consider
later on in the Noctu^, this family does not appear to be
subject to a very great deal of variation, and, when it occurs,
is generally produced by the transverse lines crossing the anterior
wings, coalescing and forming continuous bands. In some cases, the
ground colour is variable, and there is also a tendency in some
species — derasa, ocularis and flavicornis — to suffusion with red colour.
The difference in the size of the stigmata, and the difference in dis-
tance between the transverse lines before and beyond the stigmata, is
very noticeable in some species. In this family, we rarely get striking
examples of the melanic forms which are so commonly found in other
families, although some of the species have a tendency in that direction,
notably specimens of duplaris (both var. obscura and the type) and
diluta var. nuhilata. Flamcornis offers, perhaps, the widest range of
variation, varying from a pale yellowish green to dark-grey in some
specimens, while others are grandly tinged with rosy-purple.

Gonophora, Brd., derasa, L.

This beautiful species is very invariable in Britain. I have,
indeed, never seen a British specimen worth alluding to as a variety.
There are, however, distinct forms on the Continent, one of which is
darker than the type, the other distinctly tinged with purple. The
Linnagan description is as follows : — " Noctua spirilinguis cristata : —
alis deflexis supra antice decor ticatis." " Antennae et lingua ferruginea.
Alse superiores griseo undulatae sed ad marginem inter iorem, antice,
area per alam extenditur triangularis cinerea, ac si esset decorticata
(tecta tamen est), qua ab omnibus distinguitur. Linea alba alam de-
nudatam cingit ; striga alba ad marginem posticum alae ; albido ad
marginem inferiorem alae. Inferiores alas fuscescentes ; macula nulla
obscura in paginis inferioribus. Abdomen densiori lana albida
vestitum " ('Systema Naturae', p. 851). Of this description Guen^e
says : — " Linne must have seen worn specimens of this species, when
he said : — ' Area per alam extenditur cinerea triangularis, perinde ac
si esset decorticata (tecta tamen est) qua ab omnibus distinguitur.' We

2 VARIETIES OP NOCTURE

only see the median space more denuded of scales than the rest of the
wing " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p 12). In my opinion Linnaeus is per-
fectly correct, and Guenee wrong; unless, indeed, the specimens
under the notice of Guenee were different to our British specimens.
The following varieties are I believe unknown in Britain : —

a. var. intermedia, Brem. — This variety is of an ashy grey colour
(" cinerascens," Staudinger), and is only recorded, so far, from the
eastern part of Dr. Staudinger's European fauna district, Amur and
Armenia. Dr. Staudinger thinks this variety may be the gloriosa of
Guenee's * Noctuelles,' v., p. 12, which is considered by Guenee as a
variety of Thyatyra abrasa, an American species.

p. var. derasoides, Dobree. — Of this variety Mr. Dobree writes
me : — " A very distinct variety, of a purple shade of grey, and no
trace of white. From the Amur district " (in litt.).

Thyatyra J Och., hatis, L.

This pretty insect is another invariable species in Britain, the
coalescence of the two rosy spots near the apex of the wing, which
occasionally takes place, being the only noticeable feature. The
Linna3an description is as follows : — "Noctua spirilinguis Isevis, alls '
depressis : superioribus fuscis, maculis simul quinque albidis :
inferioribus albis." " Maculae orbiculares albide medio fusco, sparsse,
magnae " (' Systema Naturae', p. 836, No. 97). It seems very strange
that the Linneean description makes no note of the rosy colour of the
spots which are so characteristic of this species, but I have an Irish
specimen without a trace of this colour. I would draw attention,
however, to some little variation in the development of the cell on
the outer margin of the wing directly above the large spot in the
anal angle, and also to the fact that, between the apical spot and spot
at anal angle, an obsolete series of dots often shews some traces of
development ; I have specimens with none, one, two, and three of
these dots. I should be pleased to learn of specimens with a complete
series, as undoubtedly some such exist.

a. var. juncta, mihi. — The anterior wings with all the character-
istics of the type, but with the two rosy spots at the upper part of the
wing towards the costa joined together. The variety is taken with
the type.

p. var. mexicana, Hy. Edw. — Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell (' Entomolo-
gist,' vol. xxii., pp. 306-307) thus writes : — " In looking over some
vols, of * Papilio,' I came across (vol. iv., Jan. 1884, pp. 16-17), the
description of a new variety of T. batis named as above, which I
quote, as it is omitted from Mr. Tutt's valuable paper (Entom. xxi.,
p. 46), and is presumably unknown to British lepidopterists. It
differs from the European form by its larger size, much darker
ground-colour of the wings, both primaries and secondaries, and by
the pinkish spots having a larger and darker internal shade. The
ground-colour of the primaries is rich dark olive-brown ; the
secondaries the same colour, with fainter median band, and a little
lighter shade at the base. Exp. wings 44 mm. This moth was taken in
Mexico by Mr. Wm. Schaus, Jr."

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 3

Cymatophora, Tr., ocularis, L.

The Linnfean description of this species is as follows : — Noctua
elinguis laevis, alis cinereis fascia pallidiore lineis nigris terminata
ocelloque notata." " Corpus medias magnitudinis, cinereum, non
cristatum. Alae superiores cinereae, in medio fascia, in duas areas
divisae: Fascia albidior, antice posticeque linea nigra, terminata,
versus latera exteriora dilatata, ibique ocello parvo albo, pupilla nigra
notata ; in area anteriore punctum nigrum ; ad apicem alee lineola
atra ; margo ala3 posticus lineola nigra. Ala3 inferiores, omnesque
subtus albidse absque area et puncto " (' Systema Naturae', p. 837, No.
100). Guenee says : — " The name (ocularis) was suggested to Linnaeus
by the resemblance which the reniform stigma offers to a pair of
spectacles " {' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 19). The above description
agrees with our ordinary form very well except with regard to the
stigmata which are usually joined and form a figure 80, the 8 being the
reniform the 0, the orbicular. It is remarkable that Linnaeus should
name an insect on the peculiar character of the reniform, and then en-
tirely leave it out of his description, as he seems to have done. This
discrepancy has led to the use of Hiibner's name octogesima by almost
all our Continental entomologists. I have kept the Linnsean name,
but have added Hiibner's name below for our common form. This
species, too, is one in which a beautiful rosy tinge is found in some
specimens.

a» var. octogesima, Hb. = octogena, Esp. — Hiibner's octogesima (fig.
209) is a good figure of the ordinary form captured on the Continent,
although small. It has the anterior wings of a grey colour with a
delicate rosy tinge, especially at the basal and costal areas of the wing,
with two double abbreviated basal lines having a dot at the extremity
of each ; a complete line just before orbicular ; stigmata pale, forming
the mark 80, with their centres black, transverse shade between
stigmata, another through reniform, whilst a third is found directly
beyond reniform ; hind margin a very little darker than ground colour.
Hind wings dark grey, lunule distinct, base paler. Our specimens are
somewhat darker in ground colour, but otherwise agree exactly with
Hiibner's octogeaima. Esper's diagnosis of octogena also agrees with
this variety : — " Alis superioribus cinereo-rufescentibus, strigis undatis,
parallelis fuscis, macula in medio albido, signo or sed 80, subsimili ;
subtus flavescenti cinereis, fasciis tribus fuscis."

p. var. rosea, mihi. — This variety is marked like the type, but
has the anterior wings entirely suffused with rich red colour. I am
informed that this is not an uncommon form. A beautiful specimen
in the Rev. G. H. Raynor's collection, is the finest one I remember
having seen. I have strongly suffused specimens, but none equals his
beautiful specimen.

Cymatophora, Tr., or, F.

This species varies somewhat in the shade of the ground colour
and the more or less banded form that the transverse lines assume, the
transverse central band is also strikingly clear in some specimens.
Our British (especially ScotchJ specimens are beautifully tinged with

b2

6 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

description of the type is : — " Alis superioribus cinereis, strigis tribus
atris, antennis luteis " {' Systema Naturae', p. 856). I would draw-
attention to the variation in distance between the transverse lines, and
the striking dissimilarity in shape, position, &c. of the stigmata. This
is a very common form of variation in many families.

a. var. galhanus, mihi. — Of a yellowish-green colour, with ex-
ceedingly pale transverse markings, the stigmata pale and indistinct,
the costa at the base and above the stigmata yellow. Posterior wings
very pale. Our southern specimens are altogether unlike the type,
and are generally pale yellowish-green. The extreme difference
between this pale form {galhanus) and the other varieties is very
striking.

p. var. scotica, Staudinger. — The gi'ound colour is of a very much
darker grey than in the type, although the ordinary markings are very
distinct. The costa, at the base and above the stigmata is whitish-
grey, and the discoidal spots clear yellowish. It is the usual Kannoch
and Perth form, hence its name. I have also received it from York-
shire, where it is occasionally captured with the type.

y. var. rosea, mihi. — Like var. scotica, brightly marked with
distinct yellow stigmata, but the anterior wings richly suffused with
reddish (or rather purplish) colour. My specimens came from
Rannoch.

Asphalia, Hb., ridens, F.

The type of this species, with a dark green central band, and the
pale markings before and beyond the band, white, is rare in Britain.
A large proportion of our specimens belong to Hiibner's xanthoceros
which has the central area dark-green as in the type, but with the
paler parts of the wing of a greenish-ochreous colour. Esper describes
and figures a variety under the name of erythrocephala with the central
band fuscous, the base paler fuscous, the transverse lines black and
white ; Esper, however, adds to his description " with two reddish
spots on the disc." I notice that the claviform is sometimes slightly
reddish, so that Esper probably had a specimen thus peculiarly
marked. I have such fuscous specimens with scarcely a tinge of
green. Some specimens have the outer area of the wing very pale, so
that the outer strigee become almost obsolete and the central banded
area stands out very strongly. All my specimens of the tj^pe and
many of my specimens of the other varieties came from the New
Forest. The type is thus described by Fabricius : — " Noctua cristata
alis deflexis viridi fusco alboque variis macula baseos strigisque duabus
undatis albis, antennis flavescentibus." " Caput et thorax virescentia
albo irrorata. Antenna? flavescentes. Abdomen pallidum. Alee
viridi fusco alboque varife macula magna distincta alba baseos ad mar-
ginem exteriorem, quse strigam, undatam albam attingit. Pone
maculas ordinaris striga altera undata alba. Versus apicem strigee
lineolis albis lunulisque atris" (* Mantissa,' p. 180, No. 289). The type
is figured in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 243, and has a dark central
band across the anterior wings.

IN THt! BRITISH ISLANDS. 7

a. var. xanthoceros, Hb. — This variety has the anterior wings, with a
dark green band like the type, but with a pale ochreous basal line, or-
bicular and reniform pale ochreous, outlined in darker ; the pale
transverse lines beyond the reniform are also ochreous. Hind wings
grey with an ochreous tinge, base paler, and a pale line parallel to hind
margin. Most of our banded forms have the pale marks ochreous and
would thus belong to this variety.

p. var. erythrocephala, Esp. — The diagnosis of Esper's variety
is : — " Noctua spirilinguis cristata alis superioribus fuscis, albo nigroque
nebulosis, maculis duabus disci rufescentibus, (feminae albidis)" ( ' Die
Schmet.,' p. 309). Esper figures (PI. 128, figs, 1, 2 & 3) the larva
with the imago so that there is no doubt about the determination.

y. var. interrupta, mihi. — This is the variety with the central
band broken. The base is pale, the dark, central, transverse
band on the anterior wings is broken up by a pale patch extending
through it from the costa to the inner margin, the dark band being
represented by two dark lines on either side of this pale patch. I have
specimens of var. interrupta from all localities whence I have obtained
the type. When the pale transverse markings are ochreous, I would
&dd-ochrea to the varietal name, when white, — alba to distinguish
them.

2. Family: — BryopTiilidce, Gn.

This small family is subject to a great deal of variation, and its
species are, practically, polymorphic. The polymorphism of this
species is a striking illustration of the effect of environment on the
colour of the species. They are almost all lichen-feeding species, and
the colour of the imagines agrees most perfectly, in many instances,
with the lichens on which they feed ; thus, in certain localities,
dependent on the character of the lichens, we find certain forms of the
imago prevalent, perla var. flavescens is almost the only form obtainable
on certain walls in certain districts, although in the same districts, on
different walls, the other varieties are common ; so it is with var.
suffusa, with var. pallida of the same species, and the various varieties
of muralis. This peculiarity extends to the varieties of the other
species, algcB, &c. on the Continent. The different forms of variation
are always in the direction of the extension or suppression of some or
other of the typical coloration present, although under certain
conditions, coloured scales which are not normally present, are
developed to an extraordinary degree, as for example in perla var.
flavescens. A difference of intensity in the colour and development
of the typical markings also accounts for some of the most noticeable
forms of variation. We have only two common British species, both
of which are remarkably inconstant, while one reputed British species —
algce — is as variable on the Continent, as are our own species here.

Bryophila, Tr., perla, F.

The ordinary pale- grey form of this species, variegated with
transverse lines, usually found in the South of England, is the type of
this species. The description of Fabricius is : — " Noctua cristata alis
deflexis cinereis nigro undatis : maculis duabus fuscis." " Alie

6 VARIETIES OF NOOTU^

antic83 supra obscure cinereae strigis undatis nigris. In medio maculas
du88 magnsB fuscae. Posticae albidse puncto centrali fusco " ('Mantissa/
p. 173, No. 251). Besides the type, we find in Britain three very dis-
tinct forms. One, white with the central area of the wing clear,
except an ashy shade around the orbicular and another near the apex ;
a second is very dark ; the third is much suffused with bright orange
scales. There are, of course, intermediate forms, but the extremes are
very characteristic.

a. var. flavescens, mihi. — In this variety the whole of the anterior
wings are strongly suffused with ochreous or orange-coloured scales.
I have taken a long series of this very pretty form at Deal, where, on
some walls it is almost as common as the type. The walls are covered
with orange-coloured lichens, and there seems little doubt that in this
case the orange-colour of the variety is protective. This is, probably,
the variety mentioned by Mr. Gregson, as occurring " at Warmton,
where all are more or less tinged with ochreous " (' Entom.' iv., p. 50).

p. var. suffusa, mihi. — The grey reticulation and marbling,
which are pale in the type, are in this form very dark bluish black,
and suffuse the whole of the wing, absorbing all the usual markings ;
the discoidal spots are, however, very dark. The hind wings have the
space between the two black parallel lines very much obscured, so as
to form a broad dark band ; the veins of the hind wings very dark. I
have a fine series of this form from Strood and Deal. The few
Yorkshire and Lancashire specimens I have of perla, are all of this
form. There is no doubt that this form is Guenee's var. A., * Noctuelles '
vol. v., p. 28.

y. var. distincta, mihi, — The ground colour is white, and the dis-
coidal spots dark grey. A grey shade directly under the orbicular,
four short dark dashes near the centre of the costa, a short basal
streak and a grey shade on the costa near the tip of the wing, are the
only markings. The form is almost entirely without the grey marbling
of the type. I have several specimens in my own series, from Strood
and Deal and have occasionally seen a specimen in other collections,
but the form is by no means common.

Bryophila, Tr., algcej Fab.

This doubtfully British species is not uncommon on the Continent
of Europe. It is very variable, and appears to pass through different
local phases of variation, according to the character of the lichens on
which the larva feeds and the imago rests, in much the same way as
muralis and perla do here. The description of the type is as
follows : — " Noctua cristata alis deflexis : anticis f uscis ; fasciis duabus
viridibus." "Caput et thorax cinereo fusca. AIob anticse fusc^e
fascia lata, viridi fiascos et alia obsoletiore, repanda apicis. Posticae,
subtus puncto centrali, nigro " (' Entomologia Systematica, &c.,' p. 104,
No. 313). The type, it will be noticed, has two distinct fasciae, and
thus agrees with the spoliatricula of Treitschke. The following
varieties are found on the Continent : —

a. var. degener, Esper. — This variety is thus described by
Staudinger : — "Al. ant. fere unicoloribus viridibus " {' Catalog,' p.

m THlJ JBRltlStt ISLANDS. 9

78). The description I made of Esper's figure (pi. 158, figs., 3-4)
is : — " Anterior wings dark greyish-green, nervures darker, the pale
basal line followed by a blackish transverse shade (broader under the
orbicular) reaching almost to the inner margin, and stretching longi-
tudinally almost to the base ; the elbowed line pale, just beyond the
grey reniform ; a pale line parallel to hind margin edged internally
with blackish ; a short black longitudinal streak just above anal
angle. Hind wings dark grey with two double transverse lines."
Guenee writes of this variety : — " Comprises all those specimens in
which the wings are more unicolorous green." " Same localities and
as common as the type " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 28).

p. var. mendacvla, Hb. — Of this variety Staudinger writes : —
" minor, dilutior, grisescens." The description I have made of
Hiibner's fig. 520 is : — " Anterior wings green with a few ochreous
marks, several blackish grey transverse lines and ochreous stigmata,
with very confused markings. Hind wings dark grey with two dark
bands, base pale." Guenee writes : — " Smaller of a more greyish
green, paler, more unicolorous, median space concolorous." " Common
in the South of France " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 28).

y. var. calUgrapha, Bkh.,Hb. — Staudinger's diagnosis is : — " al.
ant. flavo-(aurantiaco-) variegatis ." My own short description of
Hiibner's fig. 520 is : — bright green with the stigmata and transverse
lines reddish ochreous, edged with black." Guenee writes : — " Of a
more yellowish green ; two large basal spots, one on the disc and a
wavy line (adjacent to the subterminal) of a bright orange colour."
" South of France, always rare " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 28).

Bvyophila, Tr., muralis, Forst., (1771).

The type of this species is thus described in Forster's ^ Nov^
Species Insectorum,' p. 74, No. 74, where the habits of the larvas are
also given: — '' Noctua spirilinguis subcristata, alis supra albidis; fascia
undata, stigmate in medio alae, macula et fascia altera ad basin vires-
centibus nigro fimbriatis." " Alse superiores supra albidag, fascia
virescente undata, nigro fimbria ad basin, connexa maculae concolori
interruptae, marginem exteriorem non tangente. Stigma virens in
medio alse, paululum a margine exteriore remotum. Ad marginem
inferiorem fascia lata virescens undata, lituris nigris inclusa. Margo
exterior nigro punctatis, sic et inferior ciliis nigro punctatis. Alae
inferiores supra albidse, fascia obscure fusca ad marginem inferiorem."
It will be noted that the bright green form, with white edging to the
black transverse lines, &c., is the type, the lines and shades being
arranged as in the figure, in Newman's * British Moths,' p. 244. The
species, however, is exceedingly variable, the ground colour going
through every intermediate phase from white (with a faint green tinge),
to ochreous-brown and blackish-grey, the markings also undergoing
every possible gradation from clear black and white to almost total
absence. The glandifera of Hiibner and lichenes of Fabricius both
represent the typical form.

a. var. par, Hb. — Of this variety Dr. Staudinger writes : —
** Dilutior, strigis al. ant. obsoletis." My own description of

lO VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

Hiibner's figure is : — "Anterior wings dull ochreous grey with the base
brownish, then a pale band with a greyish patch around the orbicular;
the reniform outlined in grey ; two dark grey transverse bands outside
reniform ; several short black costal streaks. Hind wings ochreous
grey with two transverse dark shades." This variety is without the
dark markings which characterise the type ; the green is practically
obsolete and much mixed with grey, giving the insect a very mealy
appearance. It is not so common as the type, but occurs occasionally in
most (if not all) localities with it. I have this variety from Cardiff, and
have captured it at Folkestone, Deal and Sandwich. Herr Hoffmann
(Hanover) has specimens of this variety in his collection from the
Simplon (Swiss Alps). Guenee writes of it: — "Of a -pale greyish
green with all the black markings faintly indicated in ferruginous
grey and only remaining black on thecosta " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p.
.29).

/3. var. viridis, mihi. — Like var. par, this has the black markings
very indistinct, but there is in addition a total absence of the grey
colour which gives var. par its mealy appearance. The whole of the
forewings are of a very rich green colour. I have beautiful specimens
from Folkestone, captured by Mr. Austin, and some exceedingly
rich specimens captured at the same place by Mr. Wellman, are in the
cabinet of Mr. Tugwell.

y. var. fiavescens, mihi. — Like the type but with the ground-
colour of a yellowish shade instead of green. I used to think these
were faded until I bred specimens from larvse taken at Deal, which
had no green in the ground-colour.

8. var. pallida, mihi. — Marked like the type, but the ground colour
of a pale whitish grey. I have this form from Deal and Folkestone.

e. var. ohscura, mihi. — The ground colour of a dull brownish grey,
markings obscure, as in var. par, and a little darker than the ground
colour. It is the darkest and most obscure form of the species I have
seen, and has no trace of green. The type of this variety was cap-
tured by Mr. Austin at Folkestone. I took one specimen of the same
form at Sandwich, in August, 1886. All the above varieties, I am
informed by Mr. Kane, are obtained at Queenstown, in Ireland. I have
seen specimens of var. par and var. viridis from that locality. An
interesting account of the variation of this species at Queenstown,
Ireland, by Mr. Kane, may be found in the ' Proceedings of the Royal
Irish Academy,' vol. iv., p. 113. Guenee gives a description of
another variety, which he calls var. B, and says of it that "the
markings are still more obsolete than in var. par."

^. var. impar, Warren. — Impar must not be confounded with B.
muralis var. par, Hb., as it is quite distinct from that variety. Many
lepidopterists consider this a local form of muralis, and with this
opinion I am now inclined to concur, as I have looked over a long
series, and find no satisfactory point of distinction between this and
muralis varieties. A full account of impar is given in the ' Entomolo-
gist,' vol. xiii., pp. 225-6, under the name of Bryophila par, Hb., also
in the ' Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol xxi., p. 22.

IK THE British islands. 11

3. Family : — Bombycoidce, Bdv.

This family is chiefly composed of the old genus Acronycta, now
subdivided by Dr. T. A. Chapman into Vtminia, Cuspidia and Bisidcia.
There is, in this family, a tendency to darkening of the ground-colour
in most of the species. The species have generally, in their paler
forms, a white or whitish-grey ground colour, the grey becoming more
and more intense until we get definitely suffused specimens as the var.
suffusa of ps?',var. hradyporina of leporina,y^Y. candeliseqva oi aceris and
var. myricce of euphorbice. We get, however, a few cases of almost ex-
treme melanism, notably var. nigra of ligustri, var. salicis (?) of
menyanthidis and var. salicis of rumicis. Besides this general
variation, we find many species which have the darker colouring
collected into banded form, as in tridens var. virga, psi var. bivirgw,
leporina var. semivirga. The beautiful rosy tint, noticed in some
species of the CvMATOPHORiDiE. is, in some species of this group, very
marked. Of this Guenee writes (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 47) : —
"Almost all the species of this genus have now and again isolated
individuals distinctly suffused with rose colour." Mr. N. F. Dobree
writes me with reference to this rose coloured suffusion : — " A lot of
larvae of A. megacephala were sent me in 1875 by a person living at
Forest Gate, and the resulting insects retain, even at the present day,
a distinctly rosy tinge." Hiibner figures two specimens of megacephala :
— one, fig. 10, is the ordinary continental type, the other, fig. 11, is
decidedly suffused with red. Some specimens of Moma orion have all
the white markings suffused with rose colour. Dr. Chapman of Here-
ford, who has paid particular attention to this group, sent me some
beautiful rosy specimens of tridens and psi. He also sent me specimens
of a remarkable local race oi psi which he calls bidens. This form has
structural characters by which it can be definitely distinguished from
psi, much more readily than can the latter species from tridens. I
would also call attention to the development of the fringe markings in
this group. The double fringe line at the anal angle occurs, I think,
in all the Acronycta also in cceruleocephala, but there are few other
NocTU^ that have the fringe markings so well developed as the mem-
bers of this genus."

Moma, Hb., orion, Esp.

This beautiful species offers a little variation in the depth of the
ground colour and a little in the development of the markings, while
the peculiar orbicular and reniform appear to vary endlessly; occasion-
ally also there is some variation in the amount of fuscous shading
outside the exterior transverse line. In some specimens, the central
and exterior transverse black lines are more or less double, giving such
examples a darker appearance, which led our early British authors to
suppose that we had two species. Newman figures both. Esper's type
has two longitudinal white lines, both starting from the base, one
passing under the median nervure to the anal angle, the other through
the stigmata. Many of our specimens are without the upper one.
Esper's type (represented by fig. 4, Plate 118), may be described
as having the anterior wings of a beautiful green ground colour with

12 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

two longitudinal streaks of white ; a black basal mark, and a black
double, zigzag, transverse line passing througb the stigmata ; a black
trifurcate costal mark near the apex is developed into a double transverse
line ; a double row of black dots at hind margin. Hind wings dark
grey, base paler." This is represented by fig. 2, p. 247 of Newman's
• British Moths,' the less strongly marked fig. 1 being var. runica.
I have specimens with the ordinary white marks of a delicate pink
colour. Guenee described the French specimens as having the inner
margin and two longitudinal bands of a whitish-rose colour.

a. var. runica, Haw. — In a long series, I have only one specimen
that represents the type, all the others having single transverse lines
and thus representing var. runica. The variety being less strongly
marked than the type, has, of course, a much lighter appearance ; Mr.
Newman figures this in his ' British Moths,' p, 257 (top figure), and on
the next page suggests the probability of orion and runica being dis-
tinct species, but I see no reason for supposing this possible. The
type is rarely found in Britain, with the more common variety.

j3. var. rosea, mihi. — Like the type but with longitudinal white
markings of a delicate rosy tint. Guenee writes of the French
specimens : — " Superior wings green with the costa, the inner margin

and two longitudinal bands of a rosy white

A subterminal row of triangular black dots surrounded with

rosy white, &c." (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 36).

Diloha, St., cceruleocephala, L.

This species is most remarkable for the endless variation exhibited
by the stigmata. These are generally pale yellowish-white in colour,
the claviform being united to the orbicular ; the central areas of both
these confluent stigmata being darker, they bear a close resemblance to
the figure 8. The reniform is attached to this and varies in shape,
sometimes forming another 8-shaped mark, sometimes a large
irregular blotch extending to the costa. The Linn^an description is
" Bombyx elinguis ciistata, alis deflexis griseis : stigmatis albidis
coodunatis " ('Fauna Suecicas,' No. 117). Alee stigmata duo, reni-
formia, magna, quasi didyma connexa ; margo posticus striga nigra
undulata " (' Systema Naturae,' p. 826, No. 59). Our specimens are
not strictly typical being tinged with reddish or purplish.

a. var. armena, Stdgr. — Staudinger describes a variety from
Armenia as : — " pallidor, al. ant. cinereis " {' Catalog,' p. 76). I
know nothing of it.

Acronycta, Och. (Bisulcia, Chapman), ligustri, Fab.
The type is described by Fabricius as follows : — " Alis deflexis
f usco virescentique var i is nigro subundatis : macula magna postica
albida. Thorax albo nigroque variis. Alae anticas obscurse, variegatae.
In medio macula ordinaria annula albo cincta. Versus apicem macula
magna alba. Margo ipse albo variegatus, nigro punctatus" ('Mantissa,'
p. 172, No. 244). It will be thus seen that the type has a greenish-
fuscous ground colour, with a white patch near apex, stigma
surrounded with white, and thorax speckled with white. Many of
our specimens have the apical spot fuscous, and others have the whole
wing (pale parts included) of a deep green colour. I have also a
perfectly melanic example from Mr. Hall, captured near Sheffield,

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 13

a. var. coronula, Haw. — This variety has the typical pale whitish
markings near the apex of the anterior wings of a pale greyish brown
colour, the white colour being reduced to a lunule on the inner part
of the mark, " Alis fuscis, annulo maculaque postica corongeformi
fuscescentibus," is Haworth's diagnosis (' Lepidoptera Britannica,'
p. 179). I have received this form from South Wales, and have
frequently captured it with the type at Strood, Cuxton and other
places in North Kent.

p. var. olivacea, Dobr^e, in litt. — Like var. coronula, this has no
white markings, the white portions being suffused. The suffusion,
however, is in this form of a dark olive-green colour. In some places
this form is equally common with the type, often more so, as is the
case in Yorkshire. In * Entom ' x., p. 124, the late Mr. Prest writes : —
" The form of A. ligustri, we (in the neighbourhood of York) find, is
suffused with dark olive-green ; we rarely see the white-crested form.
I took thirteen of this species at sugar one season, some years ago, and
of these, ten were olive-green with no white markings." Mr. Dobrde
says that " In the East Riding of Yorkshire A. ligustri is not a common
insect, but a variety in which the white is totally wanting, and
replaced by olive-green is equally common with the type." Herr A.
Hoffmann (Hanover) writes me : — " I have got ligustri from Vienna, of
a greenish-brown colour, with no white markings, — the places where
the white markings ought to be, are only a little lighter than the
other part of the anterior wings." The occurrence of this variety, in
such widely different localities as Yorkshire and Vienna, is very
interesting. It will be noticed that this is an extreme form, in which
the green with which the type is tinged in its darker parts, suffuses
the whole area of the anterior wings.

y. var. nigra, mihi. — The whole of the anterior wings uniformly
black, with all the transverse markings which characterise the type
of a still more intense black. There is no trace whatever of pale spots
or markings, and no trace of green. I have only seen this form from
Wadworth Wood, near Doncaster, where it was captured by Mr. A. E.
Hall. I published the original description of this variety in * The
Entomologist's Record,' &c., vol. 1., p. 34.

Acronycta, Och. (Cuspidia, Chapman), aceris, L.

This species shows a very considerable amount of difference in
the ground colour of the anterior wings, some of the paler tinted
specimens being of a pure whitish-grey, while others are much suffused
with ochreous and black. The hind wings exhibit considerable vari-
ation and the nervures are very strongly marked, those of the females
being darker than the males. The fringes, too, are strongly marked, the
black markings being very conspicuous. The Linnasan description is
as follows : — " Alis deflexis canis : superioribus lineolis undatis annul-
oque ovali nigris." " Alae superioris basis lineola fusca et margo
posticus nigro punctatus " (' Systema Nature,' pp. 846, 847). The
infuscata of Haworth is a suffused brown form, the candelisequa of
Esper, a suffused grey form (not ochreous or brown). Almost all our
specimens have a tinge of ochreous in them, and therefore differ both
from the type and the extreme infuscata. Most lepidopterists consider

14 VAEIETIES OF NOCTU^

that Esper's candelisequa = infuscata, Haw., but this is an error.
Haworth's acerts is our ordinary British form (tinged with ochreous).
Taking the pale grey form as the type, we have the following varieties : —

a. var. candelisequa, Esp. — Esper's diagnosis (p. 39) of this variety
is : — " Alis deflexis cinereis, stigmate orbiculari, striis maculisque oblite
eratis nigris, margine antico albo punctato, stria media angulari mar-
gineque postico albidis ; venis nigris subtus, puncto in medio et fascia
nigi-icante." Although this is so distinct, both Guenee and Staudinger
refer it to var. infuscata, Haw., and Guende writes " more yellow "
which is undoubtedly incorrect of this variety. Staudinger simply
writes — " obscurior." I have fallen into the same error as Guenee in
the ' Entomologist,' vol. xxi., p. 52, where the description, &c., belong
to Haworth's infuscata.

p. var. infuscata, Haw. — This is described by Haworth as : —
" Abdomine alisque anticis fuscis, striga postica dentata albican te."
" Praecedentis {aceris) forte varietas, at constans : differt thorace uni-
formiter perfusco, nee pallide cinereo : abdomine fusco, pube longa alba,
numquam pallide cinereo. Alee anticse omnino fuscas, strigis, lineolis,
punctisque prgecedentis : alse posticse ut in ilia." He then describes a
variety of this as : — " Alse longe saturatioribus striga postica cinerea
vix dentata, sed quasi ex maculis conjunctis rhombeis composita. Forte
propria species." I would include under this varietal name all those
suffused forms, in which the suffusion consists of brown or ochreous
scales. This was considered a distinct species by our early lepidopter-
ists. Newman figured it in ' British Moths,' p. 251 (2nd figure).

y. var. intermedia, mihi. = candelisequa, Gn. — This is our common
British form of which Guenee says : — " Superior wings dark, of a more
yellow (or ochreous) tint, with the lines and stigmata more distinct "
(' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 48). Like so many other species, this is, in
its palest British forms, darker than the majority of Continental
specimens.

Acronycta, Och. (Cusjpidia, Chapman), leporina, L.

The diagnosis of Linnaeus points to the white form as the type of
this species. It is : — " Noctua spirilinguis laevis, alis deflexis albis ;
punctis nigris ramosis " (' Fauna Suecicae,' No. 1176). A large pro-
portion of our British specimens are the bradyporina of Treitschke, a
grey form, which I have received from York, Essex, and also from
Dr. Buckell, who bred his specimens from New Forest larvae, although
the Rev. Bernard Smith writing to me from Marlow, Bucks, said : —
" All our specimens are quite white, veritable millers," so that these
forms appear to become local races in different localities. A beautiful
rosy tint is present in some specimens ; occasionally the outer part of
the wing assumes a banded appearance, being, as it were, an inter-
mediate form between the type and bradyporina.

a. var. bradyporina, Tr. — Treitschke's diagnosis of this variety
is : — ^'Acronycta alis albidis anticis fusco irroratis, punctis nigris
ramosis " (' Die Schmet,' &c., p. 91). This variety was treated by our
early lepidopterists as a distinct species. It is very much suffused, and
has scarcely any trace of the white colour which characterises the
type, the colour of the anterior wings being of a dark uniform grey.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS, 16

the black markings are of necessity less pronounced, and blend with
the general ground colour. This variety is represented in the second
figure in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 251. The type of this species,
leporina, has the ground colour of a pure white. Most of our specimens
would be referred by Continental lepidopterists to var. bradyporma.
Nearly all my series are of the grey form. In ' Entom.' x., 129, the late
Mr. Prest writes, *' I have taken A. leporina for nearly twenty years, but
never took the pale form near here (York); ours are all the variety brady-
porina." Mr. Dobree of Beverley, also tells me that this is so throughout
the E. Riding of Yorkshire. In 'Entom.' x., 93, the late Mr. Nicholas
Cooke writes : — " In this neighbourhood (Liscard) we take leporina of
a tolerably deep grey colour ; at Loch Logan it is beautifully white,
with the characteristic marks dark,"

(i. var. semivirga, mihi. — The same ground colour as in the type,
but the space, between the undulated transverse line parallel to the
hind margin and the hind margin, is suffused with black scales,
especially towards the line. This gives the variety the appearance of
an exterior band, although not so broadly developed as in the almost
parallel varieties of psi and tridens. This variety is represented in
Newman's * British Moths,' fig. 3, p. 251. It may be worthy of re-
mark that tridens has only a banded variety, psi and leporina both
banded and suffused varieties, while the remainder of the genus have
only, so far as we at present know, suffused varieties.

y. var. rosea, Engr. — Guenee describes a variety under Engra-
melle's name "La Rose," as having " the superior wings and abdominal
incisions of a bright rose," and says of it, " This charming variety is
very rare."

Acronycta, Och. (Cuspidia, Chapman), megacephala, Fab.

There is some variation in the ground colour of this species, but by
far the commonest form is the grey. Some specimens incline to
ochreous, others are rosy. Dr. Chapman, writing to me of this
species, says: — "I have them of three tints, (1) black and white,
(2) ochreous, (3) tending to pink." The specimens from the south of
Europe are all much paler than our palest forms. One pale Asiatic
variety appears to have been named turanica, under the impression
that it was a distinct species." The description of the type is as
follows: — " Alis deflexis cinereis nigro undatis : macula unica orbicu-
lata albida." " Rustica media affinis N. euphorbice. Antennas nigrae.
Caput et thorax hirta, cinerea. Abdomen albidum. Alae anticee
obscure cinereae strigis variis undatis nigris. In medio macula
ordinaria unica. Margo fusco punctatus. Posticas albae subtus puncto
centrali fusco" (' Mantissa,' p. 175, No. 261). This is a very good
description of our form. The following are the principal varieties : —

a. var. turanica, Stdgr. — A species of this name is found in
Staudinger's list between euphrasice and rumicis. The locality given is
Turkestan. Mr. Dobree writes me that this so-called species "is
nothing more than a light-coloured form of megacephala from
Turkestan." All our British specimens of this species are darker
than those from the south of Europe and Asia.

16 VAETETIES OP NOCTtiE

p. var. rosea, Engr. — Guen^e describes this variety as follows : —
" Superior wings of a pale (whitish) rose, with all the markings very
distinct." He also says, " this variety is frequently reproduced. I
have seen several examples " {' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 50). I have
previously noted the rosy tinge on specimens bred by Mr. Dobree, and
I have specimens from different correspondents, tinged in the same
manner. Hiibner's fig. 11 is of this variety.

y. var. ochrea, mihi. — Like the type, but with the ground colour
of the anterior wings decidedly suffused with ochreous. This is not
at all a common form, but occurs occasionally with the type.

Acronycta, Och. (Cuspidia, Chapman), strigosa, Fab.

This species seems very invariable, and I have seen but few minor
variations in the species. Strange to say, Fabricius in his description
of the type, mentions nothing of the yellow basal mark or yellow
reniform, which are so characteristic. Esper named the species
favillacea, probably on these characters. The Fabrician description
is : — " Noctua laevis alis deflexis fusco cinereoque variis : lineolis tribus
atris ante marginera interiorem." " Parva. Corpus cinereum. Ala3
anticee variegatse striga apicis undata. Margo interior fuscescens
lineolis tribus longitudinalibus atris. Posticse cinereae " (' Mantissa,'
p. 142, No. 61).

Acronycta, Och. (Cuspidia, Chapman), alni, Linn.

This species is thus described by Linnaeus : — " Noctua spirilinguis
cristata, alis deflexis fuliginosis : areis duabus cinerascentibus : priore
puncto marginal! nigro." Alae superiores supra fuliginosa-nigri-
cantes : areis 2 versus marginem exteriorem priore cinereo-albida,
oblonga puncta marginal! nigro ; posteriore subrotunda, albo cineras-
cente. Margo posticus cinereus punctis 8 atris, in area fusca et linea,
longitudinal! atra. Subtus grisescente-nebulosse. Inferiores supra
albidae, subtus albae puncto nigro " {' Systema Naturae,' p. 846). This
species is undoubtedly very closely allied in the imago state to A.
tridens and psi, and is the only British species that has, like them, the fine
longitudinal line, proceeding from the third fringe mark (counting
from the apex) which crosses the outer transverse line and forms, in
those species, a second i/'-like mark. There are two very distinct
forms, one with the two patches described above pale ashy-grey
in colour, the other with the patches but a little paler than the ground
colour. Mr. Dale wrote me some time since that he had a specimen
in which these patches were almost unicolorous with the rest of the
wing. The hind wings of this species are very variable. Some males
have pure white hind wings, others, a small grey patch at the outer
angle ; some specimens of both sexes have a grey band round the
outer margin, others, in addition have a row of transverse spots on the
nervures ; the lunule is traceable in most of the females and occasion-
ally there is a tendency for the nervures to become black at their
extremities. Some of the fringes are strongly marked, others pure
white.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 17

It would appear, from a brood that Dr. Chapman reared during
the summer of 1 890, that the dark forms of this species are probably
connected with a change of constitution (disease ?), for in the " Ento-
mologist's Record," vol. 1., pp. 271-272, he writes as follows: — "I
have bred A. aim for several years, have always found it rather shy as
to breeding, and, each year, have observed several instances of useless
pairing. But this year (1890), though many pairings occurred, none
settled down in the normal manner, and no fertile eggs were laid. I
have called this the result of a change of constitution, not necessarily
disease, partly because precisely the same procedure has always occurred
in my hands with strigosa, and this, with moths from captured larvae.
The curious point, however, in the case of alni is, that in previous years,
hardly a specimen departed, even in a slight degree, from the normal
type, whilst this year, about a third of the specimens differ, more or
less, either in the suffusion of the pale areas with darker scales, or in
variation in the stigmata, generally in the direction of disappearance
of the orbicular one. The variation and the failure to breed may be
fortuitous coincidences, or there may be a causal connection between
them. That the latter is the case is probable, from the record of other
instances of a similar character." Dr. Chapman has since sent me the
specimens, and they are really a most interesting lot. I exhibited the
specimens at the City of London Entomological Society, and referred
to the suffused form as var. suffusa (' Entomologist's Record,' vol. 1.,
p. 190). But the variation in the character of the orbicular (some
totally absent); and the degree of development of dark shading, and of
the transverse row of dots on the nervures of the hind wings, are very
striking. Of the 48 specimens sent, not one is really typical.

a. var. suffusa, mihi. — With the two pale patches which are
generally pale ashy in colour, much suffused with dark blackish-grey,
and closely resembling the darker parts of the wing, the specimens
thus appearing darker and more unicolorous. Recorded in the
"Entomologist's Record," vol. 1., p. 190.

p. var. ohsoleta, mihi. — With the orbicular stigma entirely ob-
literated. I have never seen a specimen of this form except among
those bred by Dr. Chapman.

Acronycta (Cuspidia) tridens and psi.

Before entering upon the consideration of these species separately,
or attempting to form some comparison between them, I would remark
that my information has been derived almost entirely from Dr.
Chapman of Hereford, who has paid great attention to the genus,
and bred large numbers of both these species from ova. He was
kind enough to send me long series (79) of tridens and j;8z all bred
from ova, so that no error of determination was possible. He also
sent some most valuable remarks which were entirely new to me, and
as they probably will be to most of my readers, I shall make free use
of them. As is well known, typical tridens have the anterior wings
darker than typical psi, the darkening being due to ochreous scales
which are mixed with the ground colour ; the hind wings, too, ^^are
generally purer white in tridens than in psi, and less shaded with grey

18 VARIETIES OF NOOTU^

iu the females. It is well known, however, that the markings of both
are so similar that very few lepidopterists can separate them with any
degree of satisfaction. The principal markings are a trident-shaped ^
longitudinal black mark at the base of the wing, the ordinary stigmata,
a very distinctly elbowed line beyond the reniform, and a short
oblique, dark shade running from the costa to the stigmata. It is,
therefore necessary for readers to bear these general facts in mind to
understand the points of distinction mentioned. Dr. Chapman writing
to me says : — " You will see that tridens is a very variable insect
within limits, whilst psi is very uniform (bidens, apart). The general
facies at once distinguishes tridens and psi ; let anyone mix one of
either set with the other, and you can pick it out at once. This is
probably because I have only one type of psi. When you look for
any marking apart from tint and tone, to separate psi from tridens, I
must confess that I have been able to find none that is invariable, the
shortness of the dagger handle at the anal angle, whiteness of hind
wings of male, do not hold universally. Another mark, that is perhaps
better than either of these, is the double mark in the fringe at the anal
angle at the end of the dagger ; exaggerating a little, it consists of two
lines in psi, two blotches in tridens ; but this fails sometimes, and is
not distinct enough to depend on description, apart from comparison.
It is curious how similar varieties affect these species ; in both, the
stigmata are usually united, but in both sometimes separate. Then
the blotch on the costa above the stigmata is sometimes a line, some-
times a blotch, sometimes descends into the orbicular, sometimes into
the reniform stigma, sometimes falls short between them, but equally
so in both species." This is a most valuable summary and, backed up
as it was with Dr. Chapman's insects, I am able to add under each
species my own notes, which are really an extended form of those of
Dr. Chapman. I would however call attention to one or two minor
points. The dark shade from the costa between the stigmata is some-
what different in tridens and psi in my opinion. In tridens it does not
appear usually, to go between the stigmata, but generally strikes the
upper and inner edge of the reniform, while in ps/ it crosses, more
generally, obliquely between the reniform and orbicular. Again, the
transverse line parallel to the hind margin is distinctly double in
tridens, but the inner edge is, to a great extent, lost in psi : in tridens,
too, this line commences rather farther over than in psi, but the most
remarkable point about this line is that in psi, the lower portion is gene-
rally nearly vertical or slightly turned back towards the anal angle,
while in tridens it goes distinctly towards the centre of the wing, ending
under the orbicular or quite at one third from the anal angle ; this is
fairly constant ; occasionally one finds in a specimen of tridens, as it
extends in this direction, a slight backward curve before it reaches the
inner margin, but it is very characteristic in Dr. Chapman's magnifi-
cent series. The anterior wings are less distinctly marked in psi with
black markings than in tridens. In both species there is a distinct line
of demarcation passing straight through the anterior fringes from apex
to anal angle. In tridens, the inner half is ochreous, the outer whitish ;
in psi, the inner half is darker grey than the outer and not ochreous ;
in the rosy specimens, the fringes are shaded with the same colour.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 19

The posterior wings are darker, and all have, more or less, traces of
the dark transverse line which is rarely (if ever) developed ever so
slightly in male tridens. The females of psi have the hind wings
more distinctly grey and much more mottled with black scales. The
fringes of the two species vary, in the posterior wings, in colour, as in
the anterior wings, but psi has the black lines running through the
fringes better developed than in tridens, which has the posterior
fringes, generally, very clear.

Acronycta, Och. (Cuspidia, Chapman), tridens, Fab.

As I have pointed out in the previous paragraph, the following
notes were made principally from Dr. Chapman's series : — " A very
large percentage of Dr. Chapman's tridens are strongly tinged with red
in both males and females. Specimens of both sexes have the stigmata
in contact, others have them separate ; others have them joined by a
short, fine, black line on the internal edge at about the centre or a little
lower. The black basal line instead of being distinctly trifurcate at
its point, is occasionally only bifurcate as in psi var. bidens. The bifur-
cations at the end of this basal line are really parts of the double transverse
line, hence some have two bifurcations at the end, besides the central
point. - Some specimens are of a much darker grey than others, but
all have an ochreous tint. Some have the abbreviated basal line dis-
tinct, some very indistinct, there is also a great deal of difference in
the development of the second pair of basal lines. Occasionally
specimens have distinct dark shades under the black basal longitudinal
line. All have a short dark shade, more or less developed, from the
costa to between the stigmata ; all the specimens, too, have a pale
wavy greyish line outside the reniform, much shouldered near the
costa and edged internally with the ground colour, but outside with
darker grey, the outer edge is sometimes developed into a distinct
transverse shade or band. A fine black line from the third fringe
gemination (counting from the apex) cuts this shade, sometimes ex-
tending to the fringe mark. The central line of the xf^-like mark at the
anal angle is always well developed, the curved part of the mark
depends for the development on the intensity of the external transverse
shade ; this central line originates in a double gemination at the anal angle,
and generally ends at, or near the inner edge of the inner line bordering
the pale transverse line * mentioned above. The 7 dark fringe lines
are very distinctly marked in all specimens. The males have very
clear white hind wings with faintly marked nervures and lunule. A
very fine ochreous line borders the posterior margin, in which are
placed about 8 dots between the ends of the nervures ; a few males
show traces of a transverse row of dots on the nervures and parallel to
the hind margin where the transverse shade exists in the females. The
hind wings of the females vary from white with slightly grey nervures
(darker on the outer margin) and faint traces of a parallel shade and
lunule, to wholly grey hind wings with very distinct darker grey
nervures (blackish on the outer margin), a distinct transverse line

* In psi this central line generally passes through a considerable distance
beyond the second line.

o2

20 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

parallel to the hind margin, and a distinct lunule. The dots
bordering the hind wings are the bases of the fringe geminations and
are not nearly so distinct as in the fore wings. Some of the females,
owing to the peculiar and extreme development of the dusky nervures
on the hind margin of the posterior wings (between the hind margin
and transverse shade), while the remainder of the wing is comparatively
without such markings, have a peculiar striated looking band running
round the hind margin." All the early descriptions of the species are
unsatisfactory, the diagnosis of Fabricius in the ' Mantissa,' appears to
be the best of a bad lot. He writes : — " Alis deflexis cinereis, macula
atris trifidis ; postico albidis," but this would do almost equally well
for other allied species.

a. var. virgay mihi. — The ground colour rather darker than in the
type ; the space in the anterior wings between the hind margin and
the transverse line containing the i/'-like mark much suffused with
dark scales, giving it the appearance of a band, the space between the
black basal streak and the inner margin much suffused. There is a
figure of this variety in Newman's * British Moths,' p. 248, second
figure.

p. var. rosea, mihi. — Like the type but with the whole of the
wings suffused with a beautiful rosy tinge. Same localities with the
type.

y. var. hidens, mihi. — With the basal mark characteristic of tridensy
-e^, not having the central longitudinal line produced beyond the
bifurcation which proceeds along the transverse line, thus f—.

8. var. quinquedentata, mihi. — With the basal mark produced through
the ordinary bifurcation as in tridens, but with two bifurcations, thus
making five points, -(-(—.

€. var. juncta, mihi. — With the orbicular and reniform united on
their inner margins. A rather common form of variation.

Acronycta, Och. (Cuspidta, Chapman), psi, L.

This common British species undergoes a fair amount of variation'
especially with regard to the ground colour, which varies from an
almost pure whitish grey, to a very dark grey, much suffused with
black. A considerable amount of variation also exists in the character
of the markings, and it is particularly to be noticed how variable are
the size, position, and arrangement of the stigmata. The very pale
form is the type, for Linnaeus writes : — " Noctua spirilinguis cristata,
alis deflexis canis, superioribus characteribus ^ nigris " (' Fauna
Suecicse,' 1181 ; ' Systema Naturae,' p. 846, No. 135). Dr. Chapman
sent me a very long series for examination, and especially directed my
attention to some of the minor points of variation apt to be over-
looked : — First, with regard to the longitudinal basal line. It will be
noticed on referring to this line, that the central stem extends, at its
outer point, beyond the two transverse cross pieces to form a trident
thus, "J— , the side pieces being parts of the transverse basal line. In
some specimens, however, that Dr. Chapman kindly gave me, this
central part does not thus project, but forms a simple forked mark,
thus, (^, and, for this variety, he proposes the name bidens. Secondly,
that the characteristic ^-like mark at the anal angle of the wing

IK THB BRITISH ISLANDS. 21

varies much, the central stem sometimes being carried through very
far, at others not at all, making a mark shaped thus, V. Thirdly, a
point to which 1 have previously drawn attention, the variation in
position, and the frequent coalescing of the reniform and the orbicular.
Lastly, I would draw attention to the following remarkable fact, that
all those specimens which he selected to give me of the bidens variety,
also had the area outside the elbowed line, and between that and the
subterminal line shaded as in var. virga of tridens, but, I must add,
this banded character was not confined to the hidens form in his own
series, some specimens being banded, which possessed a normal basal
mark. There is also another remarkable fact about hidens. The
shoulder line in bidems passes directly to the costa, forming an
oblique, almost straight line, and is not angulated, as in typical psi,
towards its upper part, and bent back towards the base before reaching
the costa. The hind wings, too, are paler than psi. It will be noticed
(as Dr. Chapman pointed out to me) that bidens in all these respects
resembles menyanthidis rather than psi. Returning now to psi (as
apart from var. hidens), I would call attention to the fact that the
black longitudinal basal line rarely has a double bifurcation in psi
(although common in tridens), owing to the generally ill-developed
condition of the outer striga of the double transverse basal line, of
which the bifurcations are really a part. There never appears to
be in psi a duplication of the short transverse line (situated towards
the upper part of the elbowed line, above the \^-like mark), which is
of common occurrence in the allied species, tridens. A very large pro-
portion of our specimens in the London district have a very dark grey
ground colour, whilst in other districts the ground colour is very
white, and in others particularly ashy, almost with a faint slaty hue.

a. var. virga, mihi. — With the area directly outside the transverse
angulated (shoulder) line, of a darker shade than the ground colour,
giving an appearance of a transverse band.

^. var. juncta, mihi. — With the orbicular and reniform joined on
their inner margins as in var. juncta of the allied species tridens.

y. var. bimrgce, mihi. — The anterior wings darker than in the type,
the space between the hind margin and the transverse line containing
the i/'-like mark completely suffused with black scales; the basal
part of the wing also completely suffused, so that the insect has the
appearance of two bands crossing these wings. This beautiful variety
was captured on the racecourse at York by Mr. J. T. Carrington, and
is now in the collection of the late Mr. Sidebotham.

6. var. suffusa, mihi. — The whole of the ground colour is much
suffused with dark scales, giving the insect a very dark appearance.
The posterior wings are also much darker than in the type in both
sexes. This is the form generally, if not always, taken in the London
district, and occasionally found in most of the woods within a few
miles of the metropolis. I have never taken the pale type in my own
district (Blackheath), although it is common enough in Darenth, Chat-
tenden, and other woods only a few miles off, in which the var. suffusa
is rarely seen.

€. var. cuspis, Stephens (non Hb.). — There is a continental species
of this name closely allied to A. psi, which species (cuspis, Hb.)

22 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiEl

Stephens undoubtedly considered the variety of pst he described it to
be. This proved not to be so. Stephens' name therefore has been
retained as the varietal name to psi. His description is : — " Very
similar to the last (A. tridens), but rather larger, cinereous, with a
black lateral thoracic line ; anterior wings greyish white, a little tinted
with luteous, with a strongly ramose black lineola at the base, and a
powerful black undulated posterior striga, in which are two black
^-like marks ; the stigmata are nearly as in the last (tridens), and the
cilia whitish ash, spotted with black ; posterior wings whitish, with a
dusky central lunule ; a transverse striga beyond the middle and pos-
terior fimbria." I have specimens in my cabinet labelled Chattenden,
July, 1885 and 1886, which answer exactly Stephens' description ; also
one taken on the Shooter's Hill Eoadin July, 1886. The specimens are
all large and characteristic. This var. may have to be referred to tridens.

^. var. bidens, Chapman. — Dr. Chapman has suggested the name
hidens for a remarkable local race which he has bred. The ground
colour is ashy grey, and the black longitudinal basal line reaching the
first of the streaks that make up the double transverse basal line
divides into two branches, without passing through the second streak
as it does in normal psi, thus resembling A. menyanthidis ; the costal
shade which |)asses between the stigmata starts from the upper edge
of the transverse basal line, the elbowed line has two distinct angula-
tions, and, outside is shaded with a transverse band rather darker than
the ground colour, giving it a banded appearance ; the fine longitudinal
line starting from the third (from apex) dark fringe marking, reaches,
but does not pass through the angulated line (as it does in psi and
tridens) ; the i/'-like mark in one specimen does not have the central
stem extending beyond the curved part, in the others it extends
through, but less than in either psi or tridens. Hind wings of the
males white with dark nervures ; in the females grey with a darker
transverse line and lunule. Dr. Chapman writes of this variety : —
" They are pale and unicolorous and remarkable from the basal dagger
having only two wings (whence var. bidens) and the outer line passing
straight to costa instead of sloping towards base — in both respects
resembling menyanthidis. Male bidens also has pale underwings, in
some as pale as tridens. The larva is psi except that the lower pale
lateral band is darker " (in litt. '88).

rj. var. rosea, mihi. — The whole of the anterior wings suffused
with rose'^ colour. This is a much less common form of variation in
this species than in tridens.

0. — Guenee describes two varieties, his var. A as : — " Superior
wings whiter, less powdered with black and without a violet tinge,
with all the black streaks more strongly marked. The angulated line
of a deep black throughout its length. Inferior wings generally paler."
His var. B is described as : — " Superior wings a little squarer, clearer,
less powdered with dark scales. The inferior wings of a blackish
grey, almost unicolorous in both sexes. From North America "
(* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 43).

Acronycta, Och. (Viminia, Chapman), auricoma, Fab.

The type of this species is thus described by Fabricius : — " Noctua
auricoma (by error auricoma) cristata alls deflexis : anticis cinereo

IK THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 23

fuscis : strigis characteribus nigris, pedibus, apice albo annulatis."
"Nimis affinis N. psi at omnia obscuriora. Al^e posticae albidioris.
Pedes albidi apice fusci albo annulati " (' Mantissa,' p. 174, No. 256).
The minor forms of variation noticeable in the allied species are also
present in this. Haworth's varieties, menyanthidis and similis differ but
little from the type ; Hiibner's pepli is darker and rather more
unicolorous.

a. var. similis, Haw. — In this variety the wings are more ashy in
colour, with a slightly waved line before the middle of the anterior
wings ; another short oblique line is in the centre of the wing, and a
third pale one at the apex. Haworth's description is as follows : —
" Noctua alis cinereis, striga subundata atra ante medium, alia fusca
obliqua abbreviata medio, tertiaque cana submoniliformi, limbi postici :
posticis albidis fimbria subfusca." Comparing it with the following,
var. menyanthidis, he writes : — " Prsecedenti (var. menyanthidis) nimis
affinis, sed magis cinerea seu infuscata ; striga ante medium anticarum
simplex et longissime saturatior pone maculam cuneiformem obscuram
fuscam cinereo-cinctam. Margo posticus distincte notatus striga sub-
moniliformi albida sive cana. Striga postica anguste dentata, litera ^
terminante prioris, fere omnino obliterata. Postici^ al^e magis distincte
subfusco fimbriat£e" (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 180, No. 57).

p. var. menyanthidis, Haw. (non Hb.). — This variety of auricoma
must not be confounded with the northern species of the same name.
The great character of this variety is the increased development of
the xp-like mark. I have taken this form with the type at Addlestone,
in Surrey, and have no doubt it occurs everywhere where the type
may be obtained. Haworth's description (' Lepidoptera Britannica,
p. 180) is as follows : — " alis cano-cinereis stigmatibus ordinariis dis-
tinctis, striga* duplici fusca antica, alteraque postica anguste dentata
cinerea literam xp terminante." Comparing it with auricoma he
writes : — "Auricomce, simillima, at pallidior : alis posticis nee subfuscis
sed fere albidis venis postice fuscis ciliis niveis. Linea nigra basi anti-
carum obsoletior, simplex, nee dentata."

y. var. pepli, Hb., Gn. — Dr. Staudinger gives this as a probable
variety of auricoma, with the description, " obscurior, magis unicolor."
Guenee describes it without a mark of doubt, as follows: — "The
ground colour of a more bluish grey, and at the same time more
sprinkled with black dots, which make the marking less distinct.
The inferior wings of the male are whitish in the middle. Fringe
spotted." He gives as localities Germany and Normandy. It appears
to me, after a careful consideration of Hiibner's fig. 614, to belong
here. The great character of the variety seems to me to be the
complete absence of the ^-like mark.

Acronycta, Och. (Viminia, Chapman), menyanthidis, Vw.

Vieweg's diagnosis of this species is as follows : — " Noctua meny-
anthidis alis deflexis canis fusco nebulosis, annulo medio charactere ^
referente anguli postici nigris " (' Tabellarisches Verzeichniss ' &c.,
p. 50, No. 75). This species is very variable both in ground colour
and markings. Some specimens are of a pale whitish-grey, scarcely
clouded with darker, and with the transverse lines and stigmata almost
obsolete, while others are much darker, sprinkled with black scales,

24 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

culminating probably in a perfectly melanic form. An extreme melanic
form probably occurs on the Continent, for Herr A. Hoffmann of
Hanover, writes : — " Dark melanic forms occur on the moors and at the
sea-coast of North Germany," but I am inclined to think that these
belong rather to my var. siiffusa than any other form. There is a great
deal of variation in the character of the stigmata, and I have specimens
in which the reniform is absent ; the dark costal shade in this species
appears always to run directly through the reniform, whilst the black
line bordering the pale elbowed line is frequently broken up into large
black lunules.

a. var. ohsoleta, mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings
somewhat paler than in the type, the markings very faint and indistinct.
Instead of the black markings of the type (vide Newman's ' British
Moths,' p. 257), they are grey and but little deeper in shade than the
ground colour. The discoidal spots are indistinct, the hind marginal
and central areas very pale, the latter inclining to white. My speci-
mens of this form were given me by my friend Mr. Butterfield, and
were captured in the Bradford district. He also gave me a remarkable
specimen with the right side of this obsolete form and the left side
much more strongly marked and typical.

13. var. scotica, mihi. — Larger and brighter than the type, the
markings very clear and distinct All my Scotch specimens from the
Glasgow and Dumbarton district are much larger, brighter, and more
distinctly marked than Yorkshire specimens. The specimens from the
east coast of Scotland are more like English than Scotch specimens
from the west coast, or from the Eannoch and surrounding districts.
It may be well to remark here, that the fauna of the east coast appears
to be less alpine than that of the west coast of Scotland in a more
southern latitude.

7 var. suffusa, mihi. — The anterior wings powdered with black
scales, giving the insect a much darker appearance than the type. The
hind wings are of a much deeper grey, especially towards the base and
hind margin. Hiibner's figure 7 represents this form fairly well. The
variety figured in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 257, fig. 4, appears
identical with my specimen of this form, which also came from the
Bradford district. Mr. Brest (' Entom.' x., p. 129) writes : — " Those
(menyanthidis) we take near York are nearly black, and the light form
is very rare."

Acronycta, Och. (Vimima, Chapman), euphorhice, Fab.

The type of this species does not occur in Britain. Our British form
has become so completely modified that it was descriTDcd as a distinct
species under the name of ntyricGe. The Fabrician description is : —
" Noctua cristata alis deflexis cinereis fusco undatis : maculis ordinariis ;
anteriore orbiculata posteriori reniformi albidis." " Caput et thorax
hirta cinerea. Al^ cinereae striga baseos brevissima, altera ante medium
undata, tertia pone medium incurva. In medio pallidiores maculis
ordinariis distinctis annulo fusco cinetis. Margo fuscus punctatus "
(' Mantissa,' pp. 174, 175, No. 260). The hind wings of male euphor-
hice are white, of females, grey. Those of male myrlcce are white, of
the^females dark blackish grey. The variety montivaga, Gn., is hardly

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 25

identical with myricce, Gn., but is less dark in colour, and has the
markings more obscure. It is, therefore, somewhat intermediate
between myricce and the type. The specimens of moutwaga I have
received from the Alps appear exactly intermediate between the pale
type and Rannoch myricce. It is, however, rather surprising that
Guenee should describe two varieties so closely allied, as belonging to
distinct species. Herr Hoffmann also informs me that the markings of
montivaga from the Engadine are less distinct than those of myricce
from Rannoch, otherwise the forms are almost identical." Hiibner's
fig. 12 (euphorhice) is without doubt a large female montivaga. Dr.
Staudinger writes of montivaga comparing it with ewphorbice, " major,
obscurior."

a. var. montivaga, Gn. — Guenee describes a variety of euphorhice,
under the name of montivaga, as follows : — " The anterior wings of a
deep slaty gi'ey, with a slight tinge of bluish white, the markings
almost absorbed in the ground colour ; thorax grey. The inferior
wings of the male a little powdered with black on the outer edge, the
nervures and a distinct cellular lunule, darker ; those of the female of
a darker grey with the fringes white. The anterior wings of the
female not differing from those of the male. The variety is constant ;
perhaps it is due to the influence of the mountains. Locality,
Chamouni " {' Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 57, 58).

/?. var. myricie, Gn. — The type of this species (euphorhice) does not
occur in Britain. The Continental specimens are very much paler and
generally somewhat smaller than our specimens. Myricce was long con-
sidered a distinct species, and was described as such by Guenee, but
there is no doubt that it is only one of those highly specialised melanic
forms for which the northern part of Britain and the western coast of
Ireland are so remarkable. It is useless to redescribe a species which
is in all our collections and has been so often described. It is abun-
dant in many parts of Scotland ; and was captured by Mr. Birchall in
Killarney. Mr. Kane has also taken it at Galley Head in Ireland. It
may be advisable, however, to draw attention to the extreme sexual
dimorphism exhibited by this variety. The females are sometimes
almost entirely black.

Acronycta, Och. (Viminia, Chapman), rumicis, L.

Before dealing with the varieties of A. rumicis, it is necessary to
enter at some length on the consideration of associating the var. salicis
of Curtis with this species or with A. menyanthidis. I have gone care-
fully through all the literature which I can find on the subject, the
following being the summary : — Mr. Stainton, in the ' Manual,' vol. i.,
p. 183, treats it as a distinct species, and says that it closely resembles
rumicis, but is smaller and darker. Newman figures it as a variety of
rumicis, ' British Moths,' p. 255. Dr. Staudinger quotes it as an aber-
ration of menyanthidis, with the following synonymy and description : —
" ab. salicis, Curt., Gn ? euphorhice. Wood, obscurior, alis anterioribus
fere unicoloribus ; locality Anglia." In Humphrey & Westwood's
* British Moths,' p. 197, we find : — " Varieties of menyanthidis occur in
which the ordinary strigge are much more distinct and brown, forming
broad patches on the wings, the inner margin at the base of the third

26 VARIETIES OF KOCTU-SJ

striga being marked with a more distinct lunular patch. Such a variety
constitutes the A. solids of Curtis." Mr. South, in his 'Synonymic
List,' quotes salicis, Curt., as a synonym of rumicis, and also directly
after (on the same page) quotes it as a variety of menyanthidis. At
p. 7 of the ' Substitute ' (1856-57) the late Mr. Nicholas Cooke wrote: —
" At p. 183 of the ' Manual ' I see Mr. Stainton has copied an error
from Guenee's great work, which the latter author was led into by
Curtis. The larva figured along with the imago of solids in the splendid
work of Curtis is the larva of menyanthidis. I have had hundreds of
them, but never reared solids from them. Both myself and my friend
Mr. Greening have, however, reared solids from the larva of rumids
and are perfectly satisfied that it is nothing more than a dark variety
of the latter species." At p. 213, however, Mr. Cooke modified this
statement very considerably. He says : — " The statement (' The Sub-
stitute,' p. 7) brought me a reply from Mr. J. C. Dale, which
induced me to send him my specimens for examination, and it turns
out that the solids of our northern collections is not the solids of

Curtis Mr. Dale says with good reason that if solids is a

variety at all, it is a variety of menyanthidis ; that he was with Curtis
at the time he found the larvae from which they were bred ; that he
also found three larvse, and reared one moth exactly like Curtis's
figure of solids. Curtis was more fortunate, and bred several, and one
menyanthidis among them, which puzzled him. The larvae were found on
sallows in the Trossachs, .... proving Guenee to be right in stating that
the figure given by Curtis of the larvae by the side of the imago is
sufficient evidence that this solids is only a variety of menyanthidis."
Herr A. Hoffmann writes me : — " Rumids does not vary with us
(Germany). Menyanthidis varies greatly in colour, from a greyish
white to dark melanic forms which occur on the moors or at the sea-
coast of North Germany (probably your solids, Curt.)." My friend Dr.
Chapman, who is a specialist with this genus writes : — " It is 30 or 40
years since I made up my mind about solids, Curtis. His figures are
excellent as usual ; larva of course, menyanthidis, moth rumids. Both
species of larvae are common at the Trossachs and he got them mixed.
The rumids figured is the West of Scotland form. I have bred large
numbers of menyanthidis from the West of Scotland, and never got a
black var., nor, I fancy did, Curtis, but since there is a black var., and
no one likes to say Curtis (travelling about at the time) made a mistake,
the matter has been allowed to remain doubtful. I take it the black
var. of menyanthidis is not like Curtis' figure " (m litt.). After reading
these extracts I think most lepidopterists will agree with me in stating
that both menyanthidis and rumids have black vars., but in deference to
Dr. Chapman's superior knowledge, and in opposition to the opinion
expressed' Entom.' xxi.,p. 83, it would appear that saZ/m, Curtis = solids,
Sta. and that as an undoubted black var. of menyanthidis has never been
described it is advisable to leave the matter open for future investiga-
tion.

The Linnaean description of the type is as follows : — " Alis deflexis
cinereis bimaculatis ; litura marginis tenuioris alba. Alae stigma
ordinarium annulo et puncto nigro. Macula dein alba medii marginis
tenuioris " (' Systema Naturae,' p. 852). It will be seen that the type

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 27

tas a slender white striga parallel to the hind margin. Evyhorhice
Haw. differs in having an ashy instead of a white line ; whilst
Stephen's euphrasice is a pale greyish-ochreous form. The salicis of
Stainton is a strongly melanic form. It would seem that in Britain
our specimens of rumicis from the South-west are very pale ; much
suffused with brown in the South, South-east, and the Midlands ; and
much suffused with black in the North of England and Scotland.
M. Guenee writes : — " Rumicis varies but little with us ; I am not able
to describe the individual varieties of Stephens, specially, as I have not
seen types coining from England " (Guenee's ' Noctuelles,'vol.v., p. 53).
It would appear, therefore, that rumicis does not vary either in France
or Germany. So far as my experience goes, I j&nd only the type with
distinct white markings or var. salicis occurring in Scotland. In the
South of England the paler markings are rarely white but generally
dull ashy grey.

a. var. salicis, Curtis. — This melanic form was figured by Curtis
(* Brit. Ent.,' pi. 136) with the larva of menyanthidis, the imago, from
which the figure was obtained, is stated to have been bred by Curtis
from a larva captured on sallow in the Trossachs " {vide ' Substitute,'
p. 212). It is described in Stainton's ^ Manual,' vol. 1., p. 183, as a
distinct species. It is undoubtedly a melanic form of rumicis. It is
the A. nohilis of Gregson (' Entom.' iv., p. 50). The anterior wings very
much suffused with black scales ; the orbicular is distinct, but the
reniform generally inconspicuous ; there is a pale lunular mark at the
base of the third striga, and a row of white dots parallel to the hind
margin. It is figured in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 255, fig. 2, and
occurs in the North of England and Scotland. My own specimens
came from Mr. Finlay, Meldon Park, Morpeth ; Mr. Henderson of
Glasgow; Perth; &c. At *Entom.' x., p. 12^, we read "J., rwm/c/s also
occurs nearly black at times with us," i.e., in the E. Riding of Yorkshire.
It is not uncommon near Beverley (E. Yorks). Mr. Kane writes : —
" I have specimens of this (solids) variety in which neither the reniform
nor orbicular stigmata are represented. The only pale markings are
the white lunular one near the anal angle on the inner margin and the
row of pale dots along the hind margin." This form with obsolete
stigmata is not uncommon in the North of England and Scotland ; but
generally var. salicis has an orbicular, although the reniform is usually
absent.

f3. var. eupkorbice, St. (non Hb.). — Under this name our early
British lepidopterists figured and described a var. of rumicis, which
they erroneously referred to Hiibner's eiiphorhice, which is a very
different species. There is a figure in Humphrey and Westwood's
' British Moths,' pi. xlii., fig. 13, and a description, vol. 1., p. 197. The
figure does not agree with the description very well. The figure
depicts a form which has the space between the stigmata pale, and
suffused more than is usual with dark brown blotches. I have seen
nothing answering to the figure, but the description represents a form
fairly abundant in the S. E. district. The description, as copied from
Humphrey and Westwood, is : — " Ashy brown coloured, with brown
blotches ; the stigmata whitish coloured, preceded by the two ordinary
striga? ; the space between the stigmata is pale ; the anterior stigma is

28 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

round, the outer one kidney-shaped, both having a brown margin ; the
third stigma is terminated on the inner margin by a pale mark, and
the subapical striga is pale, the apex of the wings being dark, the
cilia pale, spotted with brown; the hind wings and abdomen ashy
coloured."

y. var. euphrasice, St. (non Dup.). — Apalevar. of nfmzm is referred
by Mr. Stephens to the Continental euphrasice of Treitschke and Du-
ponchel. It is very different to that species, but is a well marked and
uncommon variety of rumicis. The ground colour of a pale yellowish
grey, with many black transverse lines, but no dark patches ; the
anterior stigma obsolete. A pale lunule is developed at the end of the
elbowed line, and the last striga is pale, wavy and continuous. I have
some fine specimens of this unusual pale form, which appear to agree
exactly with the description of Stephens' specimen, except that they
have the anterior stigma indistinct, not obsolete. My specimens were
taken in Cornwall, by Mr. F. Norgate of Brandon. The true euphrasice
is figured by Hiibner: the male, fig. 529 ; the female, fig. 615, the
latter under the name of cyparissice.

Viminia, Chapman (Arsilonche, Ld.), alhovenosa, Goze (oenosa, Bkh.).

The type of this species, as its name indicates, has white nervures
which show distinctly on the pale wainscot ground colour. The
depth of the ground colour varies from pure silvery white to
deep (inclining to reddish) ochreous. A great deal of difference
exists in the development of the dark shades under the base
of, and above the outer half of the median nervure, and towards
the apex. Mr. Warren, of Cambridge, informs me that "the
specimens of the second (autumnal) brood are those which have the
dark dashes more prominently marked, and the fore wings sometimes
more thickly peppered." This form (with the dark shades clearly
developed) is figured by Hiibner (fig. 380) under the name of degener.

a. var. centripuncta, H.-S. — The anterior wings of this variety
have a black spot in the centre of each wing. The description Dr.
Staudinger gives is " alee anteriores puncto nigro." This form has, I
believe, at the present time only been recorded from Kussia, but some
of my specimens from Cambridge have this spot faintly indicated. I
should not be surprised to learn that this variety exists in some of our
collections.

p. var. ochracea, mihi. — The ground colour of this variety is red-
dish ochreous, and the wing-rays pale ochreous instead of white, as in
the type. This variety occurs in both broods, some of the specimens
being almost devoid of the dark shades very strongly marked. I have
to thank Mr. W. Farren, of Cambridge, for a loan of fine series of this
variety.

y. var. argentea, mihi. — Ground colour silvery white, with no
trace of ochreous. My specimen, which is probably of the autumnal
brood, is much suffused with dark scales directly above and below the
median nervure, also along the costa, and less strongly along the inner
margin. Taken very rarely with the type.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 29

n. Sub-class : — Genuine, Gn.
1. Family : — Leucanidce, Gn.

The Leucanidae are, as a family, remarkable for their pale colour,
nearly all of them being of some shade of yellowish or whitish
ochreous in their palest forms. Even those which we are accustomed
to consider as having the typical colour of some shade of red are found
to be grey or ochreous in their paler forms, when long series from
far-distant localities are obtained for comparison. In almost all the
species of this group the variation in ground colour appears to go
through a regular gradation from pale whitish ochreous to yellowish
ochreous and reddish ochreous, generally culminating in a deep red.
Not only are many of our species subject to these variations in ground
colour, but nearly all the family are frequently in all these various
forms more or less suffused with black scales. It is therefore in one
of these two directions, or in both combined, that the variations of
the Leucanidae generally run. A less important type of variation is in
the number of dots which form the transverse rows, found in many
species, parallel to the hind margins of both the anterior and posterior
wings. Frequently some specimens of a species have complete rows
of these dots, while in other specimens of the same species they are
entirely absent, others having a greater or less proportion of the total
number suppressed. In most instances, however, two at least are
developed on the anterior wings, one directly above, the other below,
the median nervure.

Synia, Dup , musculosa, Hb.

It may be advisable to point out that Newman's figure, * British
Moths,' p. 273, is nothing like Hiibner's type, and that his (Newman's)
description is almost convincing that the specimen he described most
probably did not belong to this species. Hiibner's fig. 363 is of a
bright sulphur-yellow ground colour, with grey nervures, the central
area of the wing much suffused with dark grey scales ; the orbicular
and reniform, of a very pale sulphur, stand out distinctly in the darker
central area ; the costa has a broad pale sulphur streak, the inner
margin also clear ; a pale sulphur wedge-shaped mark extends longi-
tudinally from the outer edge of the reniform to the hind margin, at
the point and where it meets the hind margin is a small grey blotch.
Posterior wings pale sulphur, without any markings.

a. var. myodea, Rbr. — Mr. Dobree informs me that the data for
considering this a variety of musculosa rests upon a single imperfect
specimen captured in Andalusia. Dr. Staudinger quotes it with a
mark of doubt.

Leucania, Och., vitelUna, Hb.

Hiibner's type of this species (fig. 379) is a small, very strongly
marked male, of a bright yellow ground colour, marbled with reddish,
with transverse lines and stigmata red ; his fig. 589 being a female,
larger, dull unicolorous orange, with the transverse markings and stig-
mata indistinct. The specimens I have are all females, as large as
Hiibner's fig. 589, but intermediate in depth of markings and colour
between his figs. 379 and 589. Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' p. 73,

30 VARFETTES OF NOCTUJE

says : — " It varies in ground colour from a pale yellow to a strong
yellowish red, and the markings are more or less clear, following the
intensity of the ground colour. I have specimens from Algeria which
do not differ from French examples." A good many specimens occur
in British collections, but the insect is a south European one, and
rarely occurs even in the north of France and Germany. The species
is, however, occasionally captured in the Isle of Wight, where many
species, having a close connection with the Mediterranean littoral, are
to be found.

Leucama, Och., conigera, F.

This species varies very much in ground colour from a bright
yellowish-orange, through ferruginous red, to a deep dusky red much
sprinkled with black scales. The continental forms appear to closely
resemble our brighter specimens, but I have seen none approaching
the more melanic forms which we occasionally obtain in England,
and which are very frequent on the west coast of Ireland. There is
a certain amount of variation in the size and shape of the central white
dot. The diagnosis of Fabricius, taken from Borkhaiisen, is : — *' Cristata,
alis, deflexis flavescentibus, strigis duabus fuscis, punctoque medio albo
trigone." Hiibner's figure (322) is a good one of the typical insect as
far as the upper wings are concerned, but the posterior wings are
coloured bluish, and have a dark margin,

a. var. intermedia, mihi. — Differs from the type in being of a
redder ground colour, and is not suffused so much with black scales as
the more melanic var. suffusa. This appears to be the most common
form of the species, and to occur in the same localities as the type.

/S. var. flavipnnctum, mihi. — I have a specimen of this species
taken at Strood, of a reddish ground colour, with the ordinary
characteristic white spot ochreous.

y. var. suffusa, mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings of
a dusky ferruginous-red, without any trace of the brighter yellowish
ground colour of the type, the whole being much suffused with darker
scales ; the markings exactly like those of the type, but of a deeper
colour and more distinct, especially the stigmata ; a very dark shade
surrounds the reniform, extending to the orbicular ; the costa shaded
with dark scales, the wing-rays also dark. The hind wings of a very
dark smoky-grey colour in both sexes, bearing more or less traces of a
still darker transverse line. I have this melanic form from Morpeth,
Hartlepool and Sligo. My conigera from Dundee are as bright as the
specimens captured in Chattenden, Strood, Deal, and other Kentish
localities. Brightly-coloured specimens are, however, captured at
Sligo with the darker forms.

5. A remarkable abortion of L. conigera is figured in the * Ento-
mologist,' vol. xi., and described at p. 171 as follows : — " This insect
has the normal coloration of the upper wings, but the left lower wing
is, both in colour and structure, partly like the upper wings, and also
has one white spot in the centre."

Leucania, Och., alhipuncta. Fab.
This rare British species is thus described by Fabricius : — " Noctua
cristata alis deflexis cinereis lunula media alba, strigisque duabus lu-

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS, 31

nularum fuscarum." "Corpus cinereura. Alas anticas cinereae,
interdum parum rufescentes strigis duabus e lunulis interruptis fuscis.
Inter has striga lunula albida " ('Mantissa,' p. 178, No. 275). As in
the closely allied lithargyria, there are two distinct shades of colour,
one bright red, the other much greyer, sometimes slightly tinted with
reddish (the type) but occasionally without (var. grisea). Of the few
specimens I have captured on the south-east coast (Kent), most are of
the type, and a form intermediate between the type and the brightest
red form. There is practically no variation in the tiny round white
dot at the base of the reniform.

a. var. rufa, mihi. — Of a much deeper red ground-colour than the
type, the characteristic white mark in the reniform standing out very
distinctly. There is considerable difference in the intensity of colour
in these red forms. Appears to be a much rarer form than the type.
I have only one extreme specimen in my collection, although three
others are of a much brighter red than the type, and may be referred
to this variety.

p. var. siiffusa, mihi. — With the same markings as the type,
but with the ground-colour much more suffused with dark scales.

y. var. grisea, mihi. — Without the reddish tinge of the type, the
anterior wings being of a uniform dull grey. The stigmata and
transverse lines as in the type.

Leucania, Och., lithargyria, Esp.

This species varies much in ground colour, and its varieties are
difficult to deal with on account of the difference existing between our
specimens and Continental ones, and the fact that Haworth considered
the different shades of the species sexual, the pale ones being males,
the dark red ones females, whereas both forms occur in both sexes.
The typical Continental lithargyria, is an intermediate pale greyish-red
form, which is figured by Hiibner (fig. 225) and by Esper (plate 124,
fig. 6). Esper's figure is of a pale reddish colour, with darker ner-
vures, and reniform pale in lower half, with a row of dots parallel to
the hind margin. This form is Haworth's grisea. Our palest form
(without red) is, in its most extreme form, var. argyritis of the ' Eambur
Catalogue ' : our reddest forms are the ferrago of Fabricius (^217). The
transverse markings, too, vary a great deal. Some specimens have
only a row of dots parallel to the hind margin, with no other marks.
Haworth says, " Al86 fere unicolores." Some have a transverse basal
line, and some even two, or indications of them, between the reniform
and base of the wings ; whilst others have, in addition, a transverse
line between the reniform and the row of dots ; but this latter form is
rarely met with. This line is an extreme development of the inner of
the two rows of dots present in the type. Mr. Lawson, of Perth, sent
me some with all these lines indicated, but the only specimen I have,
with a distinct and complete basal line and a distinct and complete
line between the reniform and row of dots, was captured by Mr.
Ovenden near Strood. Mr. Dobree writes me: — "In some of the
specimens taken here (Beverley, E. Yorkshire) the tendency to a darker
shade on the hind margin of the upper wings is very pronounced."

a. var. argyritis, Kbr. Cat. — The anterior wings of this variety are

S2 V VARIETIES OF NOCTIT^

pale grey, without the reddish colour of the type ; the posterior wings
paler than the type, with a row of black dots on the nervures, these
dots being continuous with those on the anterior wings. This variety
is described by Dr. Staudinger as : — " Al^e anteriores pallidiores, alse
posteriores punctorum linea exteriore." Staudinger gives as localities
Sicily, France, Syria, and Dalmatia. This is undoubtedly the var. a of
Guenee's ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 75. His description is, " Of a greyish
tint. Inferior wings whitish, with a row of dots more or less visible
on the disc." Mr. Dobree writes me, " It is almost a light wainscot,
and our English specimens are never so light coloured." I have a
specimen, however, of this variety most extreme in its coloration,
captured by Mr. Young at Rotherham. It is without a trace of red.

p. var. pallida, mihi. — Closely allied to var. argyritis, of a delicate
wainscot colour, with the slightest suspicion of a pinkish tinge ; the
characteristic markings not very strongly developed. I have speci-
mens of this beautiful variety from Howth, Farnboro' (Kent), and
Deal.

y. var. ferrago, Fab. — This is our ordinary reddish type, with the
anterior wings of a deep ferruginous-red colour, with more or less
traces of one (or two) basal transverse lines between the reniform and
base of the wings, and a row of dots parallel to the hind margin, a
dark lunular mark sometimes being just within the base of the row of
dots. The posterior wings of a dark grey, occasionally with traces of
a row of dots on the disc. This is the female of Haworth's grisea, of
which he says, "Alis feminsB rufis." The description of Fabricius is: —
" Noctua cristata alis deflexis f urrugineis : macula media fusca ;
lunula alba." " Alee antic86 ferrugineae, in medio macula fusca et in hac
lunula alba. Pone fasciam strigse punctis vix conspicuis, nigris.
Posticse fuscEe" ( " Entomologia Systematica,' &c., p. 76, No. 217). A
very large proportion of our specimens are deep red ; the finest speci-
mens perhaps of this form that I have seen are some received from
Mr. Lawson, of Perth.

8. var. extralinea, mihi. — The anterior wings of a ferruginous-red
or a greyish-red colour with all the ordinary markings, and in addi-
tion, a complete transverse line between the reniform and the row of
dots parallel to the hind margin. This line is the complete develop-
ment of the lunular mark mentioned above {vide var. ferrago). I have
specimens from Perth and Strood.

e. var. fulvescens, mihi. — A fine deep ochreous-brown, or rather
fulvous variety, with scarcely a tinge of red in its coloration. The
markings generally more or less obsolete. The type of this fine variety
came from Perth, but I have specimens from Forres and Chattenden
(Kent).

^. var. marginata, mihi. — In the * Entomologist's Record and
Journal of Variation,' vol. 1., p. 242, Mr. J. Collins, of Warrington,
writes : — " I have bred a very strange specimen of L. lithargyria, the
variation being connected with the hind wings. These are silvery
grey in colour, bordered on the outer margin, by a broad, dark band.
The specimen has an altogether " under wing " look about it. The
larva was obtained in the Delamere district."

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 38

Leucania, Och., turca, L.

Until very recently I was of opinion that this species was a most
constant one in colour. Thanks to the Rev. G. H. Ray nor, of
Brentwood, I find the species has several shades of colour. The
ordinary red form is the type. The Linnsean description is : — " Spiri-
linguis cristata, alis cinereo-rufis ; strigis duabus f uscis lunulaque alba ;
alae superiores absque stigmatibus ordinariis, sed in medio lunula alba
minuta" (*Systema Naturae,' p. 847, No. 140). Among our specimens,
we find some with a distinctly orange or yellow tint ; others of a dull,
dead, coppery colour, much suffused with black scales, and with the
dark transverse lines showing a tendency to become obsolete ; in fact,
the distinctness of these lines appears to be inversely proportional to
the depth of the ground colour, the pale specimens (lutescens) have the
lines very distinct, the darker ones, obscure. I am indebted to Mr.
Dobree for the following interesting information : — " Siberian speci-
mens show the same variations of light and dark colour, but some of
the former strongly incline to grey, and in others, the small dark shade
which surrounds the white spot in our English specimens, is developed
into a large and conspicuous cloud of dark grey. To this form Dr.
Stau dinger gives the name of grandis in his trade catalogue." The hind
wings of some specimens are beautifully rosy, in all the forms of
variation.

a. var. lutescens, mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings
of a brighter and more yellowish tint than in the type, and but
sparingly sprinkled with darker scales, the transverse lines very dis-
tinct, and the fringe of a pale shining yellowish-red colour, agreeing
with the ground colour of the wings. The posterior wings much paler
than in the type, with a darker shade in the centre. These pale forms
occur very sparingly with the type. I have them from the New Forest,
Brentwood, &c.

p. var. obscura, mihi. — ^The anterior wings of an obscure smoky-
grey colour, with a dull reddish coppery tinge, much suffused with
dark scales. The white spot in the centre very indistinct, and the
transverse lines in some specimens much blurred. The Rev. G. H.
Raynor has in his collection a fine series of graduated forms of this
variety.

y. var. lividus, mihi. — Closely allied to var. obscura, of which it
is an extreme development; of a greyish-ground colour with a slightly
yellowish tinge, altogether a much paler and characteristic variety
than any other. I have specimens only from Brentwood in Essex.

5. var. grandis, Btl. — "The small dark shade which surrounds
the white spot in English specimens is in some Siberian specimens
developed into a large and conspicuous cloud of dark grey. Such varie-
ties form the grandis of Staudinger's last trade catalogues, by whom it is
treated as a distinct species " (Dobree, in lilt.). The Rev. G. H. Raynor
has a variety in his collection, captured at Brentwood, with this grey
shade very distinctly developed.

Leucania, Och., unipuncta. Haw.

A few specimens of this cosmopolitan species have been recorded
as taken in Britain at different times, spread over a great number of

34: « VARIETIES OF NOCTUiE

years. The species undergoes a certain amount of variation, of which
I am unable to write much from personal experience. Haworth's de-
scription is very distinct : — " Alis rufescentibus seu griseo atomosis,
lineola obliqua fusca apicis punctoque minutissimo albo basi stigraatis
postici. Stigmata ordinaria fere omnino obliterata " (Haworth's ' Lepi-
doptera Britannica,' p. 174, No. 37). Why this name (unipuncta) has
been replaced, by some authors, by Guenee's extranea I cannot imagine,
considering that Haworth's name is prior by more than half a century.
The description of Guenee's extranea is almost identical with that of
Ha worth, but in addition, the former author lays stress on his specimens
being more strongly powdered with black scales. Guenee writes of
extranea : — " The superior wings very acute at the apex, of a grey
colour, more or less reddish, sometimes whitish, strongly powdered
with black scales. The two ordinary stigmata stand out in the dis-
coidal cellule in a light, more or less reddish colour. Under the reni-
form is a white spot, lightly surrounded with black. No traces of
transverse lines occur, but the series of black dots which represents
the usual angulated line beyond the reniform is often very distinct ;
an oblique black streak starting from this line and carried almost to
the apex, together with the shape of the wings, form the principal
characteristics of this species. The inferior wings slightly transparent,
gi-ey, with the outer margin and the nervures blackish " (Guenee's
*Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 77, 78). Mr. Dobree writes to me : — " Specimens
which I have from South Australia agree with Guenee's type, but are
decidedly greyer and more coarsely powdered with black atoms than
my specimens from Canada, but as Guenee's var. B, which are less
powdered, are from Australia, probably they vary there too." Taking
Haworth's less powdered reddish specimens with the white dot on the
anterior wings as the type, the following varieties have been
noticed : —

a. var extranea, Gn. — Described in full above ; more thickly pow-
dered with black scales than the type. The Eev. G. H. Eaynor has
brought the following description to my notice : — " Fore wings light
brownish-ochreous, with numerous scattered short fuscous strigulaD and
black scales ; orbicular and reniform indistinct, roundish, more
yellow-ochreous, dark centred ; a white dot, sometimes very obscure,
on lower margin of reniform, preceded and followed by dark scales ;
a curved posterior series of black dots ; a straight oblique slender
fuscous streak from apex to this series ; a hind marginal series of black
dots ; cilia pale brownish-ochreous ; apex whitish. Hind wings grey-
whitish, towards hind-margin broadly suffused with dark grey,
especially on upper half, veins dark grey ; cilia whitish, sometimes
with an indistinct grey line " (' Transactions of the New Zealand Insti-
tute,' vol. xix., 1886, by E. Meyrick, B.A., F.E.S.).

/?. var. asticta, mihi. — This is Guenee's var. A, of which he says :
" No white spot at the base of the reniform." This name would also
include Guenee's var. B, of which he says: — " No white spot; superior
wings less powdered, with the apical streak less marked. Inferior
wings with a blackish border clearly marked, especially underneath."
So that his var A is the variety extranea without the white spot ; var. B
is the paler type without the white spot.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. $5

7. var. saccharivora, Butler, 'Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond./ 1882, p. 115. —
"Smaller than the typical form and of a brighter reddish colour;
the white spot obsolete. From China, India, and New Zealand"
C Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,' 1890, p. 661).

B. var. antica, Walker, 'Lep. Het.,' ix., p. 100, n. 62, 1852.—" About
the same size as the preceding variety, but much paler, the primaries being
pale testaceous, with ill-defined dusky markings, and the secondaries
almost white, with more or less defined dusky border, darkest towards
apex. The Indian examples show the dusky border distinctly as a
broad subapical patch, varying in intensity in different individuals ;
one of the examples from Venezuela has a similar though less pro-
minent patch. From the western coast of America, Venezuela,
Darjiling " (' Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,' 1890, pp. 661-662).

e. var. <n/o/zV, Butler, * Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,' 1882, p. 114.—
" Altogether a greyer form, with prominent pale discoidal spots, well-
defined dark oblique apical streak, and dusky secondaries. From Sao
Paulo, Chili, Canada, Japan, Java, N.W. India, New Zealand and
Flores " (' Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,' 1890, p. 662).

^.Y&r.convecta, Walker, 'Lep., Het.,' xi., p. 711. — " The primaries
almost uniformly greyish, with testaceous reflections ; the white dot
almost lost in a blackish spot at the end of the cell ; the secondaries
whitish, with dusky veins and border, somewhat as in the darkest form
of var. an/2ca. From Moreton Bay "(* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,' 1890,
662).

y. var. separata. Walker, ' Lep. Het.,' Suppl. IT., p. 626.—" Scarcely
separable from the preceding ; the specimens have a washed out, faded
appearance ; the primaries pale testaceous, with indistinct markings ;
secondaries greyish white, with dusky veins and borders. Japan,
Shanghai, N.W. India, Goya, Chili, Kansas " ('Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,'
1890, pp. 662-663).

Of these last five vars. Mr. Butler writes : — " I have not the least
doubt that the whole of the above forms are mere variations of one
widely-distributed species ; at the same time it is doubtful whether
the whole of the forms occur together, as, in a long series, Mr.
Edmonds only had the two varieties, L. trifolii and saccharivora, whilst
the typical form, received subsequently from Talcahuano, is only like
a duller, darker specimen of the latter variety. Most of the varieties
occur in N. Western India, but I have not seen typical L. unipunctay
var. antica, or var. convecta from there " (* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,'
1890, p. 663).

Leucania, Och., loreyi, Dup.
Of the variation in this widely-distributed species, Guen^e
writes : — " I find no essential difference between our European loreyismd
those which I have received from M. Horsfield, who bred them in
Java. On the other hand, I have a female specimen from Brazil
slightly smaller and clearer. It varies in ground colour " (' Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 84).

Leucania, Och., impudens, Hb.

Hiibner's fig. 229 (by error 329) is the type of this species, which
may be described as follows : — Anterior wings of a pale greyish colour,

d2

36 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

with no trace of reddish, thickly sprinkled with black dots ; a longitu-
dinal shade, just darker than ground colour, runs just above the inner
margin, another between the upper branches of the median nervure,
and another near the apex, a black dot at the end of discoidal cell ; hind
wings very dark grey, no markings whatever. Guenee, comparing the
type with pudorina, says of it : — " Larger, of a different colour and shape,
at the extremity of the discoidal cell a large black dot, which is wanting
in pudorina.'' This black dot is, however, nearly always present in
pudorina ; the females are, as a rule, greyer than the males (Mr. Farren
has sent me some almost as grey as Hiibner's type-figure) ; and Mr.
Dobr^e writes me that " impudens from various parts of France and
Germany do not differ from English specimens." In this species there
is great variation ; some specimens are grey (as in the type), some are
bright rosy, some are almost unicolorous ochreous; whilst others have
the dark shades between the nervures developed to such an extent as
to form bright and strongly-marked blackish stripes.

a. var. pudorina, Hb. — Hiibner's figure 401 — ochreous, sprinkled
with reddish — represents our usual form of the male, but the form is
not uncommon in the female. It has been treated as distinct by
Guenee and all our later British authors. The greater number of
specimens from Cambridge, the New Forest, Askham Bog and other
British localities are of this form, the very grey form being rare.

p. var. atriata, Dobree, in Hit. — " The colour of the anterior wings
is a very glossy wainscot-brown rather than ochreous, coarsely pow-
dered with black, the wing-rays, and the shading which is faintly
perceptible in English specimens, showing out clearly in very dark
grey. In size there is no difference. This is a handsome variety from
the Amur district, with the colour and markings much intensified."
I have never seen this variety, and have to thank Mr. Dobree, who has
specimens in his collection, for the above information. I have, how-
ever, a specimen lent me by Mr. W. Farren, of Cambridge, with all
the spaces between the nervures as thickly powdered with black scales
as possible, the wing- rays being dark grey. I should think this speci-
men is almost exactly like the Amur specimens.

y. var. rufescens, mihi. — Ground colour of the anterior wings en-
tirely bright rosy red, no trace of ochreous, with very pale grey wing-
rays ; the wings only very slightly suffused with black scales, except
just above the median nervure, where they form a decidedly blackish
longitudinal streak ; a small but very distinct black spot at the end of
the discoidal cell. Hind wings pale grey, with red fringes. I have
again to thank Mr. Farren for the loan of the type of this variety,
which is much more extreme than any I had previously seen. Some
of the Askham Bog specimens have a tendency to bright rosy.

Leucania, Och., putrescens, Hb.

The types of this species are Hiibner's (Geyer's) figs. 730 and 731.
These, although presenting the general characteristic markings of
putrescens, are so small compared with our British form that they are
hardly recognisable. I have seen no Continental specimens, but, if
Hiibner's figures are a fair representation of the species as it occurs on
the Continent, our form is well worthy of a distinct name. This

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 87

would hardly seem to be so from Guen^e's remarks, ' Noctuelles,' p. 80,
where he writes : — " Bad as is the figure of Geyer, I believe decidedly
that it really is the type of this species, which it represents, and not,
as I at first thought, a variety." I have dwelt on Hiibner's figures of
this species, because they represent the first described or figured types
of the species.

Leucania, Och., breviUnea, Fenn.*

The type of this species is described in the Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. i.,
p. 107, by Mr. Fenn, and copied therefrom into Newman's ' British
Moths,' p. 271. The chief character of the type (from which the name
has been derived) is a short black line at the base of the anterior wings
under the median nervure.

a. var. sineUnea, Fam. — In the 'Entomologist,' vol. xi., p. 103,
Mr. Fam describes a variety of brevilinea under this name, calling it
*' the form in which the line at the base of the wing disappears." It is
the var. alinea of * The Entomologist Synonymic List.'

Leucania, Och., comma, L.

The type is described by Linnasus as : — " Spirilinguis cristata, alis
cinereis deflexis ; lineola nigra adjacente tenuiori albee. Alee sordido
colore, lineola nigra baseos. Stigmata nulla " (' Systema Natures,' pp.
850, 851, No. 156). The essential points are — dirty ash-coloured,with
a black lineola touching a slender one of white ; no stigmata. Treitschke
writes (vol. v., p. 302) : — " Alis anticis pallide fuscis," &c. Hiibner,
fig. 228 (by error 328), figures the type as turhida ; his figure is excel-
lent. This species varies much in the depth of ground colour and
markings, our British specimens rarely occurring as pale as those from
the Continent, although Continental specimens are occasionally dark.
Hiibner figures this dark form, fig. 617, under the same name, turhida,
which he applies to the type. Some of our specimens have a strong
ochreous tint. It is worthy of remark that my Deal series includes
the darkest, and at the same time the palest British specimens I have
ever seen. There is a great deal of variation in the intensity and
quantity of black markings between the nervures, towards the outer
margins of the anterior wings. There are, also, frequent traces of
asymmetry in the markings of this species. I have one with a black
lineola at the base of the inner margin on the right anterior wing, but
none on the left.

a. var. suffusa, mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings of
a brownish colour, much darker than the type ; the anterior wings,
including the costal area, very much suffused with fuscous scales, the
spaces between the wing-rays showing out as distinct, dark, longitu-
dinal, wedge-shaped streaks on the outer margin. The black streak
under the base of the pale median nervure intensely black. The hind
wings of a deep blackish grey colour. Nearly the whole of my British
series belong to this melanic form. The specimens which I have from
the London and Deal districts are generally darker than specimens I
have from Yorkshire, Morpeth, Brecon, and Scotch localities. As

* I have inserted this species in what seems to me its true position in our
lists. It does not appear to me to be a Nonagria,

38 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiE

mentioned above, Hiibner figures this form (fig. 617) under the name
of turbida. Mr. Finlay, of Morpeth, gave me a specimen of this
variety with a strongly-marked black lineola above the median nervure
in the discoidal cell, and another short one quite at the base of the
inner margin.

p. var. ochracea, mihi. — A bright brownish-ochreous form, with a
tinge of reddish in the ground colour ; the black lineola and streaks
between the nervures standing out very conspicuously.

y. var. nigropuncta, mihi. — There is also a constant form of varia-
tion, equally distributed through the paler type, vars. suffusa and
ochracea^ with a distinct small black dot at the end of the discoidal cell.
Such a variety would constitute the var. nigropuncta.
Leucania, Och., ohsoleta, Hb.

The type of this species is Hiibner's fig. 233, which gives a very
incorrect idea of the form we get, and an equally incorrect one of all
Continental specimens I have seen. The anterior wings are of a
different shape to those of our ohsoleta, and it is highly coloured. The
row of dots parallel to the hind margin is, however, distinctly
marked. My first impression of the figure was that the fore wing
represented the var. punctilmea of impura, but the hind wings are
characteristic of ohsoleta, which cannot be mistaken for those of any
other species. Hiibner's figure is of a "bright reddish wainscot colour,
with a pale trifid longitudinal mark along the median nervure, a row
of dots parallel to the hind margin." I have specimens of a dull red
colour (the nearest approach to the type), but in a moderately long
series of specimens, which I obtained in North Kent, there are no
specimens so bright as Hiibner's figure. In some specimens the reddish
wainscot ground colour is longitudinally striated with black, and these
form an almost parallel variety to straminea var. nigrostriata.

a. var. nigrostriata, mihi. — Anterior wings of a reddish wainscot
colour, which shows distinctly along the pale nervures ; a pale central
longitudinal line under median nervure and a row of black dots
parallel to hind margin ; the space between the pale nervures filled up
with numerous black scales giving the insect a dark, striated appear-
ance. Hind wings dark grey, hind margin darker, nervures black.

/5. var. grisea, mihi. — Somewhat like the preceding var. but with
the ground colour pale grey and no trace of reddish. The spaces
between the nervures less strongly dusted with black scales than in
nigrostriata.

Leucania, Och., straminea, Tr.

The type of this species is described by Treitschke as : — " Alis
anticis pallide stramineis, punctis tribus medio pluribus ad marginem
in seriem dispositis nigris ; posticis albis fusco venosis " (Treitschke,
* Die Schmet. von Europa,' vol. v., p. 297). This typical form with
only " three dots on the anterior wings, besides the row of minute dots
on the extreme hind margin, and with white hind wings and fuscous
nervures," is not at all a common form with us. Generally there are
slight traces of a more or less complete transverse row of dots on the
nervures of the hind wings, besides which a dark longitudinal streak
is found under the median nervure of the anterior wings. In 1883
and 1884, I took a large number of this species in North Kent, and I

IK THK BRITISH ISLANDS. 39

found it one of the most variable species in its genus. In my long
series, picked from a great number, I have four very distinct forms
besides the type. Summarised, these are : — (1) A pale form, without
any dots or markings. (2) The type, with three dots on anterior
wings only. (3) A form with a transverse row of dots on anterior
wings and another on nervure of posterior wings, with a faint shade
under the median nervure. (4) A red form. (5) A form much
suffused with black scales.

a. var. obsoletaf mihi. — This variety has the anterior wings of
delicate wainscot or straw-colour, with the median nervure pure white,
below which is a faint trace of the basal part of a longitudinal dark
shade. The three dots on the anterior wings are entirely absent.
Posterior wings pure white, no markings or dots. The crest on the
thorax very distinct. I havejonly one specimen of this exceedingly
rare and extreme form.

p. var. intermedia, mihi. — This variety most nearly approaches the
type. The wings are of the same pale straw or creamy- white colour,
with a central dot, and, like the type, have two of the dots, of those
which form the transverse row so characteristic of the following
varieties, very conspicuous, viz., the one above and that below the
median nervure ; but, in addition, the others which form the series are
more or less developed. A longitudinal ochreous dash, darker than
the ground colour, extends under the base of the median nervure ; a
few ochreous scales scattered over the spaces between the nervures.
Posterior wings pearly-white, with a faintly marked row of dots on
the nervures parallel to the hind margin. This form, therefore, con-
stitutes a link between the type and the following varieties.

y. var. rufolinea, mihi. — Anterior wings bright reddish ochreous,
all the wing-rays pale, so that the anterior wings appear to be made up
of alternate fine lines of red and white ; the central dot distinct, a
complete row of black dots parallel to the hind margin ; a well-deve-
loped dark reddish shade under the basal part of the central nervure.
Posterior wings white, much shaded with grey (more so in males than
in females), with a row of black dots on the nervures. Many speci-
mens of this red variety have the anterior wings much suifused with
black scales, as in var nigrostriata, but the latter never has a red ground
colour.

8. var. nigrostriata, mihi. — The anterior wings pale wainscot-
brown, so thickly suffused with black scales as to obscure the ground
colour ; the wing-rays very pale, sometimes white, so that the wing
has the appearance of being crossed with alternate striations of black
and white lines ; a very dark, almost black, shade runs under the
median nervure, the central dot and row of dots present, as in the
variety rufolinea, but more inconspicuous, owing to the suffusion. Pos-
terior wings much irrorated with dark atoms, giving them a very dark
appearance. Females of this variety are comparatively rare. My series
of this form are chiefly males.

Leucania, Och., impura, Hb.
The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 396.
The species was previously figured by Albin, plate xxx. : — g, upper

40 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

side ; h, under side. As, however, none of his figures are named,
Hiibner's name and description must stand. His fig. 396 may be
described as follows : — Anterior wings of a pale wainscot-brown
colour, with a dark longitudinal shade under the base of the median
nervure, broad, but not reaching to the end of the discoidal cell ; a
black dot at the end of the discoidal cell, and four dots are developed
of the transverse row parallel to the hind margin, viz., two towards
the apex, one just below the outer edge of the median nervure, and
one just above the inner margin ; nervures dusky. Posterior wings
grey, nervures darker, extreme border spotted. It must be noticed
that the peculiar development of the short longitudinal streak under
the base of the median nervure is very unusual, and that the posterior
wings are much paler than in our specimens.

a. var. fuligosina, Haw. — This is our ordinary form of impura,
which, as I have pointed out above, differs from Hiibner's type.
" The anterior wings are ochreous, with or without a reddish tinge,
with three minute, and often almost obliterated, black dots, placed as in a
triangle ; the extreme hind margin marked with very minute black
dots ; the nervures white towards the outer margin. The posterior
wings fuscous or smoky, with pale cilia, and an indistinct lunule "
(Haworth's ' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 174). It will be seen that
the variety has not the double spot above the median nervure (only
one being developed), nor the spot above the inner margin (just
beyond the anal angle), which characterise the type, and the hind
wings are darker. The Scotch specimens are smaller, with clearer
fore wings and darker hind wings than our southern specimens.

(3. var. punctina, Haw. — This is the red form of ivipura. " The
anterior wings are entirely red, with nervures distinctly marked, the
extreme hind margins with fuscous dots ; the hind wings pale grey,
with a broad cinereous patch at the anal angle " (Haworth's * Lepidop-
tera Britannica,' p. 174). The hind margin is, in some of the red
varieties, unspotted, and the posterior wings are often very dark. I'
have a fine series of this rufescent form, obtained from the marshes in
this neighbourhood a few years ago. Haworth described punctina
from only two specimens.

y. var. punctilinea, mihi. — The anterior wings reddish-ochreous,
much suffused with dark scales ; the row of spots parellel to the hind
mai^gin well developed, forming an almost continuous row, commenc-
ing on the costa and ending on the inner margin ; a dark shade under
the pale median nervure. The posterior wings very much suffused,
and very dark ; in some specimens almost black. I have a few
specimens of this variety, showing the extreme variation in the
development of these dots, captured on Greenwich Marshes in 1883 ;
but such forms are rare.

Leucania, Och., pollens, L.

The type of L. pallens has a pale ochreous ground colour, with
paler wing-rays, and one or two black spots. There are generally
three black dots — one in the centre of the wing at the end of the
discoidal cell, the other two being beyond the centre, and situated one
directly above the other, immediately below the median nervure, and
being a portion of that row, parallel with the hind margin, which is

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 41

normal in the strongly marked varieties of straminea, occurs in var.
punctilmea of impura, but does not seem ever to be developed in this
species. Specimens, of all shades of colour obtaining in this species,
are very inconstant as to the number of these three dots developed.
Hiibner's fig. 234 of pollens is typical, but has three dots. The
Linnsean description of the type is as follows : — " Spirilinguis Isevis,
alis deflexis pallidis immaculatis : marginibus posticis subtus nigro
punctatis." "Alse superiores supra puncto 1, sed 2, nigro,
minimo. Subtus alas atomis nigris, imprimis margine postico nigro-
punctato" (Systema Natura3 '). The ground colour of the species
varies from pale ochreous (nearly white) to bright ochreous-red. It
rarely happens that the anterior wings are suffused with black scales
to an appreciable extent. The hind wings are typically pure white
in the male, with the hind margin slightly shaded with grey in
the females.

a. var. arcuata, Stphs. — The colour of the anterior wings of this
variety is pale wainscot, with two black dots on the disc. Posterior
wings white, shaded with ashy-brown, and with an arched row of
brown spots on the veins beyond the centre of the wing. Under this
variety I would, therefore, include all the forms (whatever their
colour) which have this arcuated row of dots. Such a development
is very rare in this species, although normal in most of the varieties
of straminea, and occasionally occurring in impura. I have several
specimens with one or two dots developed, but the only specimen in
my series that has any approach to a complete row was captured by
Mr. Young at Eotherham, Yorks.

p. var. fictypa, Hb. — Hiibner's fig. 231, which he names ectypa,
is undoubtedly a fine red form of pollens. It has the anterior wings of
a bright reddish ochreous with pale nervures, no central dot, two dots
in outer row, one just below the third branch of the median nervure.
Hind wings whitish grey, with a dark grey shade parallel to the hind
margin. Dr. Staudinger describes it as : — ** Alae anteriores rufse." I
have many specimens in my long series almost like Hiibner's figure.
The development of the grey shade on the hind margin into a trans-
verse band, is rarely very distinct in British examples. This is treated
by Guenee as a distinct species in his * Noctuelles,' p. 94. I have
specimens from Howth, Deal, Aberdeen, Eotherham, Strood and Forres.

y. var. rufescens, Haw. — This variety, treated as a distinct species
by Haworth, is thus described by him : — " Kufescens, alis anticis venosis
immaculatis, posticis (costa excepta) certo situ fuscescentibus ; " " alis
certo situ lineolis 3-4 obsoletis, fuscis, posticis fuliginosis venis fuscis."
It is a very slight modification of ectypa, differing from that variety in
having none of the three ordinary dots. Otherwise both are red, both
have the wing- rays very pale, both have the hind- wings shaded on the
outer margin, although in ectypa the shading of the hind margin takes
a banded form. The anterior wings in rufescens have also three or
four dusky streaks visible in certain positions. These streaks are very
distinct in some red specimens I have. I believe that both this form
and ectypa occur freely everywhere in Britain with the type. I have
them from many Scotch and Irish localities. The variety rufescens is,
without doubt, the ectypa of Boisduval.

42 VARIETIES OV HOGTVM

8. var. suffusa, St. — Another modification of var. edypa, with a
tendency to become melanic, having " the fore wings reddish, streaked
with whitish ashy between the veins ; with a single dusky dot at the
apex of the discoidal cell ; and two or three obsolete brownish streaks
near the extremity ; hind wings whitish, with a broad, sub-apical,
dusky stripe ; the apical margin paler " (Humphrey and Westwood's

* British Moths,' p. 218). The variety is figured in the same volume,
plate, xlvii., fig. 8. The figure represents the space below the median
nervure and between the other nervures thickly sprinkled with minute
black atoms. This figure is identical with a fine dark specimen I
captured at Deal, in July, 1887.

€. var. ochracea, St. — The type of this variety " measures only 13
lines in expanse ; the fore wings are * pale ochreous, with a slight ru-
fescent tinge in certain lights, immaculate, obscurely streaked with
pale fuscous between the nervures ; the strias at the base and on the
inner margin being the darkest, as in L. comma ; hind wings whitish
ash, with the margin slightly darker ' " (Humphrey and Westwood's

* British Moths,' p. 218). This small specimen taken at Darenth, in
August, was supposed by the late Mr. Henry Doubleday to be a speci-
men of the second brood. I have, however, many large specimens of
the summer brood from various localities answering this description,
and I would propose that the name ochracea comprise all reddish
ochreous forms, whatever the number of dots developed. Var. B of
Guenee's ' Noctuelles,' p. 93, would appear to belong to ochracea. It
is described as having " a reddish shade under the median nervure,
and similar streaks towards the outer margin. Inferior wings having
the nervures sprinkled with black on the disc."

Leucania, Och., phragmitidis, Hb.

Hubner's fig. 230 (by error 330) represents the type, and is excel-
lently drawn. It has the anterior wings clear whitish ochreous, with
the outer half of the wings to the hind margin reddish ; the hind
wings grey, the upper (anal) angle paler. This is intermediate
between two extreme forms, one, with the whole of the anterior wings
without the slightest trace of reddish, the other, with the anterior wings
entirely red. There is a great deal of difference also in the size of
different specimens. I have some specimens exceedingly small of both
the following varieties, as well as the type.

a. var. rufescens, mihi. — The anterior wings entirely suffused with
rich deep red, the hind margin being slightly darker. The hind wings
bright shiny grey, with paler nervures. In my opinion this is one of
the finest varieties in the family, and I have a fine series in my collec-
tion, captured on the banks of the Thames in North Kent. The form
is local and rare, and I have rarely taken it in localities even where
the type is abundant, although Mr. Dobree writes that it is " equally
common at Beverley as the type." It occurs sparingly at Wicken,
whence I have received it from Mr. Farren. The type is rare on the
Continent, and the variety, I believe, almost unknown. This variety is
figured in Humphrey and Westwood's * British Moths,' pi., xlvii.,fig. 16.

p. var. pallida, mihi. — Of a pale unicolorous, whitish ochreous
colour, with a slightly greenish tinge, perfectly clear and unspotted,

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 4:3

and no trace of red. This is the commonest form of the species, beinj^
much more abundant than the type and var. rufescens in all localities
where I have found the species. It is also the common form at Wicken.

Leucania, Och., litoralis, Curt.
The type of this species is thus described in Curtis' ' British
Entomology/ vol. iv., p. 157 : — " Litoralis. Pale and dull ochraceous.
Antennae pale above, dark beneath. Abdomen darkest towards the
apex. Superior wings fuscous in the middle with a white stripe down
the centre, slightly produced midway at the nervure and furcate
towards the extremity, three small white stripes upon the nervures
near the apex, and six fuscous lines between the nervures at
the posterior margin. Cilia fuscous. Inferior wings white, tinged
with yellow ; underside whitish, thorax and abdomen pale and dull
ochraceous, with a tuft of black hair at the base of the latter." There
is scarcely any variation in this species except in intensity of the dark
longitudinal shades. I know no more constant species, although in
Humphrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 217, we read : —
" Varieties of a brownish tinge occur, and the dusky streaks between
the nervures are variable in intensity."

Meliana, Curt., fiammea, Curt.
The type of this species is thus described by Curtis : — " Fuscous,
with a pale reddish tinge. Superior wings with a brown flame-like space
along the centre (narrowed at the base), above which is a narrow
ochraceous stripe, 5 or 6 minute brown spots forming a curved line
near the posterior margin, upon which there are 7 minute black spots,
alternating with the nervures, which are pale, inclining to white to-
wards the costa, the internal margin sprinkled with dark spots.
Inferior wings rather paler, their cilia whitish." This species seems
to be most invariable. I have never seen a specimen that could in any
way be referred to as a variety.

Tapinostola, Och., elymi, Tr.
Treitschke's original description of the type is as follows : — " alis
anticis solito longioribus pallide flavis atomis fuscis adspersis serie
externa striolarum fuscarum " (' Die Schmet. von Europa,' vol. v., p.
294). This species varies but little ; the females are generally
paler than the males, and the latter sex are in some specimens more
strongly powdered with brownish or fuscous scales than in others.

Tapinostola^ Ld., hellmanni, Evers.
Eversmann's description of the type of this species is as follows : —
" Alae anticae sordide lithargyreae, unicolores, strigis interna rectiuscula
obliqua, foras et externa maxime flexuosa crenatis fuscescentibus obso-
letis ; posticae sordide et pallide lutescentes, striga externa f uscescenti
diluta." " Alae anticae una cum ciliis unicolores eodem colore lithar-
gyreo ac Leucania Lythargyrea ; linea crenata interna et externa
solummodo in exemplaribus distinctis et recentibus reperiuntur, pariter
et striga alarum posticarum plerumque deest. Subtus alse omnes
pallide lithargyreo-lutescentes, vel cum, vel sine striga externa fusces-
cente, plerumque autem adest. — Volat mense Julio in promontorium

44 VARIETIES OF NOCTU-S

Uralensium pratis " (' Fauna Volgo-Uralensis,' p. 270, No. 15). The
type of this species is described by Staudinger as " pale, greyish or
reddish straw-colour." Guenee's var. A. is undoubtedly the type, he
describes it as " less red, more powdered with grey, reniform stigma
more yellowish than red; inferior wings darker" (' Noctuelles,' vol. v.,
pp. 104, 105).

a. var. saturata, Stdgr. — This is a dark reddish variety. Staud-
inger says of it : — " Obscurior, alis anterioribus saepius totis rufis."
Newman, in his ' British Moths,' p. 275, has described apparently
only the red form. Guenee also treats this form as his type.
The two forms occur in the same localities and appear equally common,

Tapmostola, Ld., fulva, Hb.

The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 496, which
has the anterior wings and fringes of a bright red, with dark nervures,
and a row of black dots, one on each ray, parallel to the hind margin.
Hind wings dark grey with pale fringes, and no spots. Dr. Staudinger
describes it as — " alis anterioribus totis f ulvis." With regard to the
vars. of fvlva from Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire, Mr. Eeid writes : — " (1).
Pale yellowish- white, almost white, with no dark mark. (2). Colour
as in 1, but with a dark dash from near the base almost to the outer
margin, with many scattered dark scales. (3). Brown, with and with-
out dash. (4). Dark brown, with and without longitudinal dashes.
(5). Blackish-brown, unicolorous. I have also seen them with a red-
dish or pinkish tinge, but not the same as the beautiful red form near
Glasgow." I have never seen these last forms (3, 4 and 5), and hence can-
not deal with them, but they must be most interesting. The specimens I
have in my collection prove that this is a most variable species, the
ground colour going through every gradation, from bone- white, ochreous,
reddish, to deep brick-red. I have received large, beautiful, and
characteristic specimens of the type from only two localities, Ballycastle
in Ireland and Warrington. The large Warrington specimens are per-
haps slightly excelled in richness of colour by the Irish specimens.
The type does not appear to occur in Scotland, unless some of those
mentioned by Mr. Keid are to be referred to it, but I think not, although
some of the Scotch specimens from Eannoch, somewhat approach it.
With regard to the row of dots paralled to the hind margin, there
is every form of development between a complete row and total absence.
It is therefore useless as a character for subdivision. In every colour,
too, there are specimens with and without dark longitudinal shades
along the nervures. I have therefore added svffusa to the varietal
names to represent these darker forms. The hind wings exhibit slight
differences in shade, from pale grey in var. concolor, to blackish-grey
in var. fluxa. The following appears to be the most complete summary
I am able to make with the material at my disposal : —
1. — A whitish form, with or without transverse row of dots, with or

without longitudinal shade = concolor, Tutt, Gn. (?).
2. — A bright yellow-ochreous form, without longitudinal shades = var.

ochracea.
2a. — A bright yellow-ochreous form, with longitudinal shades = var.

ochracea-suffusa.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 45

3. — A pale pinkish-grey form, without longitudinal shades = var.

punicea.
3a. — A pale pinkish-grey form, with longitudinal shades = var. punicea-

suffusa.
4. — A pale ochreous form = var. paUtda, St.

5. — A deep reddish (inclining to rose-coloured) form, without longitu-
dinal shades =■. var. pygmina, Haw.
5a. — A deep reddish form, with longitudinal shades = var. fluxa, Tr.
6. — A deep brownish-red form, with more or less well-developed

longitudinal shades == var. neurtca, St.
7. — An extremely bright red (brick-red) form = var. fulvaj Hb.

a. var. concolor, Tutt (* Ent.' xxi., 222). — Since what is termed
the true concolor has been rediscovered, I am not at all satisfied that
my notes on the species, * Ent. Mo. Mag.' vol. xxv., pp. 52-55, apply
to our Deal form. These latter, though taken so early, are true fulva
vars., and therefore I call the pale var. of this species concolor, Tutt,
Gn. (?). Guenee's description of concolor, in every way agrees with our
pale specimens, but acting on the advice of those who know more or
less about concolor, ah naturd, I have decided to leave the vexed question
here. I have fine pale specimens not only from Deal, but from Droy-
lesden and Warrington. In the latter locality, they are taken with
other varieties, and are generally more shaded with dark longitudinal
streaks. Both sexes of this variety occur.

/?. var. ochracea, mihi. — Anterior wings of a rich ochreous-yellow
colour, unicolorous, with only the faintest trace of the transverse row
of dots. A sub- variety — ochracea-suffusa — of this beautiful variety has
the spaces between the nervures powdered with dark scales, having
the appearance of dark longitudinal shades. I am indebted especially
to the Warrington collectors for this form, but I have a few specimens
from York, Morpeth, Glasgow and the Trossachs.

y. var. punicea, mihi. — Anterior wings pale grey in colour, with a
faint pink tinge, the row of transverse dots more or less developed.
Punicea has a sub- var. punicea-suffusa, with the dark longitudinal dashes
developed in the same way as in ochracea-suffusa. My specimens have
been taken at Warrington, York, Kirkby, Glasgow and the Trossachs.

B. var. pallida, St. — Figured by Wood in his * Index. Ent.,' plate xv.,
fig. 371, and also in Humphrey and West wood's * British Moths,' plate
xlvii., fig. 10. At p. 219 of the latter work, it is described as : — " | of
an inch in the expanse of the forewings, which are ochreous- whitish,
and without any traces of spots or markings ; the veins alone in the
apical part of the wing irrorated with dusky scales, and the hind wings
whitish." This pale ochreous form varies, as do the others, in the
development of the transverse series of dots. This is not at all a com-
mon form. I have specimens from Longridge, York and Glasgow.

€. var. pygmina, Haw. — This was treated as the type by all our
British authors, the species being thus dealt with by Haworth, Step-
hens, Wood, and in Humphrey and Westwood's 'British Moths.'
Haworth's description is " the thorax and anterior wings reddish and
unspotted, the veins scarcely marked, the hind wings fuscous, the
abdomen white (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 17G). This pretty red
(almost rose colour) form is very different to the bright ferruginous^

46 VARIETIES OF NOCTtT^

red type, and is a more specialised form (in colour) of var. punicea.
The following variety has the same ground colour, but the dark longi-
tudinal shades which are in fluxa well-develojied, give it a very
different appearance. The sj^ecimens from the Trossachs and the
Kannoch district are especially beautiful.

J. v&r. fluxa, Tr. — Treitschke (vol. v., p. 313) gives the following
description of the type of this variety : — " Alis anticis fusco rufescenti-
bus, atomis venisque nigricantibus." Dr. Staudinger says of this form,
" Paler, reddish, or greyish yellow." The " greyish yellow " forms
are included on his own resi^onsibility, and are of course incorrect, as
also are " paler " forms, as this is a distinctly dark form and really only
a sub -var. of pygmina ; "nigricantibus" can hardly be suggested to
mean " paler." I should say Dr. Staudinger did not note the original
description. Certainly they are not included by any other writers
under this name. In Humphrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' vol.
i., p. 219, there is a fuller description of fluxa, it is — "of a reddish
brown colour, slightly irrorated with dusky scales ; veins dusky ; hind
wings brown, with the base and costa ashy." There is no doubt that
the greater number of our northern English and Scotch forms would
be included under this varietal name. I have a long series from the
Trossachs and Glasgow. The Trossach specimens are particularly
beautiful in the shade of the red coloration (as in pygmina from the
same locality) and throw up the characteristic, longitudinal dark shades
very distinctly.

7]. var. neurica, St. (non. Hb.). — Hiibner's neurica, fig. 381, is
another distinct British species. Stephens' and Wood's (* Ind. Ent.,*
plate XV., p. 372) neurica, must not be confounded with Hiibner's
(Nonagria) neurica, as the former is only a var. oifulva. It is described
as " about five-sixths of an inch in the expanse of the fore- wings, which
are ochreous or brownish red, with a curved row of minute dusky
dots beyond the middle of the wing ; the apical veins slightly
brownish, and the hind wings pale whitish ash. Taken but rarely at
Lea Bridge and Whittlesea Mere " (Humphrey and Westwood's
* British Moths,' p. 219). This form appears to be intermediate
between var. ochracea and var. pygmina, and in its extreme forms comes
between var. ochracea and the type, having the ochreous colour of the
former and the red colour of the latter combined. It appears to be
not at all a common form. My specimens come from Glasgow, the
Trossachs and Warrington. The Warrington specimens are especially
large and very beautiful.

Tapinostola, Och., concolor, *Gn.
"Superior wings oblong, with the hinder margin straighter at
first, then more curved than in fulva; of a bone- white colour in both
sexes ; lightly powdered with grey at the ends of the spaces between
the nervures, and developed into indistinct dark streaks ; a row of black
spots always distinct, though faintly marked, in place of the transverse
angulated line. Inferior wings of a darkish grey in both sexes, with
the ends of the nervures and the fringes clearer" fGuende's
*Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 103, 104). All authors have treated this as a

* My reasons for treating this as a variety of fulva are discussed fully in the
«Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol. xxv., pp. 52—55.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 47

distinct species, in my opinion altogether on insufficient data. New-
man figures both sexes of it in his * British Moths,' p. 274, where it is
also treated as a distinct species. Staudinger treats it as synonymous
with extrema, Hb., which seems to me impossible. This variety had
not been taken in Britain for many years until quite recently. Mr.
W. Warren writes : — " Some twelve years ago, Albert Houghton and
myself each took a concolor on June 25th. Both were much worn.
He threw his, a female, away ; I kept mine, a male, and it was sold
with the rest of my Macros " (in litt.).

Chortodes, St., extrema, Hb. (hondii, Knaggs).

That Hiibner's fig. 412 (extrema) is the type of this species there
appears but little doubt. It is not surprising that it was referred by
the continental entomologists, Treitschke, Ochsenheimer, Duponchel,
&c., either to Jluxa (a variety oi fulva) as an aberration, or treated as a
distinct but unknown species, as bondii was unknown to continental
lepidopterists until a comparatively recent date, when the British
specimens were sent over. Dr. Staudinger refers to Hiibner's fig. 412
as an aberration of Gruenee's concolor, which may itself have no claim
as a species. Hiibner's fig. 412 may be described as : — " Wings about
the same shape as bondii. All the wings white, shaded to ochreous on
the outer margins ; nervures slightly darker on outer edge. Upper
part of fringe to anterior wings black, remaining fringes grey." The
black in the fringe is unknown in any species of the group Leucanidae.

a. var. bondii, Knaggs. — First described in the ' Transactions of
the Entomological Society of London,' 1861, p. ViS. Also figured and
described by Newman in his ' British Moths,' p. 276. Our British
bondii have no trace of the black fringe mentioned above, but this is
the only point of difference between bondii and Hiibner's extrema. A
sexual variation occurs, the males generally having a distinct
transverse row of dots, the females with this row almost or entirely
absent. Bondii is only taken, as far as is known, in England and Greece.

Chortodes, St., arcuosa. Haw.

The type of this species is described in Haworth's ' Lepidoptera
Britannica,' p. 260, as : — " Alis sordide albo-lutescentibus strigis
duabus punctorum minutissimorum fuscorum." " Corpus gracilius fere
omnium hujus generis. Costa anticarum punctis ordinariis fuscis,
ultimo horum majore juxta apicem. Striga prima recta ante, secunda
arcuata pone medium, et inter has strigas in medio al^e punctum soli-
tarium fuscum. Cilia pallida. Posticee ciliaque fuscescentia." There
is a great sexual difference, the female having been described by
Ha worth as a distinct species, under the name of minima (' Lepidoptera
Britannica,' p. 215, No. 153) as follows: — " alis rufo-cinereis, maculis
duabus ordinariis strigisque tribus pallidioribus" ; " ciliis cinereis.
Posticas fuscse, ciliis albis." There seems to be but little variation in
the specimens of the same sex, except that some males are whiter than
others. Of airce. Err., ii., pi. 162, figs. 1 — 3, Dr. Staudinger says,
" nimis variegata."

a. var. morrisii, St. (?). — All I know of this variety is contained in a
note written by Mr. Dale (' Entomologist's Record,' &c.,i., p. 34) and is as

48 VARIETIES OP NOCTU^

follows : — " Acosmetia morissii is described in the * Naturalist ' for 1837,
p. 88. It is a white var. of Miana (Chortodes) arcuosa and has occurred
at Chermouth." Some of our specimens have very white fore wings.

Ccmohia, St., rufa, Haw.

Haworth's rufa (' Lepidoptera Britannica,* p. 260) is the type of
this species. Haworth's description is : — " Alis oblongis ciliisque rufis
unicoloribus posticis ciliisque pallidis striga medio macularum obscura-
rum." " CajDut inter antennas album." This last phrase is very
significant and is clearly shown in some specimens. Geyer, in his
supplement to Hiibner's ' Schmett.,' gives a good figure of the type (fig.
751) under the name of despecta. This delicate little species is subject
to a great deal of variation in ground colour. I took a very long series
at Deal (1886-1890), and found every gradation in colour, from a very
deep reddish, to an exceedingly pale greyish- white, the latter being in
baautiful condition. There seems to be three distinct forms : — (1) a
very red fcrm = the type (rtifa) ; (2) a grey form tinged with red = var.
lineola, St. ; (3) a pale grey form with no trace of red = var. pallescens.
It may be advisable to add that the female has a very different
appearance to the male. It is much narrower winged, and with
scarcely a trace of dots on either the anterior or posterior wings.
It is but rarely captured, and owing to its habit of remaining hidden
in the herbage by the side of the ditches where it occurs, is generally
worn.

a. var. lineola, St. — The type of this variety is described as having
" the fore- wings shorter than in rufa ; colour, reddish-grey, with a
longitudinal brown line at the base, occasionally branching thus >■ ;
a row of dots parallel with the hind margins ; fringe reddish : posterior
wings with a row of dots parallel to the hind margin " (Humphrey
and Westwood's * British Moths,' vol. i., p. 245). This intermediate
form does not vary in the length of the fore- wings, more than the
specimens of the type, i.e., they both vary slightly. The small basal
branching line is as frequent in the reddest types as in the variety.

/3. var. 2)^^^^^(^^i^^) mihi. — I have a series of a fine pale form of
this species, varying from pale whitish grey to almost white, without
a trace of rufous colouring; the spots as in the type. My speci-
mens came from Deal. I have seen specimens of the type and var.
lineola from Epping Forest, but do not know whether pale forms occur
there.

Sentay St., maritima, Tausch.

The type of this species is of a silky grey colour, with the stigmata
pale and scarcely discernible, a faint row of black dots in place of the
angulated transverse line. Hind wings pure white, with a faint trace
of a row of black dots on the nervures.

a. var. ulvce, Hb. — All Hiibner's figures are more or less reddish.
As this is not at all usual, it is, perhaps, advisable to keep Hiibner's as
a varietal name. His figure 666 is the most marked form, and may be
described as: — A male with anterior wings all reddish, except the
costa which is dark grey ; the stigmata lined in with white. A row of
tiny black dots occurs just within the fringe, then a dark shade parallel

IN THE BBITI8H ISLANDS. 49

to the hind margin, then the usual transverse row of black dots between
this and the reniform. Hind wings white, with a lunule and an in-
distinct row of dots on the nervures.

p. var. bipunctata, Haw. — Anterior wings with two black spots,
one near the centre of the wing, the other beyond the centre. This
variety is figured in Newman's 'British Moths,' p. 26H, fig. 3.
Guenee writes : — " The two ordinarj^ stigmata and a small spot which
precedes them of a deep black " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 99).

y. var. wismariensis, Schmidt. — Anterior wings with a broad
black stripe running from the base to the hind margin. This is Guende's
var. A, which he describes as having " a broad black band traversing
the middle of the wing from the base to the apex " (Guenee's
' Noctuelles,' v., p. 99).

8. var. nigricostata, Stdgr. — This is described by Dr. Staudinger
as having the anterior wings with the costa broadly black.

c. var. nigrostriata, Stdgr. — Anterior wings with many black
streaks running parallel to the veins. This is figured in Newman's
' British Moths,' p. 68, fig. 4.

All these varieties are obtainable in their British localities, the
Fen district and Kent.

Nonagria, Och., neurtca, Hb.*

The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 381. It is a
male of a dull clayey brown colour, with a row of five or six small
longitudinal spots along the median nervure, at the end of which is a
dark spot surrounded by a whitish ring. This is in reality the lower
half of the reniform, the orbicular and upper part of the reniform
being entirely absent. An angulated row of eight black dots runs
parallel to the hind margin. Hind wings unicolorous blackish grey.
Some of our Cambridge specimens are exactly of this form. I have
two ( ^ 's apparently) which came from Mr. Warren, exceedingly
characteristic, but a little redder brown in ground colour. Staudinger
says of it, " species gracilior, subtus immaculata," but this seems simply
a summary of Schmidt's distinction, * Stett. Ent. Zeit.,' 1858, p. 367.
Our specimens are generally of a greyish brown colour, tinged with red-
dish, with a dark, blackish, longitudinal line under the median nervure
extending almost to the outer margin. In the black streak, more than
half-way from the base, is a tiny black dot with a pale circumscription,
which is sometimes joined to another similar but paler spot just above,
but sometimes separate, the two together forming the reniform. The
orbicular more or less indistinct, a faint trace of a row of tiny dots
parallel to the hind margin. The nervures blackish. Hind wings
dark grey, with a pale shade parallel to the hind margin ; a slightly
darker lunule is present. This form is arundineta, Schmidt. Treitschke,
in his *Die Schmet. von. Europa,' vol. v., p. 319, well described this form
under the name of neurica, as : — " alis anticis flavo vel fusco ferrugi-
neis vena maculaque medio albicantibus, serie punctorum nigrorum ad
marginem externum."

a. var. arundineta, Schmidt. — Dr. Staudinger says of this variety :
" with the anterior wings pale, of a greyish straw-colour." The chief
* Vid* « Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol. xxv., p. 56.

60 VARIETIES OP NOCTURE

points of distinction, as given by Schmidt (' Stett. Ent. Zeit.' 1858, p.
367), are as follows : — " The difference between neurica and arundineta
is less in the underside and in the markings than in the different struc-
ture of the body and the wings. Neurica, Hb., is the more slender,
arundineta the more robust form. The colour of both forms varies in
the same manner, but arundineta has a dark s^jot on the underside of
each wing, which neurica never has." My good friend Herr Hoffmann
(Hanover) also adds : — " Herrich Schaffer declared both forms, neurica
and arundineta, to be different species, and so did Staudinger after-
wards. " A full description of this variety is given above in the
comparison with the type.

ft. var. rosea, mihi. — Like the variety arundineta, but with the
whole of the anterior wings suffused with a rich rosy colour. The
form is not common, but the Cambridge collectors get a few every
year.

y. var. dissoluta, Tr. — This variety was first figured by Hiibner,
659 — 661, under the name of neurica,hut since Treitschke first described
this form under a distinct name, his name has been retained as the
varietal name. Dr. Staudinger in his ' Catalogue ' (p. 106), treats it as
distinct, and writes of it : — " a more robust species, wings spotted
underneath." Hiibner's fig. 659 is a male, the anterior wings very
dark brown, with no orbicular, the outer half of the reniform lined in
with pale, a pale line beyond the reniform parallel to the hind margin.
Posterior wings with the outer margin blackish grey, the base paler,
with a distinct black lunule. Hiibner's fig. 660 is an underside, and
661 is a female, which is marked like the male, but rather larger. A
fair figure of this variety is in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 271, fig. 2.
Mr. Warren writes me : — " The dark neurica of old time came from
Yaxley, Hunts." It is not obtained in any of the British localities for
neurica at the present time.

Nonagria, Och., geminipuncta, Haw., Hatchette.

Next to T. fulva, this species is perhaps the most variable of the
whole group. The coloration extends from a pale reddish ochreous,
and a clear reddish-brown, through fuscous to black. In each colour the
reniform may have two, one, or no white spot present ; whilst, a series
of longitudinal black dashes forms a more or less defined elbowed line
outside the reniform in the paler specimens, thus producing some very
pretty and striking sub- varieties. Haworth published the following
description of the type : — " The wings reddish fuscous, with a broad
red band along the inner margin, and two small white spots in the
place of the posterior stigma" (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 176). As
the name signifies, the great character of the type is the presence of
the reniform as two distinct white spots. This form Hiibner figures
(628 and 629) as guttans. Dr. Staudinger seems to lose sight of the
fact that this is the type, for in his ' Catalogue,' p. 106, he writes : —
" ab. guttans, Hb., reniform stigma in two separate spots." Guenee
treats paludicola as the tyjDC and guttans as a variety. Both Haworth's
description and Hiibner's figure ignore the presence of a black dot
between the double white spot and the base. The number of white
spots varies, sometimes only one is present, sometimes neither, I have

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 61

all the above forms from Yorkshire, Isle of Wight, and Sussex locali-
ties. On September 9th. 1888, Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, M.A. of
Worthing, wrote to me as follows : — " With reference to your remarks
on Non. geminipuncta ('Entom.' xxi., 225, 226), our Sussex specimens
seem to run very dark. I bred one last year with the fore and hind
wings almost uniformly smoky, the only marking being a slight pale-
ness on the veins in the middle of the fore wings." There is a certain
tendency in the darker specimens to become dusted with white scales
on the nervures towards the outer margin. A special development in
this way would produce the sub-var. paludicola, Hb.

The following is a classification of the varieties in this species : —
1. — Anterior wings, pale reddish ochreous, reniform forming 2 white

dots = var. pallida.
1a. — Anterior wings, pale reddish-ochreous, reniform forming 1 white

dot = subvar. palUda-unipunda.
1b. — Anterior wings, pale reddish-ochreous, reniform without any

white dot = subvar. pallida-obsoleta.
2. — Anterior wings, clear reddish-brown, reniform forming 2 white

dots --^ var. rufa.
2a. — Anterior wings, clear reddish-brown, reniform forming 1 white

dot = subvar. rufa-unipuncta.
2b. — Anterior wings, clear reddish-brown, reniform without any white

dot = subvar. rufa-obsoleta.
2c. — For description vide below, subvar. paludicola, Hb.
3. — Anterior wings, fuscous, with reddish-brown inner margin,

reniform forming 2 white dots = geminipuncta, Hatch.
3a. — Anterior wings, fuscous, with reddish-brown inner margin,

reniform forming 1 white dot = subvar. unipuncta.
3b. — Anterior wings, fuscous, with reddish-brown inner margin,

reniform without any white dot = subvar. obsoleta.
4. — ^Anterior wings, blackish-fuscous or sooty-black, reniform forming

2 white dots, = var. fusca.
4a. — Anterior wings, blackish-fuscous or sooty-black, reniform forming

1 white dot = subvar. fusca-unipuncta.
4b. Anterior wings, blackish-fuscous or sooty-black, reniform without

any white dots = subvar. nigricans, Stdgr.
a. var. pallida, mihi. — Anterior wings pale reddish-ochreous,
some specimens very pale, with the elbowed line frequently well
developed ; the reniform consisting of 2 white spots or one white spot
(subvar. pallida-unipuncta), or without a white spot (subvar. pallida-
obsoleta). The hind wings pale compared with those of the darker
varieties. My specimens of this pale form came principally from
Brighton and East Yorkshire. In the Isle of Wight this form is rare.
IS. var. rufa, mihi. — Anterior wings of bright reddish-brown,
sometimes with traces of the dashes forming the angulated line ; the
reniform consisting of 2 white spots (rufa), or one white spot (sub-
var. rufa-unipuncta), or without (subvar. rufa-obsoleta). I have the
variety from Brighton, East Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight.

y. var. paludicola, Hb. — Hiibner figures (624) a fine variety, under
this name. It is of a dark reddish-brown colour, with white median
and basal nervures, a small black orbicular, the inner edge of the

e2

52 VARIETIES OP NOOTUiB

reniform lined with white, so as to form a white lunule, the remainder
of the reniform blackish, the outer part of all the nervures white on and
towards the hind margin. Hind wings dark grey, base paler, with a
distinct lunule. It will be thus seen that this is a well-developed
sub-variety of var. rufa ; I have no specimens so well marked on the
margin as Hiibner's, but I have Isle of White specimens which run
it close.

8. var. unipuncta, mihi. — Like the type, dark fuscous with the
inner margin reddish-brown, but with only the lower half of reniform
white. Hiibner's fig. 637 depicts this form, but is rather dark in
ground colour. This form occurs in Sussex and Yorkshire localities
with the type, and in the Isle of Wight is more common than any other
form.

€. var. obsoleta, mihi. — Like the type, but with the white twin
spots characteristic of the type altogether absent. This form also
occurs in the same localities with the type, but unlike unipuncta, appears
to be more rare than the type.

J. var. fusca, mihi. — Anterior wings unicolorous, of a blackish-
fuscous or sooty-black, with the reniform forming two distinct white
spots. Sub var. fusca-unipuncta, mihi. Like v. fusca, but with one
"vrhite spot only. This is intermediate between vars. /wsca and nigricans.
My specimens are from the Isle of Wight and Sussex localities.

7], var. nigricans, Stdgr. — Staudinger described this variety as
" the anterior wings wholly blackish, with the reniform indistinct."
How Staudinger can refer Hiibner's fig. 624 to this variety, and how
he can reconcile the white nervures of Hiibner's figure with his de-
scription of var. nigricans surprises me ! A very large percentage of
a long series, bred by Mr. A. J. Hodges, from larvae taken in the
Isle of Wight, are of an intense brownish-black colour, but specimens
obtained from Mr. Nicholson from the Lewes district, are of a deep
sooty black colour, these latter were bred in 1888. Some specimens
have, as Staudinger says, "the reniform indistinct," but some are
practically unicolorous, and have no markings whatever.

Nonagrta, Och., cannoi, Och.

Treitschke first described this species under the name cannce in
* Die Schmet. von Europa,' vol. v., p. 225, although Ochsenheimer, in
the above work, vol. iv., p. 82, had named the species caimce before
this, with reference to previously published figures.* Treitschke's
description is as follows : — " alis anticis flavo-rufescentibus, serie unica
maculaque obsoleta in medio nigris." So far as I have been able to
judge from continental specimens, the variation is chiefly sexual, the
males being strongly reddish, the females yellowish ochreous, and this
is borne out by Hiibner's figs. 386, 387. His fig. 386 is a male;
ground colour reddish ochreous ; median and costal nervures grey ; a
transverse curved row of seven dots ; hind wings unicolorous grey.
Hiibner's fig. 387 is probably a female of a pale yellow ochreous colour,
with median and costal nervures darker ; a transverse row of seven
black dots on nervures, hind wings grey with a paler line parallel

* Ochsenheimer wrote the first four vols, of * Die Schmet. von Europa,'
Treitschke finished the remaining vols, after Ophsenheimer's death.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 53

to hind margin. Both these are figured by Hiibner under the name
of arundinis. Guende, in his * Noctuelles,' voh v., p. 108, writes: —
" Varies extremely in colour." In the ' Ent. Mo. Mag./ vol. xxii.,
p. 170, Mr. F. D. Wheeler, M.A., who has given especial attention to
this rare British species, writes : — " Our Norfolk specimens are rather
brown than red, some of them, indeed, are getting on for black, and
the colour helps to make them inconspicuous."

Nonagria, Och., sparganit, Esp.

Esper's description of the type is as follows : — " Alis superioribus
subrepandis, supra pallide griseis, lunula media, strigisque duabus
punctatis nigris, subtus nigricantibus, limbo pallido nigro punctate ;
inferioribus pallidis fere concoloribus " ('Die Schmetterlinge,' &c., p.
481). This species is a most variable one and ranges from pale
ochreous to deep red. Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 108,
writes : — " The males vary from whitish grey and ochreous to reddish
brown." Most of the specimens in my collection are fairly typical,
in so far as they are pale yellowish dusted with fuscous scales, espe-
cially under the median nervure, with a median lunule (the character of
this lunule is rather uncertain, but it would appear to consist of a
series of dots placed around the lower part of the reniform stigma
which is otherwise obsolete) ; an ill-developed transverse row of dots
towards the base, of which only two or three (placed on the nervures)
appear to be developed (in var. hipunctata the dot on the median ner-
vure is developed into a distinct lineola), a transverse row of black
dots parallel to the hind margin, and another within the fringes. Mr.
Sydney Webb, who added this species to the British fauna, writes of
the variation in this species : — " I may say that it is, without doubt, of
all the family, most given to vary. The ground colour not only
ranges from bone colour to reddish ochreous, but oftentimes these hues
are both present (one covering the other in streaks from the base over-
lying and extending beyond the wing rays), whilst the dark scaling
seems to vary in every individual " {in litt.). The specimen figured
(* Entom.' xiii., p. 49), (the one to the left) is perhaps slightly darker
than the type, but otherwise agrees well ; the lunule referred to can be
very distinctly seen.

a. var. obsoleta, mihi.^The anterior wings of the same pale
ochreous colour as the type, but sparingly scattered with fuscous
scales, the nervures simply a little more dusky than the ground colour,
the black lunule and all the markings of the central part of the
wing obsolete. The two transverse rows of dots fainter than in the
type.

f3. var. hipunctata, mihi. — Ground colour pale ochreous, with no
trace of a dark shade under the median nervure, and no scattered
fuscous scales. A short black lineola on the median nervure, just
before the centre of the wing, above which (the lineola) can be traced
the faintest possible outline of the orbicular, and the characteristic
small black lunular mark (which seems to be the circumscription of
the lower part of the obsolete reniform), stand out conspicuously. A
transverse row of minute dots outside the lunule is followed by a more
sharply defined row placed just within the pale fringe. Hind wings

54: VARIETIES OF NOCTUiS

white, with a slightly shaded base. This description is written from
a specimen kindly lent me by Mr. Webb, and figured (not very satis-
factorily) ' Entom.' xiii., p. 49, fig. 2 (to the right hand). Mr. Webb
writes me with reference to this : — " The central specimen is perhaps
more worthy of a varietal name than any of the sparganii. It occurs
in both sexes, but more commonly in the female." As a matter of
fact it is very little different from the type, except in the development
to the lineola from the dot on the median nervure.

y. var. rnfescens, mihi. — The ground colour much suffused with
reddish ochreous, the characteristic markings and the longitudinal
fuscous shade under the median nervure generally strongly developed.
These red varieties are exceedingly suffused — in some instances — with
fuscous scales under all the nervures, and the hind wings, of the males
especially, are sometimes very dark. Hiibner figures this red form
(549), and I have one or two very strongly coloured specimens from
Germany. Mr. Sydney Webb has also sent me a red specimen cap-
tured in the south-east of England, where the form is, I believe, not
at all frequent.

Nonagria, Och., arundinis, Fab.

The type of this species is thus described by Fabricius : — " Noctua
Ifevis alis deflexis cinereis, punctis lunulisque marginalibus nigris,
subtus macula centrali fusca." " Magna. Corpus cinereum, hirtum
immaculatum. Alas anticse obscure cinerese, nitidulse punctis parvis
nigris. In margine crassiori puncta tria pallida. Margo posticus
lunulis octo atris. Postic^e pallidge. Subtus anticse obscurge, posticee
pallidee macula centrali fusca " (' Mantissa,' p. 141, No. 54). The type
of both sexes in this species is of a pale greyish colour, the males
being but very little darker than the females.

a. var. fraterna, Tr. — The anterior wings of this variety are
suffused with deep reddish brown and black scales, in some specimens
to such an extent that the insect is almost black in colour. The hind
wings much darker than in the type, especially the females. This is
Guenee's var. A, of which he says : — " Superior wings of a deep
blackish or reddish brown, which absorbs almost all the markings and
nervures ; nervures of hind wings blackish." Under the name of
fraterna, Tr., Guenee, somewhat erroneously, describes an intermediate
form between /rafema and the type. Treitschke ( * Die Schmet.' &c.,
vol. X., pt. 2, p. 99) writes : — " Under the nsune fraterna we include the
beautiful dark brown or blackish variety," &c. There is no doubt that
vars. fraterna, Tr., and fraterna, Gn. are respectively the females and
males of the same variety, the extreme dark forms of his var. A being
nearly always females, the dark form with paler hind wings being males.
Fraterna occurs sparingly in all localities with the type. From 1881 to
1883, I bred a large number of arundinis from the neighbourhood of
Higham, Kent ; not more than one in thirty were fraterna, and these
always females. In 1884, I collected a few pupas on the marshes a few
miles further down the river Thames, and out of some 30 insects bred,
I got about twenty dark males, two very dark females, the remainder
being typical. Hiibner (fig. 437), under the name of typhce, figures a male
of this variety. His figure is of an unicolorous reddish brown, with
black nervures, hind wings ochreous with dark hind margin, dusky
nervures, and distinct lunule.

IN THi: British islands. 65

Calamia, Hb., lutosa, Hb.
The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 232, which
may be described as having the anterior wings pale ochreous with
whitish nervures, the posterior wings grey with dusky nervures. There
are no traces of spots on any of the wings. The type is rare in
England, though the varieties are abundant. The variation in colour
of this species is very great. It varies from pale ochreous to deep red.
Some specimens are much irrorated longitudinally with black scales,
taking the form, so common in this and some of the species of the allied
genera, of dark longitudinal dashes across the wings. From the type,
with no transverse rows of dots, we find every gradation to a complete
row extending across both the anterior and posterior wings. The varia-
tion in the size of the specimens is remarkable. I have specimens of
\a.r. jnlicornis not larger tha,n pallens ; I have specimens of vars. cannce and
crassicornis larger than my largest arundmis. There is a solitary dot
developed in some specimens at the end of the discoidal cell as in
Leucania comma var. nigropuncta and Viminia albovenosa var. centripuncta.
There is also a considerable amount of variation in the depth of colour
and development of the row of dots on the hind wings. Mr. Dobree
writes : — " It is a common insect in some years near Beverley, both in
the type and all the varieties of size and colour, including very hand-
some specimens (var. crassicornis) with the three dark longitudinal shades
very sharply defined and quite black " (in litt.). There are two distinct
shades in the ground-colour, pale whitish ochreous and reddish
ochreous. The following is a rough classification of the varieties in
this species : —
1. — Pale whitish-ochreous without dark longitudinal shades, and without

a transverse row of dots = lutosa (type).
2. — Pale whitish-ochreous without well-developed longitudinal shades,

but a complete transverse row of dots = var. pilicornis, Haw.
3. — Pale whitish-ochreous with strongly developed longitudinal fuscous

shades, and a transverse row of dots = var. crassicornis, Haw.
4. — Keddish-ochreous without longitudinal shades, and without trans-
verse row of dots = var. rufescens.
5. — Reddish-ochreous without well-developed longitudinal shades,

but with transverse row of dots = var. cannce, St.
6. — Reddish-ochreous with well- developed dark longitudinal shades
and transverse row of dots r= var. rufescens-svffusa.
a. var. pilicornis. Haw. — This name was given by our early
British authors to those specimens which had the anterior wings pale
greyish-ochreous, and but little irrorated with black or fuscous scales.
This variety was first described by Haworth in the ' Trans. Ent. Soc'
(Old series), p. 336, as a distinct species. These paler specimens often
have the transverse rows of dots very indistinct, and more nearly ap-
proach Hiibner's spotless type. Some specimens of this variety are
very small. I have some from East Yorkshire not larger than pallens.
Mr. Mason (Clevedon) informs me that this is the most common form in
his district. I have specimens also from Wicken and Warrington.

f3. var. crassicornis. Haw. — Treated by our early British lepidoi)-
terists as a distinct species. Haworth's original description is : — " Alas
anticae subfulvo alboque venosae, atque cinerascentes ex punctulis

S6 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

minutissimis numerosissimis fuscis, absque lente vix conspicuis,
punctisque aliis circiter sex majoribus posticis, in strigam arcuatam
dispositis. Alae posticae fuscae, ciliis lutescentibus " (* Insecta Britannica,'
p. 173). This name is given to those greyish-ochreous or pale wainscot-
coloured specimens which are thickly irrorated with fuscous scales,
with a distinct transverse row of black dots on the anterior wings and
continued on the posterior. The minute fuscous atoms form three
very distinct dark longitudinal shades, one extending on either side of
the median nervure, another extending from the base just under the
costa, a third just above, but parallel with the inner margin. Hind
wings dark grey, with a transverse row of dots. The spaces between
the nervures of the anterior wings also much suffused. I have this
variety from Clevedon (Somerset), Beverley (Yorks), Hull and
Warrington.

y. var. rufescens, mihi. — With the markings practically obsolete
as in the type, but with the ground colour reddish or reddish-ochreous,
the longitudinal shades and the transverse row of dots absent on the
anterior wings. My specimens are from Warrington, Clevedon, &c.
I find this variety and the type the two rarest forms of the species*

8. var. cannce, Steph. (non. Och.). — Red varieties of this species
without the dark longitudinal shades, but with the transverse row of
dots, were incorrectly referred by the early British authors to the
cannce of Ochsenheimer, which is a totally distinct species. The
anterior wings of this variety are reddish ochreous, sparingly irrorated
with dusky atoms, with the transverse row of dots more or less dis-
tinctly marked. My specimens of this variety have come from
Somerset, East Yorkshire, Warrington, &c., and vary much in size.
For the splendid series of varieties of this species I have, I am largely
indebted to Mr. Mason of Clevedon and Mr. Collins of Warrington,
who have been exceedingly good to me, not only by giving
me a large number of specimens, but also a great deal of infor-
mation, " Stephens' description of var. cannce is : — ' Expanse,
If inches. Head and thorax pale reddish or yellowish ash ; anterior
wings the same, with a few minute dusky atoms, with some larger
spots at the base, and a row still more distinct towards the hinder mar-
gin, and forming an arcuated striga : in the middle of the disc is a
single spot of similar hue ; posterior wings reddish or yellowish ash ' "
— Humphrey & Westwood's * British Moths,' vol. i., p. 215. It is
advisable to remember that this description was written at a time
when the species was almost unknown in Britain, isolated examples in
one or two cabinets being all that the British collectors then had.
This variety is therefore intermediate between var. rufescens and var.
rufescens-suffusa and differs from pilicornis only in ground colour.

c. var. rufescens-suffusa, mihi. — An extreme development of var.
cannce, of a reddish ochreous colour, with a transverse row of dots and
strongly developed longitudinal shades as in var. crassicornis. I have
this from all localities whence I have obtained the other varieties ; my
specimens (especially females) from Clevedon and Warrington are,
however, much larger than those from other localities.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 57

2. Family : — Apamid^e, Gn.

This extensive family contains some of our most variable and
some of our most constant species of Noctuae. It seems almost impos-
sible to make any general remarks as to the tendency of variation in the
family as a whole, as the different genera vary more or less in different
directions. The variation in ground colour is in some instances very
remarkable, whilst the markings vary exceedingly in many species.
Such species as didyma, hicoloria, strigilis, may well be termed poly-
morphic. The colours of a very large number of species vary from a
pale grey or yellowish ground colour, through various shades of brown
or red, to black. There is probably no family in which more pro-
nounced cases of melanism occur, or where it is more general ; micacettf
rurea, monoglypha, testacea, leucostigma, didyma, strigilis, exulis, hasilinea,
and abjecta are well-known examples, and all show a great and general
tendency to the production of melanic forms. Even such comparatively
constant species as scolopacina and suhlustris occasionally show a tendency
in this direction, the former being darker in Yorkshire than in the
London district, the latter sometimes occurring very much suffused at
Deal.

Gortyna, 0., ochracea, Hb,

Hiibner's ochracea (' Beitrage zur geschichte der Schmet.' pi. 2. m)
is the type of this species as noticed by Guenee and accepted by Dr.
Staudinger. Hiibner's description (p. 19) is as follows : — " The head
and thorax are yellow ochreous as also are the fore wings. Near the
base is a grey brown band, and in the centre of the wing are two brown
circular marks, with paler centres of a yellowish colour. Following
these is a wide band of a dark grey brown colour.'' Esper notices
(p. 217) the small size and pale colour of Hiibner's type, and I have
received from Mr. Baynes specimens quite as small and rather paler,
which were bred from larvae obtained near Ulverston. The typical
form from Hull is somewhat larger. In his ' Sammlung Europaischer
Schmet.,' Hiibner twice figures (186, 187) this species under the name
of flavago, a name previously given by Fabricius to a Xanthia. Hiib-
ner's fig. 186 has "the ground colour of the anterior wings pale
yellow, with two pale, double, basal lines, the space between filled in
with blackish grey ; the stigmata pale, a reddish brown shade passing
between them, and extending from the costa to the inner margin ; a
double line, outside the reniform, is followed by a narrow blackish
grey band, the outer margin being greyish. Hind wings pure white,
without markings." Hiibner's fig. 187 has the " anterior wings of an
orange yellow ground colour, with dark red-brown transverse mark-
ings. The hind wings grey, with a broad, dark, marginal shade,
followed by a dark transverse line and a dark lunule." Hiibner's fig.
186 (with white hind wings) is very unusual, and Guenee seems to
have had doubts whether it represented a variety of ochracea or was
distinct, for he writes : — " Hiibner figures s, flavago with entirely white
inferior wings," and then asks, " Is this a variety ? " (' Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 123). But besides this, there are, as mentioned above, two
other distinct, and probably, if carefully noted, equally common forms ;
the first is of a pale ochreous yellow, with comparatively pale transverse
markings (the type) ; the second is of a deep golden yellow, with bright

08 VARIETIES OP NOCTU-S;

purplish-brown or reddish-brown markings. Sepp figures this pale form
(i., pi. 3), and Guenee says of it (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 123) : — " Sepp's
figure (No. 7) is a work of art. It is represented with folded wings,
but the colour is too pale." It would seem, therefore, that Guenee
was unaware that there was a paler form. Mr. G. T. Porritt, in his
* List of Yorkshire Lepidoptera,' published in the * Transactions of the
Yorkshire Naturalists' Union,' Part vi., p. 72, writes : — " Mr. N. F.
Dobree writes of this species : — ' In all the specimens I have seen from
the E. Eiding, the size is not more than two thirds that of southern
specimens, and the colouring is yellow instead of orange. The
difference is so marked that I am ' surprised that it has not hitherto
been noticed in print.' " Mr. Dobree also writes me : — " All the
Havago which I take here in October (when I look for lutosa) are much
smaller than the handsome orange specimens, and of a yellow colour
which may almost be called a lemon-yellow. Under wings similarly
much paler. These I get accidentally at flight or at sugar, the orange
always by breeding, considerably earlier. I hold it to be a distinct
var., but have not sought general information, and am open to correc-
tion " (m litt.). With regard to this I may add that I have bred a con-
siderable number of the orange form, var. flavoauratum, but do not
remember breeding pale ones, although I have captured them late in
September. Thus I have both forms from this neighbourhood
(Greenwich), and my Hull specimens are of both forms. I have,
however, received bred specimens of the typical form from Mr. Baynes
of Ulverston. Taking therefore the pale form as the type, the darker
form is: —

a. Ya.r.flavago, Esp. = flavoauratum, mihi (' Entom.' xxi., p. 271). —
Esper thus describes this form : — " The upper wings strong citron-
yellow much sprinkled with reddish yellow scales. The ordinary
stigmata are dark and the broad bands blackish with a red tinge." Our
specimens have the superior wings of a bright golden yellow, with the
two ordinary transverse bands dark purplish brown, the nervures of a
bright reddish colour. Inferior wings of a pale yellowish grey colour,
with a blackish lunule and a blackish band parallel to the hind
margin. This is described under ^the name of flavago by Guenee,

* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 122 ; by Newman, ' British Moths,' p. 279 ; by
Stainton, ' Manual,' vol. i., p. 197 ; by Humphrey & Westwood,

* British Moths,' vol. i., p. 213 ; and by Haworth, under the name of
ochraceago, ' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 234. In fact, Hiibner and
Sepp seem to be the only authors who figure and describe the pale
type.

Hydrcecia, Gn., nictitans, L.
After a great deal of careful study, I have come to the conclusion
that we probably have, under the name of nictitans, L., two at least
distinct species, one of which I at first thought was the lucens of
Freyer ; but this is not so, the latter being entirely different to the
form which I call paludis. My opinion has been formed from the
study of the imagines, both in their various phases of variation, and
the natural conditions of their occurrence. In the absence, however,
of any actual proof of their distinctness, I have treated the form that I
consider distinct as a local race or subspecies of nictitans under the name

IN THE British islands. 59

of paludis in the following notes on the species. With regard to the
superficial differences between nictitans and paludis I have made the
following notes : — Paludis is generally larger than nictitans, and in its
different phases of variation is rarely, if ever, of the red coloration
which is common, in some shade or other, to all the varieties of nicti-
tans. The reniform of paludis is always more narrow, owing to the
absence of the outside line on the inner edge of the reniform, which is
present in that of nictitans ; it is also less strongly marked, and always
white or orange, never red. The posterior wings of paludis are more
ample and more rounded on the hind margin, the anterior wings less
arched on the costa. The typical colour of paludis is ochreous or
ochreous-grey, and its variations in ground colour assume a greenish
tint, until its extremes may be described as greenish grey ; the typical
colour of nictitans is red, and its extremes are reddish brown or black.
Both are reticulated with faint transverse lines, but nictitans is gene-
rally more strongly marked in this respect than paludis ; the faint
transverse line parallel to the hind margin of the anterior wings is of
a different shape in paludis to that in nictitans, being more completely
hollowed just below its centre. With regard to the occurrence of
these forms in a state of nature, the following facts are very striking : —
On the marshes around Rochester, bordering the Medway, paludis in
all its forms of variation occurs. In the woods around Rochester, not a
paludis is to be found ; all are nictitans. At Sligo Mr. Percy Russ, with
one exception, has taken nothing* but paludis, some of which are
exceedingly beautiful forms. Mr. Harrison of Barnsley, has sent me
for inspection the pick of the Yorkshire forms, — all are nictitans,
there is no sign of paludis. In London, nictitans is often common, but
I have never seen paludis. At Shoeburyness most are paludis, whilst at
Deal both forms occur. At the latter locality, I have frequently taken
nictitans in copula, generally resting on the marram. I have as fre-
quently taken paludis in copula, but never nictitans with paludis. In
the ' Entomologist ' for 1888, Plate i., figs. 1 — 6 are paludis ; figs.
7 — 12 are nictitans. A comparison of these two rows of figures will, I
trust, make the foregoing notes clear. Until very recently, I had
always considered lucens as a large variety of nictitans, but a fairly long
series, sent me by Messrs. Collins and Tunstall and captured near
Warrington, together with specimens from other localities, have tended
to alter my opinion, and I am not at all satisfied now of its specific
identity with nictitans. In a fairly long series, lucens appears to
undergo all the parallel variation found in nictitans Sind paludis, varying
in the colour of the stigmata, shade of ground colour, &c. much in the
same manner. At any rate the matter is worthy of further considera-
tion, and whilst its large size and general tendency to have a
narrower reniform, show it to be nearly allied to paludis, its colour,
and more distinct transverse lines show its connection with nictitans.
The type of this species (nictitans) is of a reddish grey colour, with
a white reniform and pale yellowish orbicular (Plate I., fig. 7). The
Linnaean description, ' Systema Naturae,' p. 847, is as follows : —

* Mr. Euss in Oct. 1888, sent me a very strongly-marked specimen of H.
nictitans var. erythrostigwa, with a query as to its heinor nictitans at all, the form,
with a red ground colour, being entirely new to him.

60 VARIETIES OF NOCTU-S

" Noctud Bpirilinguis cristata, alis ferrugineo-griseis, stigmate reniformi,
niveo, pupilla lunari lutea." The variation of this species lies chiefly
in the depth of ground colour, and colour of the reniform stigma (' Ento-
mologist/ xxi., Plate i., figs. 7-12). The ground colour varies from pale
pinkish red through different shades of ferruginous red to almost
black. The reniform stigma varies from white, through various shades
of orange, to red. Mr. Porritt, in ' The Transactions of the Yorkshire
Naturalists' Union,' Part vi., p. 73, writes of the Yorkshire specimens,
" often very strongly coloured." Hiibner figures ("221) the type under
the name of chrysographa.

The following is the best summary of varieties that I can
devise ; —

1. — Pale grey with reddish tinge, basal area much tinged with ochreous,
reniform white, var. pallida ; reniform yellow, subvar. pallida-
flavo ; reniform red, subvar. palUda-rufo.
2. — Bright clear red, basal area but little mottled, reniform white, var.
rosea; reniform yellow, subvar. rosea- flavo ; reniform red,
subvar. rosea-rufo.
3. — Deep red, basal area slightly mottled, reniform white = nictitans
(the type) ; with yellow reniform, auricula, Haw. ; with red
reniform, erythrostigma, Haw.
4. — Deep brownish-red, or blackish-red, reniform white, var. ohscura ;
reniform yellow, subvar. obscura-flavo ; reniform red, subvar.
obscura-rufo.
a. var. pallida, mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings of
a pale yellowish or greyish red colour. All the lines and markings
very distinct, and the basal area much marbled with yellowish. Both
stigmata are generally yellowish, but sometimes the reniform is whitish.
The posterior wings, paler than in the type. Guenee's var. B., ' Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 126, would appear to be this variety. His description
is : — " Anterior wings a little more pointed at the apex, of a very pale,
rosy, yellowish colour, which makes the lines more distinct. Locality,
North America." The specimen from which this variety was figured
(' Entom.' xxi., fig. 8) was captured at Deal. Subvar. pallida-flavo,
has a yellow reniform ; subvar. palUda-rufo, a red or reddish-orange
reniform.

p. var. rosea, mihi. — A bright, clear red form ('Entom.' xxi., Plate
I., fig. 9), with transverse lines very indistinct; the orange orbicular
scarcely noticeable, being but little different to the ground colour ; the
reniform large and well-defined, white in colour as in the type ; the
fringes of the hind wings very rosy, a distinct red line bordering the
hind wings, the red shade extending some distance within the outer
margin. The form is rare, and more particularly northern, although I
have occasionally taken specimens in the neighbourhood of Deal.
Mr. Harrison captures it at Barnsley, and Mr. Lawson has sent me
specimens from Perth. Fig. 9 ('Entom.,' xxi.) is taken from a speci-
men captured by Mr. Lawson at Perth. Subvar. roseaflavo, with
yellow reniform, appears to be very rare, as I have only one or two
specimens from Deal ; whilst of subvar. rosea-rufo, with red or orange-
red reniform, I have only one specimen from Perth.

y. var. auricula, Haw. — Treated by Haworth as a distinct species.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 61

His description (^ Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 240) is as follows: —
"Alis fusco-ferrugineis obsolete auratis fiisco strigatis, stigmate reni-
formi albo-aureo." Haworth undoubtedly treated this as distinct,
because of the golden colour of the reniform. He says : — " From its
reniform stigma being of the colour of pure gold, it has obtained
appropriately enough, the appellation of the * golden ear.' " This
variety is intermediate between the type with white, and var. erythro-
stigma with red, reniform stigma. The specimen from which this
variety, *Entom.' xxi., Plate i., fig. 11, was taken, was captured at
Deal.

8. var. erythrostigma, Haw. — Haworth 's description of this variety
(also treated as a distinct species) is as follows : — " Alis griseo rufe-
scentibus, strigis variis tenuissimis saturatioribus, stigmate rotundo
reniformique rufis. Alse posticae subfuscae ciliis rufescentibus.
Stigma subinde fere obliteratum est " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p.
240). This variety is of the same colour as the type, but the reniform
stigma is red instead of white (* Entomologist,' xxi., Plate i., fig. 10).
It occurs everywhere with the type. I have specimens from Rannoch
and other Scotch localities, which differ in no way from others cap-
tured in London, Deal, and other southern localities. It is figured in
Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 280, and some remarks of Newman on
this variety are on the following page of the same work. Guenee says
of it : — " Does not differ from ordinary specimens, except that the
reniform is reddish instead of white " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 126).
The specimen from which fig. 10 (' Entom.' xxi.) was taken was cap-
tured at Deal.

€. var ohscura, mihi. — The ground colour of a very dark (inclining
to blackish) brown colour, with very little trace of the ferruginous
colour of the type ; the reniform stigma is white as in the type. Hind
wings darker than in the type, fringes paler. This melanic form
occurs but rarely. I have only taken it occasionally at Deal, and I
have a single specimen from Perth. This variety is figured ' Entom.'
xxi., Plate i., fig. 12, from a specimen captured at Deal. Subvar. obscura-
Jlavo, with a yellow reniform, and subvar. obscura-rufo with a red
or orange-red reniform, are, like the subvars. of pallida and rosea, very
rare. I have only seen one specimen of obscura-rufo which came from
Mr. Wylie of Perth.

J. var. albicosfa, mihi. — A beautiful variety of this species with
the anterior wings and stigmata of the colour and appearance of the
type, but with a clear white longitudinal mark along the costa from
the base to the apex, was captured by Mr. Hope Alderson, at Farnboro'
in 1888, and has since been added to my collection.

Hydrcecia, Gn., lucens, Frr.

Before I had examined a long series of specimens of this beautiful
form, I felt quite certain from the study of Freyer's and Herrich-
Schaffer's figures that luceiis was only a large form of nictitanSy and
stated so, 'Entom.' xxi., pp. 810-311. A considerable amount of
material has come to hand during the last two years, and my pre-
viously formed opinion has been very much shaken, and, although not
quite prepared to follow Freyer and Herrich-Schaffer in definitely

62 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiE

considering it distinct, I think it very probable that this is so. If
lucens and paludis are really only extreme forms of mctitans, the three
offer an almost exceptionally unique condition of three easily dis-
tinguishable forms, all going through parallel ranges of variation, and
yet distinct in all. From my point of view, in considering their
varieties, it appears advisable for me to treat lucens and pcdudis as
distinct sub-species, and leave it for further enquiry to determine their
real specific identity or otherwise. Lucens is treated as a distinct
species by Freyer and Herrich-Schaffer, but by Guenee, as a variety
of nictitans. In this he is followed by Newman {' British Moths,' p.
281), and Staudinger, in his * Catalogue,' adopts the same view. Dr.
Staudinger says of it (comparing it with nictitans) : — " major, mac.
renif. alba aut rufa."

The type of lucens is figured by Freyer, pi. 468, figs. 3-4, both of
which are females, of which, I presume, fig. 3, must be looked upon
as the type. I have made the following notes of Freyer's figures : —
" Fig. 3. 5- . Anterior wings reddish ochreous, with two red stigmata ;
a dark shade passing from the costa, between the stigmata, to the
inner margin ; a double abbreviated black line at the base, followed by
three very fine black lines before the orbicular ; two fine black lines just
beyond the reniform, with a slaty grey band at some distance from, but
parallel to, the hind margin." "Fig. 4. §.. Strongly red specimen,
with white reniform." Herrich-Schaffer's figs. 285-288 (by error 85-
88), are very strongly- marked specimens, with a large amount of vari-
ability in the colour of the reniform, and very strongly reticulated,
and therefore showing up all the main characteristics of lucens as
exhibited in our British specimens. By far the finest specimens that
have as yet come under my notice, are those captured by Messrs. Collins
and Tunstall on Rixton Moss ; I also have specimens from Shoeburyness,
Deal, and Lostock (Bolton), Freshwater (Isle of Wight) and the east
coast of Ireland, but only very few specimens, except from Rixton
Moss, where all the so-called nictitans appear to be lucens. The princi-
pal sub-varieties, so far as my series exhibits the variation, run
somewhat parallel to those of nictitans^ although some specimens are
very strange in appearance. . These are : —

a. var. pallida, mihi. — Of a pale greyish coloration with a faint
suspicion of reddish in the ground colour, with white reniform (pallida-
albo). Sub- var. pallida- flavo, with yellow reniform. My specimens
have come from Rixton Moss.

p. var. grisea, mihi. — Of a greyish-ochreous coloration, strongly
irrorated at the base, slightly reddish in central area, the reniform with
the inner line, and therefore broad as in nictitans, otherwise more like
paludis var. grisea ; the reniform white (grisea-alho). Subvar. with
reniform yellow grisea-flavo. My specimens came from Rixton Moss,
Lostock and Wicklow.

y. var. rufa, mihi. — Of a clear, bright red colour, reticulated as in
the former, with white reniform = rufa-albo ; with yellow reniform
rufa-flavo. I have no specimens of vars. pallida, grisea, or rufa, with
deep red reniform as in the type. My specimens have come from
Shoeburyness, Deal, and Freshwater (Isle of Wight).

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 63

8. 8VLb-Ya,rs.lucens-albo SiudluGens-flavo, raihi. — My series consists
more especially of deep ferruginous red (typically coloured) specimens,
varying somewhat in brightness. As may be seen from Freyer's de-
scription above, the deep red form with two deep red stigmata is the
type. This form I have from Kixton Moss ; a subvar. with white
reniior m-lucens-albo-ir om. Rixton Moss and Wicklow ; a subvar. with
yellow reniform, lucens-flavo, from Wicklow.

Hydrcecia, Gn., yaludis, Tutt.

Before describing this species (?) (paludis) I would make the
following remarks : — For reasons that I have just given under my
notes on nictitans, 1 am almost satisfied that this is a species distinct
from, but closely allied to, nictitans. Its different phases of variation
are shown, 'Entom.' xxi., Plate i., figs. 1 — 6. The varieties of this
local race or species (whichever it may be) vary in colour from yellow-
ochreous to brownish -ochreous, deep brown, and grey with a slight
greenish tinge. The orbicular is yellow in all varieties, the reniform
is always white or orange-yellow, never distinctly red as in nictitans
var. erythrostigina. The form is not figured by any British or Conti-
nental author ; as far as I can find, the nearest approach to it is Espers'
fig. v., pi. 125 ; although in Humphrey and West wood's * British
Moths,' vol. ii., pi. xxxvii., fig. 4, there is a poor figure of what might
possibly be its var. grisea. Paludis and its vars. seem particularly
marsh or coast forms. The palest I have ever seen were captured by
Mr. Russ, at Sligo, in Ireland ; but others captured by Mr. Ovenden and
myself at Strood, by Mr. Coverdale at Shoeburyness, and by myself at
Deal, are but little darker than the Irish specimens. In 'Entom.,' xxi.,
Plate i., figs. 1 & 2 are the ochreous form (paludis); figs. 4, 5, 6 are
the dark grey form with slight greenish tinge {grisea) ; fig. 3 is inter-
mediate (intermedia) between the two former, whilst the dark brown
form (var. brunnea) is not figured. It must be noted that each of
these figures has a form with both white and yellow reniform stigmata,
although a yellow form of intermedia is not figured. I have therefore
divided each of the three forms into -albo and -Jiavo according
to the colour of the reniform With regard to paludis, Mr.
W. H. B. Fletcher, M.A., of Worthing, writes : — " I have bred a
considerable number of so-called nictitans from larvae found on the
south coast near Worthing, and they are all, without exception, the
form paludis " (in litt.).

Type : — paludis, mihi. — (1) paludis-albo. — The anterior wing of a
pale ochreous-yellow ground colour, with a white reniform and yellow
orbicular ; an abbreviated double basal line, followed by two single
fuscous transverse lines ; a dark fuscous shade, extending from the
inner edge of the reniform to the inner margin ; two fuscous transverse
elbowed lines just beyond the reniform, extending across the wing ; a
costal shade slightly darker than the ground colour near the apex, the
reniform being situated in a similarly-coloured shade ; the hind mar-
gin from the apex to the anal angle also darker ; the reniform is
exceedingly narrow, compared with that of nictitans, owing to the
absence of the outside ring present in the reniform of the latter
species. The hind wings dark grey, the males with the base much

64 VARIETIES OT N0dTU2B

paler, darker nervures and indistinct lunule. This variety is figured,
* Entom.,' ixi., Plate i., fig. 1. I have specimens from Sligo, Strood,
Freshwater and Deal. {2) paludis-flavo. — Figured, ' Entom.,' xxi., Plate
i., fig. 2. Like paludis-alho, but with a yellow reniform instead of white.
I have specimens from Sligo, Strood, Shoeburyness, Freshwater and
Deal.

a. var. intermedia, mihi. — (1) intermedia-alho. — This variety has
the ground colour darker ochreous than in paludis, a more distinct dark
shade around the reniform, and the ground colour with a slight
greenish tint. It is figured, * Entom.,' xxi., Plate i., fig. 3. I have
specimens of this var. and intermedia-Jlavo, from Shoeburyness, Sligo,
Strood, Freshwater (Isle of Wight), and Deal. (2) inter media- flavo. —
Like the above, intermedia-alho, but with the reniform yellow instead
of white.

/?. var. hrunnea, mihi. — (1) hrunnea-albo. — Anterior wings of a
deep brownish ground colour, the dark shade, which in intermedia sur-
rounds the reniform, spreading all over the anterior wings, making
them almost unicolorous ; the reniform white. (2) var. hrunnea-flavo. —
Like hrunnea-albo, but"*with yellow instead of white reniform. My
specimens came from Strood and Freshwater (Isle of Wight).

y. var. grisea, mihi. — (1) grisea-alho. — The ground colour greyish,
darker than paludis and intermedia, with a slight greenish tinge, a pale
yellow orbicular and a white reniform, a darker shade enveloping the
lower part of the reniform. The pale transverse lines as in paludis and
intermedia. The posterior wings darker than in either of these last
two varieties. This form is figured, * Entom.' xxi., Plate i., fig. 4, and
I have specimens from Deal and Strood. This and the following are
more common in Kent than either var. paludis or var. intermedia. (2)
grisea-flavo. — Like grisea-alho, but with yellow reniform stigmata
instead of white. This form is figured, ' Entom.,' xxi., Plate i., figs.
6 & 7, the latter of these two figures having the transverse lines
especially strongly marked. My specimens came from Strood, Fresh-
water and Deal.

Hydroecia, Gn., micacea, Esp.

This is a most variable species, both in colour and size. The
ground colour varies from a pale whitish grey and yellowish red,
through bright red and purplish red, to deep brown, with no trace of
the typical red colour. In size, some specimens are almost twice the
expanse of others. In the autumn of 1883 I bred some four hundred
specimens from roots of dock. Previous to this, I had looked on this
as a most constant species, and its variation surprised me much.
Guenee seems surprised that Sepp figured two different varieties, one
of which (figs. 6 and 7) he says is the ordinary French form, the other
of " an ashy green colour " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 128). I have never
seen one with a green tint. This species has a peculiar shining lustre,
hence its name. The type is represented by Esper, PI. 145, fig. 6,
which I have described as follows : — " A dull red ground colour, with
two single, fuscous, basal lines, dark greyish or fuscous nervures and
costa ; stigmata the same shade as the ground colour, surrounded by a
narrow purplish ring, and this again surrounded by black ; between
the two basal lines there is a purple shade, and a strong whitish line

IN THE BBITISH ISLANDS. 6$

beyond the reniform is internally margined with blackish, a greenish
grey shade at the base of this black line ; the outer part of the wing
beyond this white line is also grey, with the exception of an apical
streak and a bright reddish hind margin. Hind wings grey, with a
marginal shade, followed by a dark transverse line and lunule, base
reddish." Haworth describes this species under the name of cyprtaca,
as : — " Alis roseis vel subfuscis fusco-strigatis, medio saturatioribus."
Hiibner also figures (224) the species under the same name. Haworth's
var. /3. would appear to be the same as Esper's duller-coloured type,
for he writes : — " alis magis fuscis et fere absque tinctura rosea : pos-
ticis cinerascentibus lunula media strigisque pone medium fuscis "
(' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 228, No. 197). I have received this form
(type) from Sligo and Aberdeen, have frequently captured it near
Strood, and have bred it from Greenwich larvae, although I have none
with the greenish* shades mentioned in my description of Esper's
figure. I consider the following a summary of the principal phases of
variation : —

1. — A whitish-grey form, with slight pink tinge =: var. grisea.
2. — A yellowish red form =: var. lutea.

3. — A rosy form (the more common one in Kent) = var. cypriaca, Haw.
4. — A deep red (tinged with purplish) form := var. ruhida.
5. — A dull red form suffused with fuscous = micacea (the type).
6. — A brown form = var. brunnea.

I cannot help remarking here the superficial resemblance of this
last variety to petasitts.

a. var. lutea, mihi. — The anterior wings of a very pale yellowish-
red ground colour, very shiny, the transverse lines also paler than in
the type. The hind wings, which are pale yellowish, have faint traces
of the lunule and transverse line, but not of the transverse shade
noticeable in the darker forms. Some specimens of this form are very
small. I have only Greenwich specimens of this variety, but Mr. Euss
occasionally takes it at Sligo.

p. var. cypriaca, Haw. — I am uncertain whether Hiibner's fig.
224, ought to be referred to this variety, which I would have include
all the bright red rosy forms from which it has derived its English
name ** rosy rustic " ; I base this opinion on Haworth's description,
" alis roseis, fusco strigatis," but I believe such forms as are represented
by Hiibner's figure should be included. These rosy forms are the
more general in the South of England, but apparently rare in the
North, where the darker and greyer forms are more abundant.

y. var. rubida, mihi. — The anterior wings of a rich red colour,
with a tendency to a purplish tinge. The posterior wings strongly
marked with a dark lunule, transverse line and shade. I consider this
the finest variety of the species, and have never seen specimens except
those T have bred from this neighbourhood.

8. var. brunnea, mihi. — An extreme development of var. rubida
where the dark red is entirely replaced by a deep, shiny, brown colour.
The hind wings are very much suffused with fuscous, the ground
colour being of a dull grey ; the lunule, transverse line and shade

* I believe this is chiefly due to the artist trying to represent the peculiar
shiny lustre of this species.

66 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiE

being darker than the ground colour. This extreme melanic form is
rare here in the south : I have only obtained one in this (Greenwich)
neighbourhood, but I have received it from Mr. Percy Russ of Sligo,
and Mr. Reid of Pitcaple. In these localities it seems not uncommon.
e. var. grisea, mihi. — Anterior wings of a pale, shiny, greyish white,
the transverse markings having the slightest possible trace of reddish
colour ; the stigmata very indistinct. The posterior wings greyish
white, with a dusky lunule, and transverse line, while some of these
grey forms have, and others have not, the ordinary transverse shade.
This form is the one more generally obtained in the marshes on the
banks of the Medway ; I have bred it from Greenwich, and have
received it from Mr. Percy Russ (Sligo).

Hydrcecia, Gn., -petasitis, Doubleday.

Guenee, in his * Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 127, 128, treats this as a
variety of H. vindelicia of Freyer and Herrich-Schaffer, but this latter
is sunk as a synonym by all modern authors. A full description of the
type is given by Newman in his ' British Moths,' p. 281 ; and on p.
282 of the same work, Newman points out that, if vindelicia is a less
obscure form, as mentioned by Guenee, petasitis is the prior name to
vindelicia, and the former therefore would become the type and the
latter be retained simply as a varietal name. Comparing petasitis with
vindelicia, Guenee writes : — " Much smaller, the markings of the superior
wings very confused, and all the wings are more shining and more
thickly scaled " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 128). Our specimens of peta-
sitis present a slight sexual variation, the females being larger and
darker than the males.

a. var. vindelicia, Frey. — Guenee's description of vindelicia ( * Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 127) is as follows : — " Superior wings greyish brown
with a slight violet tinge, and all the exterior part of the median
space, the outer margin, and a streak from the apex of a deeper brown.
Nervures sprinkled with whitish. The two stigmata large, and of the
same hue as the ground colour. Inferior wings of a clearer grey, with
a darker lunule, median line and subterminal shade." This is there-
fore only a larger, brighter form than ours. Mr. Dobree writes : —
" Guenee separated petasitis from England and vindelicia from Bavaria,
because in those early days it was not understood that British insects
are generally smaller, less distinctly marked, and less brilliantly
coloured than Continental specimens, especially as you approach
Southern Europe '* {in litt.). I have received some exceptionally large
dark specimens from Mr. Collins, bred from larvae, captured near War-
rington, with the central band well developed. These are much larger
and brighter than specimens I bred myself from pupae taken at
Sheffield.

fi. var. amurensis, Stdgr. — Dr. Staudinger, in his trade list (1887)
included a variety of this species, from the Amur district, under the
name amurensis. Of this variety I know nothing, but Mr. Dobree has
kindly given me the following information : — " I have v. amurensis, and
if the three or four I have illustrate them all, the markings are
possibly a little more distinct than ours, and the violet gloss very
decidedly more noticeable, but otherwise they do not differ from our
specimens " {in litt.).

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 6^7

Helotropha, Ld., leucostigma, Hb.

Hiibner twice figured this species, — first under the name of leu-
costigma (fig. 375), and then a very marked variegated variety, of a
bright red colour, under the name of fibrosa (fig. 385). The latter
name has been in general use in Britain for this species. Our speci-
mens are very variable, but most of them are of a dark umber-brown
ground colour, although some are much brighter than others in this
respect, and I have specimens from Wicken with quite a ruddy appear-
ance. In the character of the markings there are two very distinct
forms occurring in Britain, — one, variegated with paler transverse
basal lines, and a broad pale band extending from the apex to the inner
margin, just beyond the anal angle, and extending along the inner
margin ; the median nervures whitish, and branching under the reni-
form, and with either white or ochreous reniform stigmata = var.
lunina ; — the other, more unicolorous, with the transverse markings
comparatively obsolete, the reniform either white = var. albipuncta,OT
ochreous = the type. We get nothing in Britain so extreme as Hiib-
ner's fibrosa ; and Guenee, in the * Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 210, makes
the same remark about the French specimens. I am inclined to think
that Hiibner's fibrosa is a rather over-coloured specimen, and that the
ruddy specimens mentioned above are really the form that Hiibner in-
tended to represent. There is no proof that this is so, but no knowledge
appears to exist of very bright, red specimens. Guenee writes : — " I
have never seen this Noctuelle as bright in colour as Hiibner's figure.
That of Duponchel is much more natural." He also adds that " speci-
mens are found intermediate hetween fibrosa, Hb., and the unicolorous
type." Hiibner's type may be described as : — " The anterior wings
dark purplish brown, with blackish transverse lines ; reniform yellow-
ish. Hind wings purplish grey, with a darker margin." Mr. Dobree
writes of the Canadian type : — " Leucostigma, so far as my specimens
permit me to judge, is rather of a bistre- than an umber-brown, and
mottled rather than unicolorous " {in litt.). Of the type. Dr. Staudinger
writes : — " Al. ant. unicolor. nigricant. flavo- vel albo-maculatis."
Hiibner's type certainly is not ^'albo-maculatis,^' but " fiavo-maculatis."
Mr. Dobree writes : — " Both forms occur on the Amur, but apparently
fibrosa, Hb., the less commonly (Graeser, ' Berl. Ent. Zeits.,' 1888).
My specimen of leucostigma from there agrees with Hiibner's type. I
have specimens, also from Canada, of both varieties " (in litt.). The
principal varieties are : —

a. var. albipuncta, mihi. — Unicolorous purplish brown (like the
type), umber-brown or blackish, with faint traces of transverse mark-
ings, but with reniform white instead of ochreous. I have taken this
form at Greenwich, and have a long series of it taken by the Rev. G.
H. Eaynor in Wicken Fen ; Mr. Percy Euss has captured a considerable
number of this variety, with var. lunina and the type, in the neigh-
bourhood of Sligo. Mr. Collins, of Warrington, takes this form a few
miles from that town, together with the type and var. lunina. Mr.
Eeid writes : — " This species is very scarce and local here (Pitcaple,
Aberdeen) ; all those I have taken are referable to var. albipuncta. I
have not seen any other forms here " (in litt.).

p. var. lunina, Haw. = var. intermedia, Tutt. — (1) alho-lunina» —

68 VARIETIES OF NOCTU-S

Anterior wings of a deep umber-brown, with two pale (slightly ochreous)
transverse basal lines, and a paler orbicular ; reniform white (sometimes
reticulated), and standing on a white geminated line (part of median
nervure); a pale oblique transverse streak from apex to inner margin,
and a pale wavy line parallel to hind margin. In the ' Entomologist,'
vol. xxiii., p. 13, I described this var. as intermedia, but it is referable to
Haworth's lunina. His description is : — "■ Noctua. Alse anticae pallide
castaneas margine postico fusco. Stigmata ordinaria in superiore parte
maculse fasciae formis, quas macula margines non attingit. Anterius
stigma, rotundum margine pallescente solum conspicuum, subinde
obliteratum ; exterius lunatum, album vel medio griseum. Margo
posticus fascia tenui ustulato-fusca. Alse posticae fuscescentes " (' Le-
pidoptera Britannica,' p. 209). (2) flavo-lunina. — The same as albo-
lunina, but reniform ochreous. I have var. lunina from Wicken and
Sligo ; Mr. Collins also takes this variety in the neighbourhood of
Warrington. The Irish specimens are particularly bright, but not red,
like Hiibner's /6rosa.

y. var. fibrosa, Hb. — HUbner's figure 385, fibrosa, may be described
as : — " Anterior wings bright red, with dark greyish outer margin,
and darker red round the stigmata ; reniform very pale. Hind wings
as in leucostigma." This form may occur in Britain, but I have never
seen specimens nor heard of any captures at all resembling it. The
nearest approach I have are some clearly marked, ruddy-looking speci-
mens from Wicken, which I label as " var. fibrosa (?)." Mr. Dobrde
writes : — " The fibrosa from Canada, are of a more generally sombre
colouring, but otherwise similarly marked to the European ones " {in
litt).

Axylia, Hb., putris, L.

The type of this species is described by Linnaeus as : — " Noctua
spirilinguis cristata, alis deflexis obsoletis subpunctatis, margine
exteriore fusco adjecta macula subocellari." " Color ligni putride, ut
in exsoleta s. verbasci, sed brevis " (* Systema Naturae,' p. 850, No. 152).
Haworth describes the species as : — " Alse pallidas sive flavicantes
costi late fusca," &c. (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 172, No. 34); whilst
Guenee describes it as : — " Superior wings of a very clear, pale yellow,
with the costa broadly brown," &c. (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 134).
Hiibner figures the species under the name of lignosa, and his figure
(245, by error 215) is not quite typical, the anterior wings being
"yellowish ochreous with black markings." Newman, in his 'British
Moths,' p. 282, describes the species as " pale wainscot-brown, with
dark umber-brown markings." These seem to be the chief points
of variation, viz., the ground colour varying from whitish or pale
yellowish to dark ochreous or wainscot-brown, and the markings from
brown to black. I have both forms in my cabinet. Those with
typical pale yellow wings and black markings would appear to be the
sicca of Guenee. Mr. Kuss has sent me a specimen from Sligo with a
distinct dark shade, reaching from the base of the reniform to the
inner margin.

a. var. lignosa, Hb. — Ground colour yellowish-ochreous instead of
pale yellow or whitish ; the ordinary markings black instead of brown,
much irrorated with fuscous dots. A full description of Hiibner's

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 69

lignosa would be, " Anterior wings with the ground colour of a yellow
ochreous shade, with a black basal streak, the orbicular and reniform
outlined in black ; a double transverse line of dots beyond the reniform ;
the median nervure continued through the wings as a dusky shade ;
a broad black costal streak runs along from the base of the costa to
the apex where it ends ; two short dusky shades are placed in the
upper part of the outer margin. Hind wings grey, with the outer
margin slightly ochreous." Newman's figure, ' British Moths,' p. 282,
is much too dark for the type, and apparently belongs to this variety.

(?) p. var. sicca, Gn. — Guenee describes a species under the name
of sicca as follows : — " A little smaller than putris, the superior wings
of which species those of sicca much resemble, if it were not that the
costal streak is more black than brown, above all between the two
stigmata, where they form a distinct black spot. Inferior wings
entirely pure white. Head, thorax and palpi, pale yellow. I have
only a single male of which I am ignorant of its locality" (' Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 135). The pure white hind wings leave me in doubt as to
the specimen being a variety of this species.

XylomigeSy Gn., conspicillaris, L.

Linnaeus' conspicillaris (' Systema Naturae,' Edition 10, p. 515, No.
102) is the type, and is described as : — "Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alis
incumbenti planis: pallide griseis, oculorum operculis orbiculatis."
" AIbb inferiores subtus albidae, pone punctum fascia obsoleta e punctis
distinctis, praeter ilia quas alas terminant." Haworth, in the * Lepi-
doptera Britannica,' p. 171, describes this species as : — " alis striatis,
fusco cinereoque variis, marginem tenuiorem versus albicantibus."
" Alter sexus (^ ) saturatior." Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p.
150, writes : — " This is not the conspicillaris of Linnasus," but I fail to
see anything in his argument which would convince anyone that it is
not so. Newman, in his ' British Moths,' p. 288, figures three varieties,
and on the same page, after describing the pale Linnasan type, writes : —
" Although this description will do very well for the more usual form
of the species, it seems desirable to say that the distribution of colour
in the fore-wings is excessively various. Three marked varieties
occur in the series of continental specimens kindly lent me by Mr.
Doubleday." He then describes the three varieties. The first is the
var. melaleucd (top figure in Newman) ; the second var. intermedia (2nd
fig. in Newman) ; the third is the type (bottom figure in Newman).
Staudinger writes in his * Catalog.' : — " type — al. ant. brunneis-griseis."
Guenee describes var. melaleuca as the type ; his melaleucd is var. inter-
media ; while his var. B is the Linnaean type, which he says is the
least common form in France, {vide ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 150 —
151). Hiibner figures (237) a brown form as well as var. melaleucd
(23 6J under the name of conspicillaris. Taking therefore the pale form
as the type we have the following varieties : —

a. var. melaleuca, View. — The type of this variety is obtained from
Yieweg's ' Tabellarisches Verzeichniss,' &c., p. 68, and according to
Guenee, No. 105, pi. 1, fig. 5. Of this variety Staudinger says: — "al.
ant. nigricant. ; dorso et margino post, albido." Yieweg's own descrip-
tion, p. 69, No. 105, is as follows : — " Noctua cristata alis deflexis
anticis nigris, margine tenuiore lituraque postica albis : thorace albo

70 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

nigroque vario." His figure, Plate i., fig. 5 of the same work, shows
that Staudinger's summary is exact, and that Guenee is wrong in
treating var. intermedia as melaleuca. Newman's description is more
like Staudinger's, and his figure (No. 1, p. 288) makes his description
clear. Hiibner figures (226) this variety under the type name (con-
spicillaris). The description of his figure is as follows : — " Costal
margin blackish grey, stigmata outlined in reddish, inner margin pale
with a pale streak from the costa (near apex) to meet the pale inner
margin. Hind wings white with distinct nervures." Guenee's type of
this species (conspiciUaris) is var. melaleuca ; he writes, * Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 150: — " Superior wings of a greyish-black, with the inner
margin and subterminal area of a greyish- white tinted with yellow
ochreous ; the first widens after the claviform stigma, which is only
indicated as far as the two median stigmata ; the second spotted and
interrupted in the middle. Inferior wings white with blackish ner-
vures, the inner angle shaded with grey and a blackish lunule better
marked below." If this be compared with Newman's fig. 1 (p. 288)
it will be seen that they agree. Guenee gives Europe as its habitat. In
Eobson & Gardner's list we find : — " var. melaleuca, costal and hind
margins pale coloured," which is evidently incorrect, as the costa is
dark.

13. var. intermedia, mihi. — This is a form intermediate between
the pale grey-brown type, and the dark var. melaleuca. It is figured
by Newman, ' British Moths,' p. 288, 2nd figure, and described on the
same page as : — " The dark colour of the anterior wings much more
limited (than in melaleuca) ; it occupies the middle of the wing, and
leaving a large obhmg space at the tip, ascends to the costa between
the discoidal spots." It is described by Guenee as melaleuca, ' Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 150, who, comparing it with the dark variety
says : — " The black colour much less extensive and leaving a large
ochreous space, from the reniform almost to the apex. The subter-
minal line absent in the clear parts. Stigmata clearly visible and
strongly outlined in black." This will be found to agree exactly with
Newman's 2nd figure. Guenee says that " although this variety has a
very different appearance to the type, it is the same species. One obtains
it as abundantly from larvse as the dark form."

y. var. medio-linea, mihi. — Hiibner's figure 237 differs from the
type in being browner and having a very distinct dark line extending
from the costa to the inner margin passing between the orbicular and
reniform stigmata. The description I have made is as follows : —
"Anterior wings pale brown, with many longitudinal streaks ; orbicular
outlined in black ; under the orbicular there is a trace of a basal streak ; a
dark transverse line passes between stigmata from costa to inner
margin ; reniform absent, several black streaks on outer margin as in
var. intermedia ; a slaty shade along the inner margin. Hind wings
white with distinct lunule."

Generalising on these varieties Newman says : — " In all three {i.e.
the type, var. intermedia and var. melaleuca) varieties, there is a radiated
appearance more or less conspicuous on the fore wings, arising from
the blackness of the wing rays : the fringe seems always to be dark,
and there is a small linear tuft of pale scales at the extremity of each
wing-ray : the hind wings are white or whitish, with a pale brown

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 71

discoidal spot, margin, and wing-rays ; the fringe is white ; the head
and thorax are grey, the latter decorated with a dark discoidal blotch
and darker borders, especially on the sides ; the body is obese, crested
at the base, and squarely truncate at the extremity : its colour is
greyish brown" (' British Moths,' p. 288).

Xylophasia, St., zollihoferi, Frey.

I have been reminded by Mr. Dobree that I ought scarcely to
pass this rare species which has been twice captured in Britain ; one
in the beginning of October, 1867, by Mr. Harding of Deal, the other
by Mr. Tait, at Inverurie, a few miles from Aberdeen, in September,
1871. The former specimen is in the Doubleday collection at the
Bethnal Green Museum, the other is, I believe, still in the possession
of Mr. Tait. The notice of the first capture, as recorded in the
* Entomologist,' vol. v., pp. 29, 30, is by Mr. Doubleday, and is as
follows : — " The beginning of October, 1867, Mr. Harding took a
large Noctua at Deal, which was unknown to me, but which I thought
might be X. zolUkofert, from M. Guenee's remark that some authors
had placed this insect in the genus Nonagria, and Mr. Harding's moth
certainly resembles a female N. typhce in colour and markings. A
short time since I sent it to Dr. Staudinger, and he says it is X.
zollikoferi var. This species is principally found in Hungary and
Eussia, but is not common anywhere." The notice of the second
capture may be found in the * Scottish Naturalist,' vol. i., pp. 267, 268,
with a very full description by Dr. F. Buchanan White. The type
of this species is represented by Freyer in his * Neuere Beitrage,' &c.,
pi. 184, figs. 1 & 2. Fig. 1 is a male, the " anterior wings of a dull
smoky brown colour, with the basal part of the inner margin paler,
the nervures of the same dark colour as the other part of the wing ;
a short, black, longitudinal, basal line just under the median nervure ;
the claviform distinctly outlined in black, but only the slightest traces
of the other stigmata ; a row (8) of longitudinal black dots on the
'nervures just beyond the reniform area ; a faint greyish line parallel
to hind margin just outside the dots. Hind wings pale grey, with
darker outer margin, dusky nervures, and dusky luiiule." Fig. 2 is a
female. It is like fig. 1, but "the basal and median areas pale greyish
brown, extending from the inner margin to costa, followed by the
dull, dark smoky brown colour of the male on the outer area (beyond
the reniform) ; basal streak, row of black dots and grey line as in
male, but no stigmata. Hind wings much darker than in male, dark
smoky brown as in anterior wings, base a little paler." Herrich-
Schaffer's two figures, ' Schmet. von Europa,' &c., figs. 103 and 104,
also represent dark specimens ; fig. 103 approaching more nearly to
the British specimens. Strange to say, both the British specimens are
strikingly pale, the Inverurie specimen being paler than the specimen
captured at Deal. Of this variation Dr. White, quoting Mr. H.
Doubleday, writes : — " * This (the Inverurie specimen) is a very pale
variety. My specimen (the Deal one) is thickly irrorated with black
along the nervures, and very closely resembles in appearance a female
N. typJias. I sent my specimen to Dr. Staudinger, and he said it agreed
exactly with a specimen in his cabinet which was captured in
Hungary. He added that it was one of the rarest of the European

72 VARIBTIBS OP NOCTU-aE

NocTU^, and he only knew of the existence of a few specimens, two of
which were taken near Berlin, and the others in Hungary and Kussia' "
(' Scottish Naturalist,' vol. 1., p. 267). As our two British specimens
are so much paler than the type, I propose to call them var. pallida.

a. var. pallida, mihi. — The following is Dr. White's description of
the Aberdeenshire specimen : — " Front wings shining greyish ochreous,
more grey beyond the subterminal line, and the nervures faintly marked
out in grey. The only markings are the orbicular stigma, the edges of
which are pale ochreous but very indistinct ; the claviform stigma also
edged with ochreous but almost imperceptible ; the reniform stigmata
which are more apparent, outlined with ochreous, and the lower end
filled in with pale grey ; the elbowed line, which consists of a row (in
some places double) of small blackish spots on the nervures, and a
faint ochreous line near the inner margin ; and the subterminal line,
which is pale ochreous and serrated, especially in the middle where it
is like a W, the serrations looking towards the base are tipped with
grey. The hind margin is undulated, and between the tips of the
nervures is a grey line : the fringes are ochreous, intersected by a
darker line ; the inner margin is narrowly greyish black. The hind
v/ings are ochreous white with the nervures and the hind margin
irregularly ochreous grey. The expansion of the wing is about 2j
inches." Dr. White then adds : — " Herrich-Schaffer (' Schmet. von
Europa,' &c.) gives two figures of this species. Fig. 103 is most like
the Inverurie specimen ; but differs in being much darker in colour, in
having no trace of the claviform and orbicular stigmata, the elbowed
line distinctly formed of two rows of dots and no ochreous line on the
inner margin, the subterminal line more distinctly marked with grey.
The hind wings are much darker, and the expanse of the wings barely
2 inches. Fig. 104 is very different, and looks almost like a different
species " (* Scottish Naturalist,' vol. i., pp. 267, 268). The Doubleday
specimen is so much paler than the type, that I think it may be very
well included under this varietal name.

Xylophasia, St., polyodon, L. (monoglypha, Hufn.).

This is another most variable species, ranging from specimens of
a pale whitish grey ground colour, through almost every intermediate
shade to deep unicolorous brown and black. The melanism on our
southern coasts tends more to the production of dark, more or less uni-
colourous, brown forms ; that in the North of England, Scotland, and
the west coast of Ireland to the production more especially of intense
black forms, although occasionally more or less black forms are taken
in the south, and beautiful rich brown forms occur in North Britain and
on the west coast of Ireland. I would also draw attention to the great
variation in the direction, shape and size of the orbicular stigma ;
sometimes this is quite linear, sometimes oval, and sometimes round ;
sometimes large and sometimes comparatively small. Of this species
Mr. Hill, of Derby, writes : — " Nearly every season I meet with dark
varieties of this insect almost as dark as the Scotch forms, but they are
very rare " (' Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol. xxiii., p. 6). This species seems to
vary but little on the Continent, so far as it is at present known, and
scarcely any continental authors aj^pear to have figured or described
any varieties except Staudinger, who has recently named one intensely

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 73

black form cethiops. Hiibner figures the type, with a pale patch along
the inner margin and near the anal angle, as radicea. The Linnsean
description (' Systema Natures,' p. 853, No. 170), is as follows : —
" Noctua spirilinguis cristata, cinereo-nebulosa ; margine postico mul-
tidentato." " Alas superioris margo posticus circiter, 8 dentibus termi-
natus." Gruen^e in his ' Noctuelles ' mentions nothing about the species
being variable, although he says, " common everywhere." Haworth
describes the pale variegated form, which is generally looked upon as
the type, as : — "Noctua cristata, alis deflexis dentatis variegatis : striga
postica dentatis albis, thoracis crista elevata bifida." " Corpus per-
grossum. Alae anticae ex fusco parum f ulvicantes, nebulis variis nigris
pallidisque. Stigma anticum oblongum, et valde obliquum sive sub-
supinum. Juxta marginem posticum, striga profundissime et acutissime
dentata albo nigro interne adnata. Posticse alae cinereo-fuscas, fimbria
fusca, ciliis fulvicantibus " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' pp. 186, 187).
He also adds : — " Variat alis minus variegatis." Thanks to my friend,
Herr Hoffmann (Hanover), I have been able to get a translation of
Hufnagel's original description, which is as follows : — ** With a bluish
tinge, partly light and partly dark grey, with a Latin W in the hind
margin," certainly a most comprehensive one, and worthy of considera-
tion. Treating therefore as the type the variegated form, which has
the whitish blotch on the inner margin near the anal angle, we
have four striking varieties, joined of course by intermediate forms.
These are : —

1. — A suffused brown or greyish brown form, with the markings
distinctly traceable, though obscured, var. ohsciira.

2. — A deep, intensely brown form, with the markings scarcely
traceable, var. hrunnea.

3. — A black form with moderately distinct markings, var. wfuscata.

4. — An intensely black form with the markings almost entirely
obliterated, var. cethiops.

a. var. ohscura, mihi. — A suffused brown or greyish brown form
with all the pale markings of the type brownish or dull greyish
instead of whitish. The whole of the markings of the anterior wings
clearly traceable, although obscured. The brownish transverse lines
(pale in the type) margined with darker brown. My specimens have
come from Strood, Greenwich, Deal,* Sligo, Barnsley and many North
of England and Scotch localities. It also occurs at Portland.

/3. var. hrunnea, mihi. — The anterior wings a deep, rich brown,
with the discoidal spots and transverse lines traceable. This is almost
the same form as mfuscata, with the ground colour deep brown instead
of black. My specimens have come from Mr. Percy Russ of Sligo,
Mr. Henderson of Glasgow, and Mr. Harrison of Barnsley. I have
also received it from a few other localities, but all northern. Some of
my Deal varieties of var. ohscura approach this form closely. Mr. J.
Jenner Weir (* Entom.,' xiv., 220), writing of the Hebridean ^oZ?/odow
remarks : — " The parallel variety to comhusta (rurea) is of the richest

* During the summer of 1888 scarcely a pale polyodon occurred on the
Deal sandhills ; almost all were ohscura. 1 even captured one specimen of var.
infuscata. I have no doubt this was due to the excessively wet season. I also
captured a specimen of var. infuscata in 1890 at the same place.

74 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiE

dark chestnut colour, very glossy, and, as in the case of X. rurea, the
intermediate varieties are numerous."

y. var. infuscata, White. — This variety was named by Dr. F.
Buchanan White (' Fauna Perthensis,' Part i.). It was given to those
very dark specimens, with the ground colour black, which are
abundant in Scotland, the North of England and the West of Ireland,
but which are so rare in the South of England. The distinctness of
the typical pale markings varies exceedingly, but generally they are
distinctly marked in greyish. Mr. G. T. Porritt, in his ' List of York-
shire Lepidoptera,' p. 74, says : — " The black form, var. infuscata,
White, is of frequent occurrence, both in the east and west of the
county." I have captured it myself at Deal, and have received it
from Barnsley, Fleetwood, Hartlepool, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Sligo, and
many other localities, chiefly northern. A record of the occurrence of
this variety at Tenby is made in the 'Entomologist,' xxii., p. 15, and also
one of its occurrences at Sheerness by Mr. J. J. Walker, ('Ent. Mo. Mag.,'
vol. ix., p. 163). The variety also occurs freely in the Orkneys, Shet-
lands and Hebrides. Mr. C. G. Barrett (' Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol. xxii., p.
125) reports it as *' occurring near Dublin," and in the same magazine,
vol. XXV., p. 259, the Rev. W. F. Johnson writes from Armagh : —
" I took some very dark (almost black) specimens of Xylophasia mono-
glypha."

8. var. cethiops, Stdgr. — This is an extreme development of the var.
infuscata, White, the whole of the anterior wings intensely black, with
no paler markings, and scarcely the slightest trace of any markings
whatever ; some specimens are perfectly unicolorous. The most per-
fectly unicolorous specimens I have are from Mr. Percy Kuss of Sligo,
although specimens from the Lancashire coast, Glasgow and Aberdeen,
are but little behind them in intensity.

Xylophasia, St., lithoxylea, F.

So much uncertainty prevails with regard to the lithoxylea of the
* Vienna Catalogue,' which gives no description, that the lithoxylea of
Fabricius (' Mantissa,' p. 182) is generally accepted as the type of the
species. This description is as follows : — " Noctua cristata alis deflexis
dentatis, cinereis fusco maculatis ; margine postico fusco." " Corpus
cinereum. Thorax dorsali brunnea. Alas anticse dentatae cinereas
maculis punctisque obsoleteis fuscis. Margo posticus tenuissime fuscus.
Subtus cinereae margine tenuiori nitido. Posticae cinereae margine
postico fusco, subtus immaculatee." Hiibner figures the very red form
of suhlustris as lithoxylea. It is a species which varies but little, so far
as I know ; some specimens appear to be a little more suffused with
dark scales than others, but generally the paler specimens show
undoubted traces of wear. The specimens which I have from Green-
wich, Strood, Deal, Sligo, and northern British localities, show no
variation worth mentioning. Haworth in his ' Lepidoptera Britan-
nica,' p. 169, gives a good description of this species; but he accepts
HUbner's fig. 240 as this species, with the remark ''at magis
ferruginea," although it is undoubtedly suhlustris. Guenee also states
in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 139, that " some lepidopterists have sup-
posed lithoxylea a variety of ^oZ^/odow." This will give some idea of the
closely-allied character of this group when studied through their varieties.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 75

XylopJiasia, St., suhlustris, Esp.

This species has been much mixed up with litJioxylea, many of our
early authors treating them as the same species. Hubner figures (240)
a red variety of suhlustris, which he calls Uthoxylea ; and Haworth, in
his ' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 169, No. 25, writes with reference to
this figure, comparing it with Uthoxylea : — " at magis ferruginea ; " but
as he does not attempt to separate it from Uthoxylea, British suhlustris
may not have been known to him. Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol.
v., p. 139, states that " Treitschke has confounded the two species,
and has cited their synonymy very indistinctly." On p. 140, Guenee
also writes: — "Is this a separate species, or only a variety of
Uthoxylea .'*.... It is constant in markings and character." He then
writes : — " Its colour is always more red, and the discoidal spots much
better marked ; the inferior wings have a very distinct brown discoidal
line between the lunule and the hind margin." These characters are
distinct, and I think the difference in the hind wings of Uthoxylea and
suhlustris well worthy of notice. This interesting species is very
variable on the coast of Kent, and specimens exhibit much difference
both in the ground colour and the depth of the markings. Most of
the specimens have the anterior wings of a pale ochreous-grey ground
colour ; others are decidedly yellowish ochreous, and these lead up to a
very distinct form with the ground colour decidedly tinged with red.
With respect to the markings, there is also a very great difference.
Some specimens have the characteristic markings in the central part
of the wing and on the outer margin very faint, and merging into the
ground colour ; others have them distinctly marked in dark greyish
brown ; others have them marked in deep brown ; while the form
mentioned above, with the red ground colour, has them in a clear
reddish brown or rust-red, shaded off into the paler ground colour.
The specimens also vary with regard to the transverse row of spots
parallel to the hind margin ; some specimens have these spots absent,
some well developed, and some have them joined by curved arches,
making a wavy line exactly of the same character and shape as the
second transverse line in the allied species polyodon, L. (monoglypha,
Hufn.). But the most remarkable specimen I have is one with the whitish
ground colour of Uthoxylea, with all the markings of suhlustris most
clearly developed, even to the wavy line mentioned above. There is
a great amount of difference also in the quantity of dark scales with
which the anterior wings are sprinkled. This makes some specimens
look quite melanic compared with others. But dark as some of our
specimens are, we do not appear to obtain (after making all due
allowance for the artistic demerit) any specimens so dark as Esper's
type. Esper's fig. 1 (' Die Schmetterlinge,' &c., pi. cxxxiii) is the
type, and, although bad enough, is recognisable at once as an
exceedingly suffused form of this species. I have made the following
description of his figure : — " Probably a female (Esper calls it a male).
Anterior wings dark ochreous, entirely suffused for two-thirds of the
wing from the base with dark fuscous, except along the inner margin,
where the ground colour is more noticeable ; the outer one-third of
the wing, from the apex to the inner margin, paler ; this paler area
with a double transverse row of dots parallel to the hind margin, and

76 VARIETIES OF NOCTURE

also a pair of dots near the edge of the inner margin at about one-
third from the base ;* the nerviires with a slight purplish tinge ; the
hind margin dark fuscous. The hind wings dark grey, the base a
little paler, with a slight purplish tinge." It will at once strike those
who have a short series from our south coast how unlike this descrip-
tion is to our usual forms ; and yet when one looks at Esper's figure
one recognises at once that it is sM^Zw-sfn's, although I must say that I have
seen no British specimens so dark as Esper's figure. The Irish
specimens that I have seen are all uniformly redder than my reddest
vars. (lithoxylea, Hb.) from Deal, and I have a very red specimen from
Portland. Besides an approach to Esper's very dark type and the
very red form mentioned, we appear to get two very distinct forms in
Britain, one, which is comparatively rare, whitish in ground colour,
the other greyish or yellowish-ochreous, sometimes with the faintest
suspicion of a green tinge ; these extremes being joined by inter-
mediate specimens, which vary much, inter se, both in the depth of
the ground colour and markings, although of a general greyish
ochreous hue. These forms I shall call : —

a. var. pallida, mihi. — Ground colour whitish-ochreous, inclining
to the pale colour of lithoxylea, the dark shades very distinct and
standing out clearly in the pale ground colour ; the transverse markings
also very distinct, a transverse wavy line being formed by the union of the
transverse row of dots parallel to the hind margin, with lunular arches.
Hind wings dark grey, with a distinct lunule, a pale transverse line
outside the lunule, then a dark transverse shade followed by another
pale marginal line. I have only occasionally captured specimens of
this variety at Deal.

/3. var. intermedia, mihi. — Intermediate between var. pallida and
the red var. lithoxylea of Hiibner. Ground colour yellowish-ochreous,
with a dark grey tinge, the typical shades variable in depth of colour,
and the transverse lines also variable in the extent of their develop-
ment. This is the ordinary form on the south-east coast of England,

y. var. lithoxylea, Hb. — This must not be confounded with the
lithoxylea of Fab., which is a distinct species. Hiibner's fig. 240 may
be described as follows : — " Anterior wings bright ochreous with a
reddish tinge, a bright red shade between the stigmata, and another
bright red shade along the hind margin ; a series of black dots on the
pale nervures beyond the reniform area. Hind margin of the hind
wings dark ochreous, with a dark transverse shade and lunule."
This is a very distinct form, with the ground colour redder than the
type, and the ordinary dark shades of the type of a distinctly bright
rust-red colour. I have looked over and captured a large number of
this species at Deal, but this form must be considered comparatively
rare there, as I have taken but few of them. I have seen odd
specimens amongst those taken by the Folkestone collectors, but I dare
say a larger number would occur there if specially looked for, as the
species is very abundant. The specimens from Sligo and one specimen
that I have from Portland, are extreme forms of this variety.
Xylophasia, St., rurea, F.

Fabricius' description of the type is follows : — " Noctua cristata,

* These two dots are very unusual in suhlustris, although common in
lithoxylea. I have one specimen of suhlustris with both developed, many with
one, but the greater number of my long series have neither.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 77

alis deflexis, griseo fuscoque variis, posticis f uscis ; margine crassiori
albo." "Caput fulvum, oculis atris. Palpi fusci apice albicantes.
Thorax et abdomen cinerea. Alas anticee griseas basi ad marginem,
crassiorem macula magna fusca, in qua maculae ordinarias. Pone banc
puncta tria parva alba marginis crassioris et aliquot fusca sparsa in
disco. Margo denique et macula ad angulum ani fuscae. Posticae supra
fuscse margine exteriori et postico albidis. Subtus pallidas puncto ar-
cuque f uscis " (' Entomologia Systematica,' p. 618). This is an
exceedingly variable species, and the gradation and different phases of
development as shown in its variation are very interesting. The vari-
ation strikes off in two distinct directions, both resulting in the
production of distinct, almost unicolorous forms. The first group has
the prevailing colours yellowish-ochreous and bright red, the second
group has the prevailing colour brown. The first group appears to
run from the type, with whitish-grey gi'ound colour, to the var. ochrea,
an ochreous yellow form with distinct red markings, through the var.
intermedia, with red ground colour and distinct darker red markings,
to flavo-rufa, an unicolorous form of a yellowish-red ground colour.
The second group commences with the var. putris, of Hiibner, of a
dark ochreous ground colour, with deep red-brown markings, leading
up to the combusta of Haw., a fuscous-brown form, much clouded with
darker, through the alopecurus of Esper, a deep reddish-brown form,
with black costal streaks, and only the reniform marked, culminating
in var. nigro-ruhida, a deep reddish-black form, with no markings. The
type (grey form) is, perhaps, the rarest, except the beautiful var.
argentea, of all the different forms occurring in Britain. I have only
specimens in my cabinet from Mr. Percy Euss of Sligo, and from
Kannoch, although Mr. Tugwell has informed me that it occurs in the
Isle of Man. There is no doubt that this and var. argentea are the
most beautiful of all the rurea varieties, some of the grey specimens of
the type having a peculiar glaucous tinge. This form is the hepatica
of Haworth, and possibly the hepatica of Linnaeus, although the latter
is doubtful. Mr. T. Salvage writes : — " I took two very beautiful sil-
very varieties of this species (rurea) in Kannoch ten years ago, but
have never seen the like before or since " (in litt., '88). Mr. Kenneth
Dingwall sent me a fine white variety of this species captured in
Scotland in 1888. This is described below as var. argentea. We thus
have the following groups : —

I, 1. — argentea — white, with the faintest trace of markings.

2. — rurea — the greyish- white type.

3. — ochrea — yellowish ground colour, with typical markings.

4. — intermedia — reddish ground colour, with typical markings.

5, — flavo-rufa — unicolorous, yellowish-red specimens.
II. 1. — -^M^m, Hb. — pale brownish-grey ground colour, with a dark
brown central band.

2. — combusta, Haw. — dark fuscous brown, with reniform outlined
in white.

3. — alopecurus, Esper — dark reddish-brown, with black costal
streaks, and the reniform with black circumscription.

4. nigro-rubida — a deep, reddish-black, unicolorous form.

Of the varieties of this species from the Hebrides, Mr. J. Jenner
Weir writes : — " A very fine series was taken, showing a number of

78 VARIITIES OF NOCTU^

intermediate varieties between the type and the variety combusta* It
would be impossible to describe the rich chestnut colour of some of
these most beautiful specimens, and in many instances the ground
colour is in strong contrast to the dark markings" (* Entom./ xiv.,
p. 220).

a. var. argentea, Tutt. — This variety is described in the *Entomolo-
gist's Eecord and Journal of Variation,' vol. i., pp. 12-13, as follows : —
" Anterior wings shiny silvery white with faint traces of the typical
costal streaks in pale brownish. The typical darker area on outer
margin very faintly marked in pale, and the typical dark longitudinal
basal marks brownish ; no trace of orbicular, transverse lines, or central
shades ; the renif orm faintly outlined ; hind wings grey, whiter at the
anal angle. This remarkable specimen, of rurea, which appears to
agree with the specimens mentioned in the ' Entom.,' vol. xxii., p. 39,
as captured in Scotland, by Mr. Salvage, was taken by Mr. K. Dingwall,
who kindly gave it to me. Mr. Dingwall writes : — ' The white specimen
of rurea I took in a web in Scotland, at Ballachulish, in the Pass of
Glencoe. When I took it, it was a perfect specimen not rubbed, but
very dry and brittle. I thought I had got something new, as it was in
a shed under cover, and well protected from damp and weather ; so I
pinned it and put it by for identification. When I unpacked at Inver-
ness, the box was loose and the specimen somewhat injured ; however,
I set it, and the result is the specimen I am sending you. I cannot
imagine whether the atmosphere or the turpentine emanating from the
saw-mill where I took it had bleached it, or whether it is a natural
variety. The weather could not have done it, as it was so well pro-
tected ' (in litt.). The specimen is, I should say, without doubt, a
perfectly natural variety, showing a great tendency towards almost
perfect albinism. At present the scales are but little injured, and it is
such a variety as one might expect to find in this species, and its colour
is undoubtedly due to the spread of the white colour found along the
inner margin of the wing in typical specimens, coupled with the sup-
pression of the dark markings. Surely some of our Scotch lepidopterists
will soon tell us something more about such a striking form."

p. var. ochrea, mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings of
a clear yellowish-ochreous, the darker markings found in the type are
all present, but much paler, and of a more distinctly red colour ; a
white dash on the inner margin near the anal angle, another on the
inner margin just under the dark dash at the base of the wing. Thorax
the same colour as the darker markings on the wings. Posterior wings
pale grey, with dusky nervures ; the lunule and base of the pale trans-
verse line faintly discernible. This variety would include most of the
pale forms captured in Britain and probably on the Continent. I have
captured it in many localities in Kent, and have received it from
almost all parts of Britain, including the Orkneys, Hebrides, and the
West Coast of Ireland.

y. var. intermedia, mihi. — The ground colour of a clear reddish-
ochreous, the dark markings of the type being clearly developed in a
darker shade than the ground colour. The stigmata rather indistinct,
owing to the deeper ground colour. The pale transverse line on the
posterior wings is more distinct than in the type. This is a form dis-
* The extreme Hebridean form is var. nigro-ruhida.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 79

tinctly intermediate between var. ochrea, and var. flavorufa. It has
all the distinct markings of ochrea, but the reddish ground colour of
flavorufa. This form occurs with the type, but appears to be rare. I
have seen but few specimens, and am indebted for those I have to
Messrs. Kose and Harrison of Barnsley, and Mr. Boult of Hull. It
is recorded from Derby by Mr. Hill, in the ' Entomologist's Monthly
Magazine/ vol. xxiii., p. 6. This is the var. B of Guenee's * Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 138, but it is uncertain whether it is the La Bigarree, of
Engramelle. Guenee says of his var. B: — *"A11 the markings
reappear, even the ordinary lines which are obliterated in the type.
The ground colour is reddish-brown, mixed with yellow-ochreous and
whitish." In Humphrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' vol. i., p.
159, we find : — " Varieties occur, with the ground colour of the fore
wings bright ochre-red, with the stigmata distinct."

8. var. flavorufa, mihi. — The ground colour of a dull yellowish-
red tint, and so far resembling var. intermedia, but the typical markings
almost entirely obsolete and lost in the ground colour. Both stigmata
very distinct and outlined in yellow ; some short yellow dashes along
the costa (the remaining parts of the obsolete line) ; a yellow patch at
the costal base, and a few yellow scales on the outer part of the other-
wise dusky nervures, are the only markings on the anterior wings of
this otherwise unicolorous variety. My specimens have come from
Kannoch, Barnsley, Glasgow and Kipon.

€. var. putris, Hb. — The putris of Hb., fig. 241, is without doubt a
var. of rurea. It may be described as, " Anterior wings of a pale brown-
ish grey, base paler, with a much waved, transverse, basal line ; a
longitudinal pale orbicular, and a renif orm outlined in pale ; a distinct
transverse black wavy line beyond the reniform. Between this and
the basal line the colour is dark brown, a black line passing through
this darker part between the stigmata, from costa to inner margin. A
row of dots parallel to the hind margin ; extreme hind margin dotted ;
hind wings dark grey, base paler, dark transverse line and dark lunule.'
This description of Hiibner's figure satisfies precisely the description of
some of the beautiful forms brought by Mr. Salvage from the Isle of
Lewis in 1887. From a figure kindly lent me by Mr. Mosley, of
Huddersfield, this would appear to be the var. borealis mentioned
by Mr. Porritt in his ' List of Yorkshire Lepidoj)tera,' p. 73, where he
says : — " Mr. S. L. Mosley says the varieties alopecurus, Esp., and
borealis, also occasionally occur at Huddersfield." With reference to
this var. borealis, Mr. Mosley, in September '88, wrote : — " I only
know the variety borealis, by Mr. Bond having pointed out one in his
cabinet with the remark, * That is var. borealis ! ' I took one like his
specimen here, of which I send you a drawing." This drawing repre-
sented without doubt Hiibner's putris. In Humphrey and Westwood's
* British Moths,' vol i., p. 159, there is a remark about borealis as fol-
lows : — " As Mr. Curtis gives the putris of Hiibner as probably identical
with his Xylina borealis, and as Boisduval gives putris as a variety of
rurea, Mr. Curtis's insect is, probably a variety of this species." Of
this, I think, there is now no doubt. I have only seen British speci-
mens of this var. from Lewis, but Mr. Mosley's figure proves it to occur
at Huddersfield.

|. var. combusta, Haw. — Haworth's description of this variety is as

80 VARIETIES OF NOOTUJS

follows : — " Alis fusco-brunneis obsolete nebulosis, figura 3 vel 5 medio
notatis." " In medio anticarum alarum stigmata ordinaria obsoleta,
albido marginata, anticum ovale antrorsum valde inclinante ; exterius
auriforme margine albo interrupto et inde representat figuram 3 vel 5.
Posticas al93 fuscse ciliis subflavicantibus." This variety is generally-
considered as sj^nonymous with alopecurus, Esper, by Continental
authors ; but Newman, in his ' British Moths,' p. 283, points out the
following phrase in Ha worth's description, " fusco-brunneis et stig-
mata ordinaria albido marginata," which he says is not applicable to
var. alopecurus. I quite agree with this, and hence have separated
them. I have no dark specimen with the stigmata outlined in white,
but I do not doubt but that specimens occur in some cabinets.

r]. var. comhusta of Hiibner (fig. 366) is different to the above. It
has the anterior wings, with an almost typical, reddish-brown costa,
with pale costal streaks and distinct stigmata, outlined in paler, but
with the lower half of the wings unicolorous, dark, reddish-brown.
Hiibner's comhusta seems a combined form of var. intermedia (costal
half of wings), and var. alopecurus (inner marginal half of the wing).
This appears to be the nearest approach to the dark forms generally
obtained in Britain. Guenee refers comhusta, Hb., to alopecurus, Esp.,
an evident error. His description, too, of alopecurus, Esp., * Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 138, is more like Hiibner's comhusta than Esper's
alopecurus. Guenee writes : — " The ground colour of the anterior wings
entirely of a deep, red-brown colour, with some bright marks on the
costa, and the outside of the reniform surrounded by yellow. Fringe of
the four wings equally brown, with some yellow streaks on the superiors,
and a reddish line in the inferiors. Females still darker."

6. var. alopecurus, Esp. — From the alopecurus of Esper, plate cxlvii.,
fig. 3,1 made the following description : — '' The anterior wings of a dark
reddish brown, with five strong, black costal streaks, no orbicular,
large reniform of the ground colour, with black centre and black cir-
cumscription, three white dots on costa near apex, three parallel to
hind margin near apex, three tiny white dots at anal angle, nervures
black. Hind wings dark grey, with blackish nervures and lunule."
Very few British specimens, I believe, will answer to this description
of alopecurus. Guenee says of alopecurus, Esp. : — " the exterior out-
line of the reniform yellowish." This is evidently incorrect of Esper's
figure. Newman says : — '- uniform red-brown, the reniform spot
being indicated by a pale line, and a few other darker and paler dots
scattered over the wing " (' British Moths,' p. 283). Dr. Staudinger in
his * Catalog ' says of this variety : — " al. ant. unicolor, brunneis."

i. var. nigro-ruhida, mihi. — The most extreme melanic form of the
species, of a most intensely blackish-red or blackish-brown colour ; no
pale streaks on the costa, and perfectly unicolorous, with the excep-
tion of a faint trace of the outline of the orbicular and the outer edge
of the reniform. Hind wings dark grey, nervures more dusky.
Thorax of the same dark colour as the anterior wings. The type of
this variety was captured in Lewis in 1887. I have only seen speci-
mens of this variety from the Hebrides.

Xylophasia, St., hepatica, L."
The type of this species is described by Linnaeus, *Systema

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 81

Katur89,' p. 853, No. 169, as : — " Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alls glau-
cescentibus ; fascia ferruginea abbreviata terminalique plicata." " Dor-
sum pluribus exasperatum. Alarum color hepaticus : fascia ferruginea
vix latus interius appropinquante." Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol.
v., p. IM, says : — ^' Linnaeus has badly described it as ' wings glaucous ; '
and Clerck has figured it with bluish wings, which made Hiibner be-
lieve that it was tincta." Hiibner figures Aplecta iwda under the name
hepatica. I am inclined to think that Guenee, who was undoubtedly
not well up in the varieties of this group, did Linnseus an injustice.
My own impression is, that the Linnasan type was a glaucous one, and
that our forms are different to the Linnfean type. There is a constant
glaucous variety of rurea (closely allied to the type). I have a glaucous
variety of scolopacina. Why should there not be a glaucous form of
hepatica ? It must be noticed that in the ' Lepidoptera Britannica,'
p. 169, Haworth copies the Linnaean description of hepatica, which he
applies afterwards apparently to rurea. It must be confessed there is
considerable doubt about the types of this species and rurea. The
British specimens appear to be of two distinct forms, one clear dull
brown, with typical markings, as in Newman's ' British Moths,' p.
285, but with no transverse markings, var. epomidion, Haw., the other
of a redder colour, and much marbled with transverse ochreous
markings. This latter marbled form is the characterea of Hiibner.

a. var. characterea, Hb. — Hiibner's fig. 133 may be described as
having the anterior wings brown, with a reddish tinge, with the or-
dinary dark markings, but a number of transverse lines, ochreous
outlined with black, gives the variety a very mottled appearance.
The darker ground colour shows up very distinctly between the pale
line near the hind margin, and the pale line just beyond the reniform.
I believe this variety occurs in most British localities. I have taken
it in various localities in Kent, and have received it from the neighbour-
hood of Barnsley (Yorkshire), the New Forest, &c.

j8. var. epomidion. Haw. — This is the ordinary form which we get,
" brown, without the ochreous transverse markings which occur in
characterea.^' Haworth, in his ' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 170, thus
describes it : — " Alis griseo fuscoque variis strigis tribus pallidioribus
obsoletis dentatis." " Lineola basi anticarum alarum saspe geminata ;
striga antica undulata (subinde oranino obliterata), altera pone medium
denticulata extus arcuata, et subinde quasi geminata ; tertiaque juxta
marginem posticum alte et irregulariter dentata, et nebulis fuscis
adnata. Margo ipse posticus fusco punctatus. Alae posticae ut in
praecedentibus {rurea).''

Xylophasia, St., scolopacina, Esp.

The type is represented by Esper's fig. 1, plate 130. The figure
is bad, but certainly recognisable as this species. The following is the
description 1 made of it : — " Anterior wings dark ochreous, with a de-
cided brown tinge, a dark dash at the base of the inner margin. A
dark red basal streak, paler (ochreous) orbicular, and reniform dark-
centred ; a dark line from costa to inner margin between stigmata ; a
reddish lunule on the inner edge of the reniform ; a number of dark longi-
tudinal streaks outside the reniform, and a pale wavy line parallel to the
Jiind paargin. Hind wings brownish, with a reddish tinge, upper mar-

f2

82 VARIETIES 01* NOCTU^

gin dark reddish." Hubner figures (460) scolopacma, a small male,
with ground colour pale ochreous, the middle of the wing (between
the stigmata) and the outer margin reddish, orbicular indistinct, reni-
form white, with a small white spot beyond the reniform. Guenee
says of scolopacma : — " It varies much in size and intensity of colour,
but the lines are always more distinct than in any other Xylophasta "
(* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 145). Of Freyer's, Plate Ixiv., fig. 1 — scolo-
pacma, I made the following notes : — " Yellow ochreous with a reddish
tint, a dark red lineola at base of inner margin, orbicular outlined in
blackish, reniform red outlined in whitish ; four dark costal streaks
above stigmata, a double basal line, a waved line outside reniform,
forming almost linear dots on nervures, dark reddish line parallel to
hind margin." It will be thus seen that Esper's type and Hiibner's
figure are much darker than the generality of specimens taken in
Britain, while Freyer's is very much like them. I have a specimen
captured by Mr. Harrison, near Barnsley, slightly glaucous, but other-
wise dark like the type. All my others are much paler. The dark
type is also described in Humphrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,'
vol. i., p. 160, but the pale form is figured in the same work, Plate
xxxii., fig. 8. The paler form is described by Haworth as follows : —

a. var. abbreviata, Haw. — " Alae ex hepatico-lutescentes, vel subinde
saturatiores varie nebulos^e ; basi ad latus interius lineola nigra, fascia
subfusca in medio costae valde abbreviata ; pone stigmata ordinaria ob-
soleta, striga tenuis nigra, regulariter et concinnb dentata : tunc striga
altera crassior fusco-brunnea juxta marginem posticum, parum undu-
lata ; margine ipso ustulato, punctis circiter quinque pallidis ; ciliis
itidem ustulatis " {' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 170). As these pale
specimens vary a little inter se, I think Haworth's name should include
all our paler ochreous forms.

? fS. var. nux, Frey. — Guenee, in his * Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 145,
gives this as a probable variety of scolopacma. He says of it : — " I have
not seen it, and I do not know whether it constitutes a distinct species,
which is very possible. After the figure of Freyer, it is of a larger
size, the crest and the thorax are of a deeper brown, and other less
important characters." My own note on this is : — " Freyer, Plate
ccclxx., fig. 3. Like scolopacma, but as large as rwrea." The figure
is very poorly done, and I should not be at all surprised if it really
referred to -X. hepatica.

Dipterygia, St., scahriuscula, L.

The type of this species is the scahriuscula of the ' Systema Naturae,'
10th edition, p. 516, No. 108, where it is described as follows : —
" Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alis deflexis fuscis : margine dorsali pos-
ticoque pallidis." " Cristae in dorso ipsius abdominis 4 pone thoracem
gibbum." The same author, in the 12th edition of the same work, appears
to describe the same species under the name of pinastri, but in the
description of pinastri he uses the word " nigris " instead of " fuscis,"
otherwise the descriptions are identical. There is a difference in the
ground colour, some being much better described by the term "fuscous "
than " black." It is described by Haworth (p. 172) under the same name
pinastri, as : — " Alis nigris, macula striata cinerea aquillse alam simulante
ad angulum ani." " Oristata, niger vel ater, an tennis subferrugineis,

IK THfc BRITISH ISLAifDS. 83

thoracis dorso abdomineque cinereis. Alee superiores posticb undu-
latim et striatim plus minus cinereae. Margo tenuior etiam cinerascit.
Posticae alae fuscae, ciliis cinereis." Hiibner also figures (246) pinastri
with normal anterior but bluish posterior wings. This latter is, with-
out doubt due to overcolouring. Newman, in his * British Moths,' p.
287, says : — " This is one of those moths which are constant in the
arrangement and tint of their colours. I am unable to select from
among the numerous specimens which have reached my hands, a single
individual to which I can possibly allude as a variety." I
have seen no good varieties ; but some specimens have the dark
portions of the anterior . wings much more intense than others.
Possibly the greatest amount of variation exists in the quantity
of pale longitudinal markings near the hind margin, some
having a large number of short longitudinal streaks, especially
near the apex, others being almost without them ; while some have the
pale marking (from which it gets its English name " the bird's wing ")
near the anal angle, and its continuation along the inner margin of a
much clearer grey than others ; in fact, I have some where this mark-
ing is almost absent, and others where it is quite whitish grey with
scarcely any darker shading. I have one specimen much below the
average size. Guenee in his * Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 146, writes : —
" Superior wings brown-black, with the inner margin and a large
bilobed spot at the anal angle, of a testaceous grey marked with brown

a. var. pinastri f L. — The Linnaean description * Sy sterna Naturas,'
12th edition, p. 851, No. 160, is as follows : — " Noctua spirilinguis cris-
tata, alls deflexis nigris : margine dorsali posticoque pallidis." " Cristas
in dorso ipsius abdominis 4 pone thoracem gibbum ; characteres in
alis atri." That is to say the ground colour is black instead of
uscous.

Apamea, Och.

The interesting genus Apamea brings directly to our notice the very
great difficulty of dealing with the varieties of some of our species of
NocTU-«!, for in this genus we have some of those protean species,
where the ground colour varies through several shades, and where the
markings are so excessively variable, and yet recurring with such fre-
quency in the same forms in different species, that it is not surprising,
that our early lepidopterists considered they had many distinct species.
Taking the species, basilinea and pabulatricula, we have two of the
most constant species in the genus, so far as markings are concerned,
basilinea being ordinarily characterised by no specially developed
markings, except the ordinary waved transverse lines, while
pabulatricula is characterised by a strongly- developed black longi-
tudinal mark directly under the stigmata developing insensibly
into a central band. Basilinea^ however, varies in colour somewhat
according to geographical range. The two forms of markings — typically
represented by these species — give a basis on which the development of
the variation in the other species appears to proceed, viz., (1) an uni-
colorous form with transverse lines, and (2) a more variegated form
with a dark longitudinal streak under the stigmata. The species of
this genus may be looked upon as having the anterior wings divided

84: VARIETIES OF NOCTUiB

into three parts, — the basal area, the median area, and the outer area.
The first and last of these have transverse lines crossing them, the
second contains the stigmata, and under this, in some species, is a very
dark longitudinal HH-shaped mark (a modification of the claviform).
These may be looked upon as the great characters of the variable mem-
bers of the genus, the variation consisting principally of the develop-
ment (in some cases to a very high degree) or non-development of this
particular mark. Thus, in the variable species gemina, we find all the
different phases of variation to consist of two types : one, in which the
transverse lines are developed, and the species has a particularly reticu-
lated appearance ; the other, in which the nn-shaped mark is highly
developed, the transverse lines more or less suppressed, and the median
space more or less intensified in its upper half in colour. But just as
hasilinea and pahulatricula exhibit single forms of a different type, and
gemina, on the other hand, exhibits these types blended into one with
intermediate forms, so we have in unanimis an almost purely dimorphic
species, where one form is reticulated and the other with the nn-shaped
mark, and yet there is no extreme development of either form, as in
gemina. We now come to another constant member of the group, —
ophiogramma, — with its characteristic dark costal mark, and of this
species I have never noticed a variety. Lastly comes didyma (ociilea),
one of the most protean species in the whole of the Noctu^, and it is
almost impossible in this species either to classify or tabulate the
numerous forms, for not only have we every possible variety that can
be compounded of the hasilinea- and pabalatricula-ii^Q forms, but these
are combined with ophiogramma-Vi^Q forms with a result that defies
classification : we have in grey, ochreous, and red colour the trans-
verse lined or reticulated form ; we have in each colour the nn-marked
form ; we have in each colour an op^ifoj/ramma-marked form (dark
costa), blended with the other forms of variation into every possible
intermediate form ; and, lastly, we have the unicolorous leucostigma*-
like forms in grey, red and black.

Apamea, Och., hasilinea, Fab,

This species is very constant in its markings for a member of
such a variable genus, but the ground colour varies from a pale
whitish ochreous, with transverse lines and stigmata still paler, to a
deep, almost unicolorous, reddish brown form, some specimens being
of the pale or a darker ground colour, with the median area reddish,
the other parts of the wing being also suffused. This intermediate
form would appear to be the type from the description of Fabricius,
which is as follows : — " Noctua cristata alis deflexis fuscis griseis
undatis, lineola baseos atra, thoracis crista bifida." " Color variat
ferrugineis griseisque, distincta lineola parva flexuosa atra baseos.
AntenuEe albidsB " ( * Mantissa,' &c., p. 183, No. 305). Guenee
(* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 206) mentions an allied species under the
name of finitima, which Mr. Dobre'e assures me is only a climatic
variety of hasilinea. It would appear that this species is subject to a
good deal of colour variation, according to its geographical range, as
the Huddersfield and Hartlepool specimens are generally somewhat
different in ground colour to the South of England forms.
* Kef erred in these papers to the genus Helotropha., Ld.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. B§

a. var. pallida, mihi. — Ground colour of the anterior wings pale
ochreous grey, not " fuscous," with still paler transverse lines, and no
ferruginous or reddish clouds, otherwise like the type. The palest
form I have seen of this species came from Mr. Russ, and was
captured at Sligo.

p. var. unicolor, mihi. — The ground colour of a dark reddish
brown, with a slight purplish tint ; the orbicular scarcely traceable ;
the reniform indistinct, but outlined in a slightly paler hue than the
ground colour ; the subterminal line just traceable. Hind wings very
dark grey, nervures dusky, lunule indistinct. Captured in Westcombe
Park, June, 1886. Mr. Porritt writes : — " Eeddish brown forms occur
not uncommonly at Huddersfield, quite different to the southern clay-
coloured specimens " (in litt.) ; and again he writes (' Transactions of
■Yorkshire Naturalists' Union,' Part vi., p. 76), " I have taken some
very beautiful strongly-coloured specimens at Huddersfield ; " so that
what would appear to be a very unusual form in the London district
may be closely allied to the ordinary one at Huddersfield.

y. var. nehulosa, Yieweg. — Vieweg, in his * Tabellarisches
Verzeichniss,' &c., pi. i., fig. 6, figures a variety under this name. It
has " The anterior wings pale ochreous grey, with the costal area
reddish, the red colour extending half-way across the wing from the
base to the reniform, and then going off to a point at the costa ; the
characteristic basal streak of basilinea is present, and there is a double
black basal line ; claviform and reniform outlined in black, but
orbicular indistinct ; lower half of reniform dark. Hind wings dark
grey, with paler base and darker nervures." Vieweg's diagnosis, p.
65, No. 84, is : — " Cristata, alis deflexis cano fuscoque variis, litura
baseos Iharginisque tenuioris nigris." In his further description in
German we find : — " The lower part of the outer reniform filled up
with blackish shading. Besides the black streak on the fold, there
stands close to the inner margin, about the middle of the wing, a
small narrow spot of the same colour, which forms a chief mark by
which this moth may be recognised."

8. var. cinerascens, mihi. — Anterior wings of a dull ashy grey,
with no trace of the ferruginous markings of the type ; the subter-
minal line of a paler shade of the ground colour ; the double basal
lines and stigmata of the ground colour, outlined in brown; the
reniform internally edged with paler. Hind wings of the same dull
colour as the anterior. I have seen no specimens like these, except
from Hartlepool. Mr. Robson sent me six specimens, of which three
were typical, and three of this dull, almost unicolorous, form.
Probably this variety is widely distributed in the most northern parts
of Britain.

e. finitima, Gn. — Guenee (as mentioned above) considers this
a distinct species, and writes : — " This replaces, in the United States,
our hasilinea, which it closely resembles. It is of the same size ; the
ground colour of the superior wings less reddish, and more white; the
median space is, on the contrary, more strongly marked with reddish
brown, especially on the upper part ; the median lines are more
strongly marked in black, as well as the claviform, which is very
distinct." Mr. Dobree to whom I am greatly indebted for information,
writes :— " The Hadena finitima of North America is only a climatic

86 Varieties op NOCTUiifi

variety of basilinea. The chief differences are that the general colour
is of a pronounced vinous tinge ; in some the space between the
median lines is darker, so as to make a distinct band across the wing,
which includes the stigmata ; in others, the dusky line, from the
stigmata to the inner margin, is more pronounced than in the
generality of English specimens. In support of my belief, I have
collected numerous specimens from English localities, and in some
few of them, especially from Yorkshire and Newcastle, both the vinous
tinge, as well as the distinct band of the North American insect, are
quite perceptible " (in litt.). Grote {' Check List of N. American Noc-
tuidas,* 1890) considers it distinct.

Apamea, Och., pabulatricula, Brahm (connexa, Bork.).

The type of this species is described by Brahm, * Insektenkalender
fur Sammler und (Ekonomen,' as : — " Grey Noctuay with orange-
coloured crests." " Head and palpi grey ; antennae ash-coloured ;
eyes black-brown ; crest grey, and has in front a faint brown trans-
verse line, on each side a black brown streak, in the middle an erect
orange- coloured crest; body grey, with a few ash-coloured ridges
(comb-shaped) on the back. Fore wings grey, with a short brownish
black line at the base of the wing. The orbicular and renif orm stand in
a light brown ground ; before the stigmata is an undulating transverse line
and beyond them another, which come so near together that they almost
join and form the apex of an almost right-angled triangle, but instead
of really joining they separate suddenly and turn back arch-like ; the
space to the inner margin filled out with blackish brown, crossed by a
pale grey longitudinal line,* which also passes through both trans-
verse lines ; on the inner margin stand a few pale brownish tooth-
shaped markings turned towards the inside, and close to the edge a row
of blackish brown triangular spots. Hind wings ashy grey." This
description agrees almost precisely with the specimens captured in
Yorkshire, and sent out by Messrs. Harrison and Young in consider-
able numbers ; but Mr. Young writes : — " In fresh specimens the crest
is rosy. The hind wings, too, are dark smoke colour, nearly black,
but both the rosy crest and dark hind wings soon fade " (m litt.).
There appears to be no variation worth speaking of ; occasionally the
shading on the costa is stronger, and hence makes the central area
(enclosing the orbicular) more band-like ; the length of the black
HH - mark varies, and thus causes a difference in the width of this cen-
tral band in its lower part ; the pale line (really on the nervure),
mentioned above as crossing the lower part of the band, is often
indistinct ; and the row of black triangular spots (really the teeth of
the wavy subterminal line) is very poorly developed in British
specimens. Hiibner figures this species under the name of elota, with
the central band and base of wings ochreous. Our specimens possess
the slightest possible ochreous tinge in the centre of the banded area, but
1 have never seen any real characteristic development in this direction.
a. var. elota, Hb. — Hiibner, as mentioned above, figures in his
' Schmetterlinge,' &c., a form of this species with the markings much
as in the figure of Newman's * British Moths,' but with the central and
basal areas of the anterior wings ochreous, and the costal and outer
margins white.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 87

Apamea, Och., ophiogramma, Esp.

The type of this species is represented by Esper's plate 182, fig.
2, * Die Schmetterlinge,' &c., and may be described as having " The
anterior wings yellowish ochreous, with a large dark red, somewhat
triangular-shaped, costal patch, enclosing the yellowish reniform, and
then extending narrowly along the costa to the base ; the orbicular
obsolete ; below this and forming an outline to its lower edge is a yel-
lowish, followed by a slaty line extending from centre of base to anal
angle ; below this line the colour is yellow ochreous, as is also the outer
margin to apex ; several dark marks on outer margin. Hind wings
grey, with greenish tinge." Hiibner's figure 355 is " a pale grey-
brown ground colour, with a large black costal patch extending from
the base, so as to include the dark stigmata ; this patch is outlined in
whitish ; a pale line parallel to hind margin, a dark patch in the
middle of the hind margin, and dark forked ( > ) mark at the anal
angle. Hind wings dark grey, with lunule," Haworth describes the
species under the name of biloba (* Insecta Britannica,' p. 209). His
description is : — " Alis griseis fascia abbreviata marginis crassioris sub-
dolabriformi nigra, in qua stigma reniforme griseum."

Apamea, Och., gemina, Hb.

The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 482, of
which I made the following description : — " Anterior wings blackish
grey, with a pale basal line ; stigmata faintly outlined ;^and followed
by a pale transverse line, a row of white dots, and a pale toothed line.
Posterior wings dark grey, with paler base and dark lunule." Dr.
Staudinger writes of the type : — " forma obscura magis." This par-
ticular form is the one represented in Newman's * British Moths,' fig.
2, p. 304:. It will be seen that very few of our British specimens
would answer to the above description, which represents quite a melanic
form of the more mottled type. Our specimens of this latter form are
generally brownish grey or brown, although I have specimens, taken
by the Aberdeen collectors, and others taken by Mr. Percy Russ of
Sligo and Mr. Newman of Darlington, which are either altogether
greyish black or otherwise very dark, and closely resemble the type.
The species is variable within certain limits, and extends from the
more unicolorous type in blackish grey and brownish, through speci-
mens of the same coloration, but with a distinct line under the stigmata,
to an extreme variety with all the median space and costal area very
dark, and the outer and inner margins pale grey, and bearing a strong
superficial resemblance to Hadena genistas in some specimens. The
first (mottled) form follows the group,* of which I consider hasilinea
the type, having the short longitudinal basal line and paler transverse
lines ; the latter (dark central area) forms an extreme development,
which I consider typical* in pahulatricula, having the development of
the dark >^ -like mark under the stigmata, and the central area banded,
although there is a complete gradation of intermediate forms. There
would thus appear to be two varieties in the unicolorous form, — (1)
grey, inclining to blackish, with no brown or very little brown ; (2)
grey, much suffused with brown, and sometimes entirely reddish
brown. In both of these, differences in intensity of colour, and in the

* Vide introductory notes to genus Ajpamea,

88 VARIETIES OF NOCTUJE

development of the transverse lines, occur. The form most closely
allied to these is that in which the dark i-h -like mark* is developed
under the stigmata (var. intermedia), and as the space above is generally-
shaded it gives the specimens a rather banded appearance, as in New-
man's ^ British Moths,' p. 304, fig. 1, although generally more strongly
marked. Of this variety there are two shades of colour, grey and
reddish brown. Var. intermedia is distinctly intermediate between the
type and the next var. (remissa, Hb.), where the black ^^ -like mark is ex-
tended into a large blackish or brownish patch, extending upwards to
the costa between the reniform and orbicular, and connected with
another dark patch developed between the two short, longitudinal
basal streaks, and with the space outside the subterminal line of the
same dark shade, especially in its central area and at the anal angle ;
the inner margin of the wing very clear, and almost immaculate. This
extreme form is apparently the remissa of Hiibner and of Treitschke.
Of this variety Staudinger writes, " dilutior, variegata." Var. remissa,
Tr., and var. intermedia appear to be united by Guenee to form his
var. A, " L2 BrouilUe " of Engramelle (' Noctuelles, vol. v., p. 208), of
the general variation of which Guenee writes : — " It is possible that
this may be distinct from gemina'' " This Apamea differs from didyma
by its generally darker colour, its anterior wings generally a little
narrower, and above all by the black streak which unites the two
transverse lines below the submedian nervure, leaving between this
line and the inner margin a space generally paler than the ground
colour. Certain subvarieties have all the subterminal space equally
clear, and thus somewhat resemble Hadena genistce. These are known
in collections as suhmissa.^^ This latter is a very rare development, and
appears to be the remissa of Hiibner, a slightly more extreme develop-
ment of the remissa of Treitschke. The only very extreme specimen
I have, in a very long series, came from Mr. Finlay, of Morpeth.
The remissa of Ha worth (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 189, No. 79)
is apparently the same as remissa, Tr., to which many of our British
specimens are referable, while the var. /? of his remissa appears to refer
to Hiibner's rather more extreme form. The ohlonga of Haworth is
simply a slight modification of var. intermedia, being a grey form with
the costal area, containing the grey stigmata, brownish, the hh -mark
developed, the subterminal line whitish ; the dark fuscous type
Haworth calls obscura. Mr. Porritt writes, concerning the general
variation of this species: — " The pale variegated variety, as well as the
dark forms, occur at Huddersfield " (in litt.) ; and Mr. Gregson, ' Ento-
mologist,' vol. iv., p. 52, writes : — " This does not vary so much here
(Liverpool) as in the South (of England). My best varieties of it were
given to me by Mr. Doubleday. One is a very genistce-like specimen."
Mr. W. Reid of Pitcaple (Aberdeen), writing of the Scotch speci-
mens, says : — " The type, together with var. rufescens and var.
intermedia (both -grisea and -rufa), are all to be obtained in more or
less abundance in this district. I once captured a very fine var.
remissa, which agreed well with Guenee's description. It had a very
light ground colour, with distinct, dark — almost black — markings. It
bore a very strong superficial resemblance to K. genistce" ( in litt.).
Tabulating the principal varieties we get : —
* Vide introductory notes to genus Apamea.

IN THE BRITISH ISLA.NDS. 89

' 1. — A dark greyish blaek mottled form, without the i-n-like mark
= gemina, Hb.

2. — A reddish or brownish grey mottled form, without the HH-like
mark = var. rufescens.

3. — A grey form, with an nn-like mark under stigmata = var.
tntermedia-grisea.

4. — A reddish or brownish grey form, with an nn-like mark
under stigmata =^ var, intermedia-rufa.

5. — A grey form, with dark blotch between stigmata from i-n-like
mark to costa, dark outer margin = var. remissa, Hb.

a. var. rufescens, mihi. — Ground colour reddish or brownish grey,
with the transverse lines as in the darker type. As in the type, there
is no special development of the claviform, or of the darker central
area, which becomes so noticeable in the following varieties. Many of
the specimens belonging to the mottled form, taken in the South of
England, have a more or less reddish or brownish ground colour. I
believe this variety occurs in most localities in all parts of the British
Islands where var. intermedia and var. remissa occur.

/?. var. intermedia, mihi. —Under the head of intermedia we get two
subvarieties ; one grey in colour, the other reddish brown. These I
have called : — (1) intermedia-grisea. — Ground colour grey or greyish
brown, with the claviform developed into an ni-like mark, which
joins the median transverse lines, the space between the stigmata being
darker than the ground colour, and thus having a somewhat banded
appearance. (2) intermedia-rufa. — This is like intermedia-grisea, but
has the ground-colour brownish or reddish grey, with the same
characteristic markings as in that variety. This would appear to be
the " La BrouilUe " of Engramelle. Guenee writes of it : — " It is dis-
tinguished above all by a black mark, which unites the two median
transverse lines above the submedian nervure, leaving between it and
the internal border (i.e., below the nn-like mark) a space generally
paler than the ground colour" (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 208). These
varieties appear to occur in almost all parts of the British Isles. I have
them from Sligo, from Aberdeen, and many other Scotch and English
localities.

y. var. ohlonga. Haw. — Haworth describes a variety of gemina
under the name of ohlonga, treating it as a distinct species. He
writes : — " Alls cinereis nebulosis, costa maculaquee oblonga fuscis,
strigaque alba postica undulatissima." "Alas anticae longitudinaliter
semifuscse, in qua parte puncta costalia, apex, et stigmata ordinaria,
cinerascentia. Altera pars alae etiam cinerascit, macula majuscula
postica cuneiformi fusca, et alia in medio oblonga marginem tenuiorem
versus. Alae posticas albicantes, fimbria fusca ; caetera ut in variis
sequentibus (remissa) " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' pp. 188, 189). This
is very little different to some forms of intermpdia, but seems to have
a darker costal area, in which are situated the paler stigmata.

S. var. remissa, Hb. — About the synonomy of this variety there
seems to have been some doubt, although Hiibne]-, Haworth, and
Treitschke appear to have described rather more or less extreme forms
of the same variety under the same name. Dr. Staudinger, however,
calls the variety remissa, Tr. (why Treitschke I do not know, except that
Hiibner's rather more extreme form is more rarely obtained), and says

90 Varieties op noctu^

of it, " dilutior, variegata." Hiibner's figure 423 may be described as
having " a pale basal patch, with two short black basal streaks, while
the transverse basal line is followed by a large blackish patch extend-
ing from the costa, not quite to the inner margin, in which is placed
the pale orbicular and the inner half of the pale reniform ; the inner
margin and space beyond the reniform are pale, with a paler line
parallel to the hind margin. Hind wings grey, with base paler."
Haworth's remissa is described much in the same way. He writes : —
" Alis pallide fuscescentibus nebulosis, lineolis duabus basi, arcuque
medio, crassissimo nigricantibus." " Prsecedenti (oblonga) affinis costa
pallidiore strigaque postica minus dentata, et fere evanescente ; macula
oblonga nigra superne alth fusco adnata et inde stigmata subcinerea
arcuatim includente. Posticas alae fuscescentes." He also adds that
there is a form of this variety, " characteribus pallidioribus, at magis
distinctis " {' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 189, No. 79). Guenee writes
of Hiibner's remissa : — " Superior wings a little more rounded, having
the subterminal space, the two ordinary stigmata, a part of the basal
space, the inner margin, and an apical patch of a pale greyish ochreous
colour, which contrasts very strongly with the almost black colour of
the median space." Guenee only gives " North America " as a locality
for this variety, but adds directly after : — " I have not seen an example
agreeing exactly with Hiibner's figure ; our European specimens agree
more or less with the var. A (i.e., var. intermedia), of which this variety
is only an extreme form. It is, therefore, very possible that it occurs
with us, and very probably the specimen which served as Hiibner's
type was not exotic " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 208). This variety in
its extreme form is not common in Britain, but at the same time it is
not very rare, and I should most certainly consider Hiibner's type an
European one. The greater number of our specimens are referable
either to the type, var. rufescens or var. intermedia.

Apamea, Och., unanimis, Hb.

This is an almost constant dimorphic species, one of the forms
resembling somewhat the reddish variety, rufescens, of gemina, the other
having the same ground colour, but having the peculiar claviform
H^ -like development seen in the var. intermedia of gemina ; but the
smaller size of this species, the well-developed, white-outlined reniform,
narrower wings, and other minor characters serve at once to distin-
guish it ; the dark transverse shade from the costa to the inner
margin, extending between the stigmata, and so noticeable in some
other genera, is very distinct in some specimens. Why Newman wrote
that this species was larger than gemina (' British Moths,' p. 305), I
cannot understand, as his description would not lead one to suppose
that he was in doubt about the species. I have one very dark specimen
labelled " Shoeburyness," and two others from Cambridge, with the
central area inclining to a banded character (as in pabulatricula). There
is a certain amount of sexual variation, the females being, as a rule,
somewhat smaller and darker than the males. Guende says of this
species : — " It varies rarely, and is, in this respect, very different to its
congeners " ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 209). Hiibner's figure 556 (which
is a very poor one) represents the type, and is of a dull brownish colour
with typical transverse markings. The figure represents a small

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 91

female. It has " the anterior wings dull brown, with an abbreviated,
followed by a complete basal line ; the orbicular small and faintly out-
lined ; reniform outlined in white ; a pale angulated line directly
beyond reniform ; another pale line parallel to hind margin ; extreme
hind margin slaty grey. Hind wings dark grey, base paler, lunule
darker." Freyer, in his ' Neuere Beitraege,' &c., vol. iv., pi. 371,
figures both sexes of this species. His fig. 1 represents a " male, of a
pale greyish brown ground colour, quite grey at base, with a short
dark basal streak under the base of the median nervure, a fine double
black basal transverse line, followed by a distinct orbicular and large
reniform, both outlined in pale ; the claviform is distinct and dark
brown ; a double line runs from base of reniform to inner margin ; a
transverse row of small white dots, followed by a wavy line near hind
margin ; median area mottled with brown, outer area very dark grey.
Hind wings pale grey, with a distinct lunule and darker hind margin."
His fig. 2 is a female, " marked like fig. 1, but a little darker in ground
colour. Hind wings darker grey." Haworth's secalina, var. fi (' Le-
pidoptera Britannica,* p. 210) would appear to be the darker form of
this species, his a representing the type, his /3 representing the form
with the HH -like mark under the stigmata. We have, therefore, only
to deal with two forms : — 1. Without an hh -like mark and without a
partially-developed central band, = unanimis. 2. With an hh -like
mark and darker central area, r= var. secalina, Haw.

a var. secalina, Haw. — Ground colour of anterior wings dark
umber-brown, with the transverse lines as in the type. The claviform
developed into an hh -like mark, which reaches from the transverse
line, before almost, or quite to that beyond, the stigmata ; the central
area between these transverse lines, and above and below this dark
mark, darker than the ground colour, forming an incomplete band
from the costa to the inner margin. Hind wings grey-brown (as in
type), with a distinct discoidal spot. The description of Haworth's
secalina, var. p, is as follows : — " Alis anticis lineola longa nigra in
medio fasciae ut in sequente, stigmate antico oblongo magis antrorsum
inclinante ; posticis f uscis, ciliis ruf o-cinereis " (* Lepidoptera Britan-
nica ' pp. 210, 211).

Apamea, Och., didyma, Esp.

We now arrive at probably the most protean lepidopteron (with
the exception perhaps of Agrotis trilici) found in Britain, Apamea
didyma, Esp. There exists in different specimens every intermediate
shade of ground colour, from pale whitish grey to intense black ; but
probably the different shades of ground colour may be roughly grouped
into grey, reddish brown, and black. The grey colour, however, is
mixed in many specimens with a very pale yellow-ochreous tint, and
this is especially noticeable in some of those specimens which form (1)
the dark costa group and (2) the banded group, where the outer area
and inner margin are conspicuously paler than the rest of the wing,
in each of the two first of these ground colours (grey and red) we find
taree very distinct varieties (in their extreme forms), and one less dis-
tinct one, but yet sufficiently so to be separately mentioned. This
latter is an unicolorous form with the reniform faintly developed,
but with the transverse lines obsolete, and the whole wing area,

92 VARIETIES OF NOCTURE

otherwise, almost unicolorous, except the longitudinal wing-rays
which are somewhat darker than the ground colour ; the reniform of
this form may be outlined either in ochreous or white. Next to this
we get the most common form, viz., the area of the wing almost uni-
colorous, but with the ordinary transverse markings of the group (the
hasilinea-VikQ forms), with the reniform more or less clearly marked
in ochreous or white, and with the orbicular sometimes developed and
sometimes not developed into an •— i-like mark. The next group is the
banded one, generally with the cH-like mark, but occasionally without,
with the transverse lines before and beyond the stigmata well de-
veloped, and the contained median area somewhat darker than the rest
of the wing ; the reniform, again, either ochreous or whitish. We
have now come to the most extreme form, viz., the dark costal area
form, where the ground colour stands out conspicuously pale, leaving
a large dark costal blotch extending from just before the apex to the
base of the wing and enclosing the stigmata, while the pale ground
colour covers the whole of the outer and inner margins of the wing ;
the reniform may be ochreous or whitish, but the ►-i-like mark is un-
developed ; a dark costal specimen with the •— i -like mark developed
would, almost of necessity, pass into the banded form. As I have
previously remarked, the dark costal groujD shows up the ground colour
most distinctly, and the grey form has some specimens quite whitish
grey, others dull grey, others inclined to yellowish grey. So among
those with a red ground colour, some are quite ferruginous red, others
reddish brown, while others have a decidedly j^urplish tinge. We
now reach the " black " group. I have a specimen with no transverse
lines, agreeing thus with the " unicolorous " group of the previous
sections. Generally, however, the black specimens have the ordinary
transverse lines, characteristic of the " reticulated " form ; these lines
are generally tinted with ochreous ; the reniform may be either white
or yellowish, and occasionally a specimen is obtained with the »--i -like
mark developed distinctly in intense black. A peculiar develoj^ment
of the subterminal line takes place in many of these black specimens,
viz., its being broken up into ochreous dots, and recalling the same
character in Mamestra persicarice. I have also in my series (some 200
picked specimens) one grey specimen presenting this same peculiar
characteristic, but I never saw a specimen with red ground colour ex-
hibiting it, although it is very probable such exist. It is, of course,
impossible to expect any development of the "dark costal" or "banded"
varieties in the " black " group. The ground colour obscures any
tendency in this direction, although in " black " specimens there is a
good deal of difference in the intensity of the black ground colour. I
have, therefore, in dealing with these varieties, proceeded on distinct
lines, which I think will commend themselves, and enable those with-
out any previous knowledge to follow out the lines of classification
laid down. Thus there is : —

1. — The unicolorous form, with no transverse markings.

2. — The reticulated form, with transverse markings.

3. — The banded form, with darker central area.

4. — 'I'he dark costal form, with a dark costal mark.
Intermediates of almost every grade occur, and I have one peculiar red-
dish specimen, the left side with an •-•-like mark, and well-developed

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 9S

band, and the riglit side without the <— • -like mark, but with an equally
well-developed band.

To make the system of subdivision more intelligible, I have drawn
out the following table : —

A. — Ground colour : — Whitish grey, grey, or yellowish grey.
I. — Unicolorous form.

1. Without f a. With whitish reniform = grt'sea-albo. ) = v. mode-
•-H-like mark. \ b. With ochreous reniform = grisea-Jiavo. j rata, Ev. ?

II. — Eeticulated form.

1. Without f a. With whitish reniform = reticulata-alho.
HH-like mark. \ b. With ochreous reniform = retirulata-jiavo.

2. With HH- f a. With whitish reniform =[seca?//ya (var. y.), Haw.
like mark. \ b. With ochreous reniform =^secalina-flavo.

III. — Central-banded form.

1. Without f a. With whitish reniform = virgata.
HH-like mark. \ b. With ochreous reniform = virgata-flavo.

2. With HH- ( a. With whitish reniform ^= I. niger-albo.
like-mark. \ b. With ochreous reniform = I. niger, Haw.

IV. — Dark costal form.
1. Without ^^- f a. With whitish reniform = oculea, Gn.
like mark. ( b. With ochreous reniform = oculea-Jiavo.

B. — Ground colour : — Ferruginous red, reddish brown, or purplish

brown.
I. — Unicolorous form.
1. Without HH- {a. With whitish reniform = rufa-albo.
like mark. \b. With ochreous reniform = rufa-fiavo.

II. — Eeticulated form.

1. Without HH- (a. With whitish reniform = nictitans, Esp., Hb.
like mark. 16. With ochreous reniform = secalina, Hb.

2. With HH-like J a. With whitish reniform = nictitans-linea.

mark. \b. With ochreous reniform = secalina-Unea.

III. — Central-banded form.

1. Without HH- (a. With whitish reniform = rava, Haw.
like mark. {b. With ochreous reniform = rava-flavo^

2. With HH-like (a. With whitish reniform = didyma, Esp.

mark. \b. W^ith ochreous reniform = didyma-Jiavo.

TV. — Dark costal form.
1. Without )mmi- (a. With whitish reniform = /wrca. Haw.
like mark. \b. With ochreous reniform == furca-flavo.
C. — Ground colour : — Black.
I. — Unicolorous form.
i. Without HH- (a. With whitish reniform = nigra-albo.
like mark. t^- With ochreous reniform = nigra-flavo.
II. — Eeticulated form.

1. Without i-H- ( a. With whitish reniform = lugens, Haw.

like mark. \b. With ochreous reniform = lugens-flavo,

2. With HH-like ( a. With whitish reniform = albistigma.

[t.

mark. [b. With ochreous reniform = lencostigma, Esp.

94 VARItJTIlCS OF KOCTU-*

This is as complete a classification as I can make. Incidental
varieties, especially of colour, will undoubtedly occur, but I do not
feel justified in dealing with this species except in the most general
way. Most of the varieties, fortunately, have been named in the first
instance as distinct species. When a variety has forms with both
" whitish " and " ochreous " reniform, I have simply affixed -albo or
-flavo to the existent name. Esper's type of the species is the ochreous
form, with a dark central band and »-H-like mark. The description I
made from Esper's * Die Schmetterlinge,' &c., PI. 126, fig. 7, was as
follows : — "Anterior wings with ground colour ochreous, nervures fus-
cous, ten short black costal streaks, orbicular small, reniform white ;
two longitudinal black basal streaks ; basal line before orbicular and
another transverse line beyond reniform, with a black HH_like mark
joining them, the whole space between these reddish, forming a cen-
tral band ; a double wavy line parallel to hind margin, outer margin
dark grey. Hind wings grey, base tinged with reddish."

Guenee's oculea is referred by him to the Linnaean (* Fauna Sue-
cicae,' &c., p. 321, No. 1216) oculea, but this is an error. He says of his
own : — "Superior wings ochreous grey, more or less clouded with reddish
or brownish, with a large brownish blotch occupying the costa from
the base almost to the angulated line, and often to the subterminal,
widening out in the median space, of which it only occupies the upper
half. Terminal space of a similar brown, ordinarily divided into two
blotches. Reniform of the ground colour, or whitish. Inferior wings
grey-brown, base paler " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 210). It will be seen
from the above that Guenee includes in his description the var. furca
of Haworth. Regarding its variation, Guenee writes : — " This Noc-
tuelle varies exceedingly. I have only described the type here, which
is most certainly the oculea,* both of Linnaeus and Fabricius, and which
has been, in all French and German collections, erroneously called
didyma. Its varieties, which many (especially English) authors have
described as distinct species, appear to belong to the groups, A = var.
nictitans, Esp., and B = var. secalina, Hb." (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp.
210, 211). Haworth describes five sub- varieties of his type, but his
oculea = the didyma of Esper. Mr. Robson, * Young Naturalist,' vol.
ii., pp. 101, 102), writes somewhat iully of the varieties of this species.
As far as I know, none of the varieties are restricted to particular
localities, although some are much rarer than others ; this appears to
be especially the case with the unicolorous varieties {grisea, rufa, and
nigra). I would call attention to the development of the white colon (:)
at the outer and lower corner of the reniform, thus resembling Mamestra
albicolon and the allied species. There appears to be no sexual variation,
the different varieties being distributed through both sexes. There is
also very little variation in the depth of colour of the hind wings, the
hind wings of all the varieties being dark grey, with rather paler iDase.

A. — ^With grey or whitish-ochreous ground colour,
a. var. grisea,Tmh\, — (1). Grisea-albo. The anterior wings pale

*This is undoubtedly an error. Linnaeus refers his nictitans of the • Syste-
ma Naturae,' 141, to his oculea of the ' Fauna Suecicse,' No. 1215, p. 321, and
describes it in the same words. If, therefore, the nictttans of Linnaeus stands,
certain it is that his oculea of the 'Fauna Suecicse' is the same species, and
Linnaeus' description of oculea undoubtedly refers to nictitans.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS, 95

grey, with scarcely any trace of the ordinary transverse lines. There
is the faintest possible trace of the subterminal line, which, however,
is scarcely noticeable in the uniform pale colour, reniforin whitish
(scarcely distinct from ground colour), orbicular and reniform not
traceable. (2). Grisea-flavo. Like grisea-alho, but with the reniform
indistinctly ochreous. This is a rare variety. I have a specimen from
Deal, and another from Shoeburyness. This may be var. moderata,
Ev., which Staudinger describes as, " multo pallidior, cinerascens."

p. var. reticulata, mihi. — (1). Beticulata-albo. The anterior wings
grey, in some specimens with a faint ochreous tinge ; an abbreviated,
followed by a complete, basal streak, orbicular outlined in darker, a
pale transverse angulated line beyond the reniform, and a pale sub-
terminal line nearer outer margin ; the space outside the subterminal
line rather darker than the ground colour ; orbicular and claviform of
the ground colour ; reniform, more or less distinctly white (sometimes
only the outer edge white, the remainder of the ground colour) ; no
>-< -like mark under stigmata. (2). Reticulata-flavo . Like reticulata-
alho, but with the reniform yellowish. This is probably the com-
monest form occurring in Britain.

y. var. secalina, Haw. — The secalina of Haworth (* Lepidoptera
Britannica,' pp. 210, 211) refers to unanimis, Hb., as also do his vars. a
and /3 of secalina, but his secalina var. y. appears to be a variety of
didyma. His description is : — " Alis pallidioribus minus rufescentibus ;
stigmatibus majoribus albidioribus ; lineola nigra medio validiore ;
posticis dilutioribus " {' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 211). This appears
to me most decidedly to refer to secalina-albo, a not very common form
of didyma, with grey ground colour, transverse lines as in var. reticu-
lata, and with a blackish •-< -like mark, but not developed into banded
form ; reniform white. (2). Secalina-flavo. Like secalina-albo, but
with reniform ochreous. The variety secalina is much rarer than
reticulata.

8. var. I-niger, Haw. — The type of this variety is I-niger-flavo.
Haworth's description (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 211) is as follows: —
" Alis griseo fuscoque variis, litera I nigra in medio ramulum exerente."
" Alae griseae, in medio fascia fracta nigro fusco cinereoque varia, in
qua stigmata ordinaria, et lineola nigra ramulum antrorsum exerens, et
literam I Komanorum simulans. Lineolas duse ali^e basi etiam nigrae.
Margo posticus maculis duabus semirotundatis subconfluentibus.
Stigma reniforme ochraceum. Posticae alae fuscae." His var. y., how-
ever, is I-niger-albo, being like var. I-niger, but with a whitish reniform.
Haworth writes : — " Alis ravusatis stigmate reniformi niveo dorso stri-
gaque ejus ravis." This grey-banded form is not uncommon. I have
specimens from many localities.

e. var. virgata, mihi. — (1). Virgata-albo. This is a slight modifica-
tion of the above, the central area being darker than the basal and outer
areas, but without the •-< -like mark characteristic of I-niger ; the ground
colour is very pale in some specimens ; the reniform white. (2). Vir~
gata-Jlavo. Like virgata-albo, but reniform ochreous.

^. var. ocidea, Gn. — Guenee's type of oculea is a much paler grey
than either of the preceding varieties, many specimens being quite
whitish ochreous, or whitish grey, the costa has a broad patch, almost
black, extending along almost its whole area, the reniform whitish.

06 'VARIETIES OF NOCTUiB

Oculea-flavo is pale like var. oculea, has the same dark costal patch, but
has the reniform stigmata ochreous instead of white. Both vars. oculea
and oculea-flavo are common forms.

B. — Ground colour ferruginous red, reddish brown or purplish

brown.

a var. rufa, mihi. — ( I). Rnfa-alho. Anterior wings unicolorous
reddish without transverse lines, the claviform and orbicular scarcely
(if at all) traceable, the reniform whitish ; the nervures rather dark
longitudinally, i^l). Bufa-flavo. Like rufa-albo, but with ochreous
reniform.

/?. var. nictitans Esp. Hb. — (1). var. nictitans. Ground colour of
the anterior wings reddish brown, with the ordinary transverse lines ;
reniform stigma white ; the orbicular and claviform of the ground
colour ; no »-h -like mark. (2). Nictitans-Unea. Like var. nictitans, but
with the "—I -like mark under the stigmata. Of var. nictitans Guenee
writes : — " Comprises all the specimens which, in place of the equal
division of the wing into brown and ochreous as in the type, are of an
unicolorous brownish with the reniform ordinarily of a pure white,
but often also tinted with ochreous.* This form presents to us fewer
sub-varieties than the type" (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 211). Of Hiibner's
nictitans, fig. 619, I wrote the following description : — " Anterior wings
very dark reddish brown, with faintly marked transverse lines. Hind
wings very dark grey." These forms are amongst the most common
in Britain.

y. var. secalina, Hb. — (1). var. secalina Hb. — This variety is also
red or reddish brown in colour, but the type is without the •— i -like
mark, and with yellowish reniform. Hubner's secalina (' Schmetter-
linge,' &c., fig. 420) may be described as : — " Anterior wings dark
brownish, two short, black, longitudinal basal streaks and basal trans-
verse line, orbicular pale, reniform ochreous ; a pale transverse line
beyond reniform, and a pale subterminal line ; the space between these
lines paler brown. Hind wings dark grey, base paler." (2). Secalina-
linea. Like var. secalina, but with h-i -like mark under stigmata. This
variety, together with the last, is very common in Britain. Both types
are without the >— i -like- mark, but whilst nictitans has a white reni-
form, that of secalina is ochreous. It has been necessary therefore
to name the subvarieties on the >— ( -like mark, and not on the colour of
the stigmata. Guenee treats secalina, Hb., as synonymous with didyma,
Esper, but this is not so ; didyma is a central-banded form, while seca-
lina is without this special development.

8. var. rava, Haw. — (1). var. rava. This variety has a reddish or
reddish ochreous ground colour, with a dark fuscous costal area con-
tinued down the central area to form a central band, but without the i-i -like
mark. It is described by Haworth (* Lejjidoptera Britannica,' pp. 209,
210), as: — "Alis subrufis, margine crassiori posticoque irregulariter
late fuscis ; stigmate reniformi niveo antice striga fusca." ''Alse anticas
striga undata pallescente ante fuscum marginis postici, magis conspicua
quam in prioribus duabus, tamen valde obsoleta. Alae posticte saturate
fusc£e. Margo anticus stigmatis postici plus minus albo punctatus."

*Var. nictitans never has the reniform ochreous. Ihis iorm, with yellowish
reniform, is the secalina of Hubner,

ii? THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 97

(2). var. rava-flaoo. Like var. ravay but reniform ochreous. The red-
banded form, without the hh -like mark, is comparatively rare, the next
form, didyma, being much more abundant.

e. didyma, Esp. — This (the type) is the more common banded form
in Britain, and is of a reddish ochreous ground colour, with dark
reddish central area; black »-H-like mark under stigmata; reniform
white. Many specimens of this variety have a purplish tint. (2).
Didyma- flavo. Like the type, didyma, but with yellowish stigmata.
Of these varieties Guenee writes (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 211) : — " Com-
prises all those specimens in which the median space, or at least its
lower part, forms a blackish band, descending almost to the inner mar-
gin and traversed generally* by a most intensely black streak below
the submedian nervure. Although this variety is met with
in both sexes, it is more common in the males. I have seen in
Mr. Pierrot's collection a very remarkable example,t where the basal
and subterminal spaces are almost white, as in connexa."

^. var. furca. Haw. — This is a striking form, somewhat like the
oculea of Guenee, but with the ground colour reddish ochreous instead
of pale whitish grey or greyish ochreous ; the costal area very dark
reddish brown, almost blackish, and without the H-<-like mark, which
especially gives the former variety its banded appearance. Haworth
writes of furca : — " Alis ochraceis margine costali posticoque irregu-
lariter late fuscis ; stigmate reniformi niveo antice, strigaque fusca."
" Prascedenti (ophiogramma = hiloha) simillima, at alia, fascia costae
pallidiore, magis indefinita atque fracta. Alae posticae fuscas"
(Haworth's ' Insecta Britannica,' p. 209). (2). var. furca-flavo. Like
furca, but without the white stigma. It is Haworth's furca, var. /3., of
which he writes : — " Stigmate postico absque albo."

C. — Ground colour black.

a. var. nigra, mihi. — (1). Nigra-albo. Anterior wings unicolorous
blackish, no transverse lines, no j-n-like mark, no ochreous dots as in
the following varieties. (2). Nigra-flavo. Like nigra-albo, but with
ochreous reniform. This is a rare variety, nearly all the black forms
agreeing with one of the following forms.

p. var. lugens. Haw. — This is a black form, with the ordinary
transverse lines, &c., still more intense ; a few scattered whitish or
ochreous spots, and a more or less distinct row of pale dots forming
the subterminal line. Haworth writes of this as a distinct species.
His description is as follows : — " Alis nigris, sub-nebulosis, stigmate
reniformi niveo. Praecedentibus (oculea, Haw.) affinis at absolute niger
nebulis atris ; stigmate reniformi niveo, punctulis paucis albis adjacen-
tibus minutissimis. Juxta marginem posticum striga undata obsole-
tissima, punctorum pallidiorum. Posticae alae fuscae" (* Lepidoptera
B'-itannica,' p. 212). (2). var. lugens-flavo. Like var. lugens, but
reniform ochreous instead of white.

y. leucostigma, Esper. — Like the preceding, but with an intense
i-i-like mark and yellow reniform. Dr. Staudinger writes : — " ab
leucostigma. Esp., 159. Al ant. nigricantibus, albo-maculatis." "Albo-
maculatis " is undoubtedly a mistake for " flavo maculatis."

♦Always ! if not, it forms var. rava. Haw.

fThis would belong to Group A, possibly an extreme form of var, I-nigeVf
or var. virgata.

Q

98 VARIETIES OP NO0Tt]Jfi

8. var. albistigma, mihi. — Like leucostiyma, with the anterior wings
black ; >— i-like mark in more intense black ; a broken subterminal line
composed of dots ; but the reniform " white," not " ochreous." This
would meet Dr. Staudinger's description, " albo-maculatis." The last
two varieties are much rarer in Britain than var. lugens. It is doubt-
ful whether Guenee knew the intense black forms which we get, as he
does not mention them, and moreover, refers the lugens of Haworth to
nictitans, Esper and Hiibner, an evident error. He also mentions the
following as a surprising fact : — " I have seen a specimen from North
America, which is larger than ours, of a brown almost black colour,
with the subterminal line forming a series of irregular yellowish dots "
{' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 211).

Miana, St.

This genus consists of a group of little moths, so closely allied to
the genus Apamea, that it is very dubious whether any really distinctive
characters, sufficient to separate it from Apamea, exist. In most of
the different forms of strigilis a,nd fasciuncula, the transverse lines are
almost identical in shape and position with those in the species of
Aj^amea. In certain mottled forms of hicoloria, this is also the case ;
but generally in this latter species, literosa and captiuncula, the upper
half of the elbowed line is indistinct, and the lower half is continued
upwards to the costa, inside the reniform, forming a line dividing the
wing into two distinct halves. The >-< -like mark under the stigmata,
which was noted as being much developed in some of the species of
Apamea, becomes almost normal in strigilis and is frequently well-
developed in certain forms of hicoloria and literosa. The anterior
wings in this genus are normally divided into : — (1) a basal area, (2) a
central (more or less banded) area, (3) a pale outer area. Bicoloria is
by far the most variable species, strigilis also is very variable, and me-
lanic forms are common throughout Britain, although in Central and
Southern Europe such forms are apparently rare. Pretty mottled
ochreous varieties of hicoloria occur on the flowers of Centaurea scahiosa,
on the coast near Deal and Dover, reminding one much of small speci-
mens of Eremohia ochroleuca as they sit by day on the flowers. In
fact, hicoloria offers a great deal of response to environment in the de-
velopment of certain local forms. It may be advisable to note here
that French lepidopterists consider fasciuncvla a variety of strigilis.
German and British lepidopterists treat these as distinct species.
Guene'e says:- — "All the European Miana are well known. They
vary no less than certain species of the genus Apamea above all
strigilis and furuncula (hicoloria) " ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 214).
I have specimens myself, which prove that strigilis and fasciun-
cula are connected by intermediates, so that there is no distinct
line of demarcation between them, and a series of ^trigilis-fasciuncula
sent to me by the Kev. W. F. Johnson, captured in 1890, near Armagh,
are perfectly inseparable. This series, which extends from the
brightest red fasciuncula to the blackest strigilis, led me to write a note
in the ' Entomologist's Eecord,' vol. i., pp. 242, 3U6, entitled " Is Miana
fasciuncula a var. of M. strigilis ? " and from these specimens I con-
cluded that it was. Such rank heresy has led to a great deal of
discussion, but, after exhibiting the specimens at the City of London

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS, 09

and Soutli London Societies, and to many of our leading^ British lepi-
dopterists privately, I obtained so many opinions that I was fairly well
satisfied of the correctness of my view. Of course, fasciuncula and
strigilis in their typical forms are very different, and appear to have a
different facies, but this appears to be purely superficial, the apparent
distinction being more striking, owing to the fact, that each has a range
of variation of its own, but so have the different forms of Xylophasia
rurea, Apamea didijma (oculea), and probably Hydrcecia nictitans and
H. lucens. I am quite dissatisfied with my knowledge for and against
the specific identity of the latter, and therefore have kept them dis-
tinct. On the same ground, I shall keep fasciuncula and strigilis
distinct, trusting that future study of the early stages of these will clear
up what is at present rather a puzzle, but satisfied in my own mind that
my assumption, so far as the material I have allows me to judge, is
correct.

Miana, St., strigilis, Clerck.

The type of this species is represented by Clerck's Plate ix., fig.
6, of the ' 1 cones Insectorum rariorum,' which may be described as
follows ; — " Anterior wings of a very pale grey, with a slightly red-
dish tinge, collar whitish ; three black costal streaks near the base and
an abbreviated basal line followed by a double complete one made of
three curved arches, the two lower being white ; the orbicular, reni-
form, and claviform of the ground colour, outlined in black ; two short
costal streaks just above the renif orm with white between ; three other
costal streaks between these and the apex of the wing; an angulated
white line edged with a wavy black line internally, starts from the
costa (just outside the reniform) to the inner margin (at the anal
angle), another white line starting from near the apex, joins the angu-
lated line ; between these lines and the outer margin the colour is
bluish grey. Hind wings, the same colour as anteriors but a little
paler, and a double line parallel to the hind margin." Like the rest
of the genus this species is very variable, and the extremes of vari-
ation are very great. Besides the type — a pale reddish grey form, with
the outer margin and the bases of the transverse lines white — we get
a form with an ashy-grey ground colour, and another of a black ground
colour, each with the same white markings as in the type. Another
form has all the white markings of the type of a grey colour, and yet
another has the ordinary white parts reddish, while another form is
unicolorous. The most extreme form is intensely black. All these forms
vary in themselves, and have, in some specimens, the dark longitudinal
streak under the stigmata, whilst in others there is no trace of it.
The following is an attempt to tabulate the various forms of variation : —

A. — Ground colour ashy-grey (rarely tinged with brownish).
1. — With whitish or whitish-grey outer fascia = prceduncula. Haw.
2. — With reddish or reddish-grey outer fascia = suffuruncula, Freyer.
3. — With reddish median band = virgata (La Bronzee, Eng., Guende).

B. — Ground colour reddish-grey or reddish-brown.
1. — With whitish or whitish-grey outer fascia = strigilis, 01. ( = fur-

uncula, Bork).
2. — With pale reddish or reddish-grey outer fascia = cerata, Esp.

( = latruncula, Hb.)
3. — Unicolorous = latruncula, Haw.

too VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

C. — Ground colour blackish-brown or reddish-black.

1. — With white or whitish-grey outer fascia := nigro-rufa ( ==

strigilis, Bork., Gn.).
2. — With red or reddish-grey outer fascia = rufa, mihi.
3. — Unicolorous = unicolor {z= latruncula (var. /3.) Haw.).

D. — Ground colour black.

1. — With white or whitish-grey outer fascia =: fasciata.
2. — Unicolorous = cethiops, Haw.

In making out this table, I have based the classification on the
ground colour, and the character of the fascia which runs from the
apex to the anal angle. In some specimens this is white, in others
whitish-grey, in others reddish-grey, while in some it is unicolorous
with the ground colour. The basal area is variable, there being two
pale transverse lines, more or less well developed, and, in some speci-
mens there is a white or grey line along the extreme basal part of the
hind margin. The central area which contains the stigmata is gener-
ally darker than the basal area, while the outer area is the palest of
all. The stigmata vary in size and intensity, and in colour vary with
the ground colour. In some specimens they are outlined in white, in
others, they are unicolorous grey, whilst in others, they are obsolete,
being lost in the ground colour. The extreme outer margin beyond
the fascia is generally dark. The hind wings vary a little, following
the intensity of the anterior wings ; the paler forms have the hind
wings dark grey with paler base, the darker forms, unicolorous dark
or blackish-grey hind wings.

A. — Ground colour ashy-grey (rarely tinged with brownish).

a. var. prceduncula, Haw. — This variety is described as a distinct
species by Haworth. He writes : — " Noctua (the marbled minor).
Alis cinereo griseoque variis nebulosis, postice strigisque tribus undatis
albis, nigro adnatis." '^ Alse anticse striga basi nigra extus alba ; tunc
alia alba extus nigra. Tunc stigmata cinerea ordinaria, et pone hsec,
striga tertia alba arcuata nigro quasi tenue pectinata, tandem fascia
lata alba. Margo posticus fusco griseoque nebulosus, ciliis fusco-
cinereis. Postice alas fuscas ciliis fuscescentibus " ( ' Lepidoptera
Britannica,' pp. 213, 214). This is the strigilis of Linnaeus but not of
Clerck. Linnaeus describes his species as : — " Alae griseo-cinereae
tribus annulis ovalibus nigris ; fascia alba alas terminans latior, intra
quam area prior inferit 5 vel 6 strias nigras fere ad ejus medium "
(* Systema Naturae,' No. 161). This is not at all a common form in
some districts but appears to be widely distributed.

/3. var. suffuruncula, Freyer. — Freyer's plate 471, fig. 1, may be
described as having " anterior wings grey with a reddish tinge between
the reniform and orbicular, and a reddish band extending from the
costa to the anal angle, parallel to hind margin." I have never seen
a variety of this particular form, and should say it was uncommon to
find specimens with an ashy grey ground colour, and reddish outer
striga.

y. var. virgata, mihi. (La Bronzee, Engr., Gn.). — This is another
variety which has not come under my notice. Guenee thus describes
it: — "It is notably larger th, n all the other varieties, and its superior

iJt Tnfc feRITlSri ISLAKDS. lOl

wings appear a little more rounded. The ground colour is grey
tinged with reddish with all the median space redder, especially its
lower part ; the black mark sometimes lacking. The stigmata are
outlined in clear reddish, and very distinct as also are all the trans-
verse lines " (* Noctuelles/ vol. v., p. 216). This may be the extreme
form referred to as exhibited at the South London Ent. Society, vide
*Entom. Kecord,' &c., vol. i., p. 315.

B. — Ground colour reddish-grey or reddish-brown.

a. var. cerata, Esp. — Esper's diagnosis of this species, which he
figures on plate 146, fig. 5, is : — " Alis cupreo-micantibus, stigmatibus
strigisque pallidioribus, maculis obscuris." This is a striking variety,
the shiny reddish ground colour (coppery, Esper calls it) with the
pale reddish fascia showing very distinctly. The latruncula of Hiibner
(fig. 94) which is " of a reddish ground colour with two pale basal
lines, distinct stigmata and a small whitish lunule at the base of the
pale streak parallel to hind margin," appears to be a sub- variety of
cerata, Esp. Of this variety. Dr. Staudinger writes : — " ab latruncula,
S. V. Lang. Verz. p. 159 (1789), = cerata, Esp., dilutior, ssepius
rufescens, obsolete albo-fasciata." I have this variety from many
localities.

/3. var. latruncula, Haw. — Haworth thus describes this variety : —
" Noctua (the tawny marbled minor). Alis rufo-cinereis nebulosis
medio saturatioribus.'' " Statura N. prcedunculce, et nimis ei affinis :
differt alis anticis undique subrufo-cinereis ; posticis perfuscis ciliis
rufescentibus fusco maculatis." He also describes a var. ^ of this
as : — " Coloribus saturatioribus, alis magis nigro nebulosis ; posticis
perfuscis, ciliis pallidioribus " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' pp. 214, 215).
This var. /? refers to var. umcolor. This is also an uncommon form
but generally distributed.

C. — Ground colour reddish-black or blackish-brown.

a. var. nigro-rufa, mihi. — This is the strigilis both of Borkhausen
and Guenee. Borkhausen in his ' Naturegeschichte der Europ. Schmet.,'
81, thus describes the species : — " Phalcena Noctua strigilis — Blackish-
brown with a broad whitish band near the outer margin." Guenee
describes his strigilis as having : — " Anterior wings brownish-black
with all the subterminal space pale grey. All the lines distinct, the
two median marked in white, especially the lower part of the elbowed
line, generally wavy and toothed. A black streak unites them above
the submedian nervure. All the stigmata well-marked, the two
principal ones a little paler than the ground colour ; the claviform
black. The subterminal line partly absorbed in the grey of the sub-
terminal space ; outer margin brown. Hind wings of both sexes
greyish-black " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 214, 215). This variety of a
reddish-black ground colour with a pale outer fascia is fairly common.

p. var. rufa, mihi. — With the basal area of the anterior wings
reddish-black, and the paler outer area reddish grey. This is not a
very rare variety and occurs in Ireland as well as most English
localities.

y. var. unicolor, mihi. ( = latruncula, Haw. var. ^). — This uni-
colorous blackish-red variety is very common in many districts
especially in the neighbourhood of London. I have already given

102 VARIETIES OF KOCTU^

Haworth's description of lairuncula, xar. /S, when WTiimg oilatruncula,
Haw. var. a.

D. — Ground colour black.

a. YBT. fasciatttf mihi. — The basal area black with the ordinary
transverse lines generally more or less obsolete, the fascia from apex
to anal angle white or whitish-grey. This is one of the more common
forms, I believe, on the Southern part of the Continent, but is not so
common as the red-brown forms in Britain.

/?. var. cethiops, Haw. — This is the most extreme variety, being
unicolorous black. Haworth's description is as follows : — " Noctua
(The Blackamoor) alis omnibus nigris, anticis atro nebulosis." But
he describes two forms :— *'a. Totus niger, alis anticis medio aliquot
saturatioribus nebulis atris." " fS. Alis fuscis, vel fuscescentibus medio
saturatioribus nebulis nigris. Longe pallidior quam a." This variety
is well distributed in Britain. It is common in London and York-
shire, and I have received it from Sligo. 1 was quite astonished a
short time ago, to learn from Mr. Anderson of Chichester, that this
perfectly unicolorous black form was unknown in that district.
Miana, St., fasciuncvla, Haw.

This species, which is generally treated as a variety of M. strigilis
by the Continental authors, is so exactly like that species in shape and
markings, that, besides colour there appears to be no distinguishing
mark in the imago state by which it can be separated. There are two
very distinct forms, one very red, the other pale reddish-grey. The
type of the species is described in Haworth's ' Lepidoptera Britannica '
pp. 215,216 as follows : — "Nodna — alis rufis,in medio fascia lata satu-
ratiore stigmatibus ordinariis pallidioribus interrupta." He then pro-
ceeds to give a full description of both forms. The type he describes
as : — " Thorax, alfeque anticse saturate ruf^, fascia magna brunnea
marginem tenuiorem versus, valde attenuata et albo obsolete mar-
ginata ; margo posticus fascia tenuiore rufo-brunnea, ciliis rufo-fuscis.
Posticse alee nigras ciliis albis interdum cinereis." He then describes
the ab. cana of Staudinger. There are intermediate forms between
the type with a deeper central band and var. cana, some of which are
very interesting. Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 217, treats
fasciuncvla as a variet}' of strigilis and writes : — " This differs from the
var. latruncula, W. Y. in the brown being replaced on all the wings by
a bright ochreous-red. The lower part of the two median lines es-
pecially the angulated line, is well marked in white ; the black streak
is wanting. The fringe of the inferior wings is tinged with reddish."

a. var. rubencula, Freyer. — This is an almost unicolorous form, the
ground colour less red than in the type, and the central band not de-
veloped. My note of Freyer's pi, 468, fig. 2 = rubencula is : — " This
is a var. oi faschincuhi with the ordinary deep red colour of the type
much paler."

p. var. cana, Stdgr. — Staudinger thus describes this variety : —
" Multo dilutior, al. ant. fere canescentibus, fascia media rufa." This
is the var. JS. of Haworth < Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 216, where he
writes : — " Longe pallidior, alis cano-rufescentibus, fascia ut in a
(= type, vide above), sed rufo-fusca ; posticis nigris, ciliis cinereis."
I have taken this pale var. in all the localities where I have found the
type, but it is a rare occurrence to find the pale var. with a distinct red

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 103

band. Specimens in my cabinet from Paisley, Armagh and Deal, exhibit
this form well. I would include all specimens of the pale var. with
a distinct central fascia (reddish or dark fuscous) under the varietal name.

jS. var. pallida, mihi. — An extreme form of var. cana, with the
hoary grey ground colour spread all over the wings. The median fascia
only present in its lower half, and then not red, but of a slightly
darker shade of the ground colour. This is the most common form in
all localities where I have collected. I have it from many English
localities, also from Sligo in Ireland. Sub- var. extrema. Anterior wings
entirely hoary-grey without a central fascia. I have one specimen of
this extreme form from Deal.

y. var. suffusa, mihi. — Of a dark greyish-black, with all the trans-
verse markings obsolete or faintly indicated, merging insensibly into
M. strigilis vars. cethiops and latruncula. I have never seen specimens
of this variety except from Armagh, where they were captured by the
Eev. W. F. Johnson, M.A.

Miana, St., bicoloria, Vill.

The type of this species is described in De Villers' ' Caroli
LinnsBi Entomologia Fauna Suecicse,' p. 288, No. 393, as follows : —
" Noctua (la ' bicolor ') spirilinguis, alis deflexis, antice fuscis, postice
griseis." " Parva. Caput et thorax grisea. Alee superiores anticse
fuscse, posticse griseas. Inferiores fuscse. Subtus omnes pallide
griseas. Litura albida in parte fusca versus apicem." Of the type of
this species Dr. Staudinger writes : — " al. ant. iisque ad medium fuscis,
deinde albicantibus (griseis)." This is not an uncommon var. in Eng-
land and is closely allied to the form represented by the first figure in
Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 309, except that the fuscous colour
should extend from the centre to the base of the wing. There is every
variation in ground colour from almost unicolorous white to unicolorous
brown and red. Guenee in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 216, 217,
writes : — " This species varies no less than strigilis, but the most ex-
treme varieties are easily separated by means of the straight line which
bounds the dark part of the wing inside the reniform stigma. The
type of the species is that in which the wing is half fuscous and half
whitish." This is to me a most interesting species and there is no
doubt that many of its phases of variation, as known to us, are almost
unknown by Continental authors, and very many of its varieties
appear to be unknown even to British collectors. Probably no Miana
is sent more frequently in error for other species and I have
been repeatedly asked to name different varieties. There are four
very distinct ground colours, white, fuscous-grey, pale reddish-
ochreous, and a dark reddish-brown, and of each of these there are
three very distinct forms : — (I) an unicolorous form of this colour;
(2) a mottled form of the same colour (the whole of the wing being
mottled with a large number of whitish transverse lines) ; (3) a form
with the basal half dark (sometimes unicolorous, sometimes mottled)
and the outer half pale greyish or white. Specimens of the mottled
form are those which are the least generally distributed, and I know
of no good figures of any of them. The dark unicolorous forms, too,
are neither figured nor described, although the pale red form rufuncula
has been both figured and described frequently. Besides the darker
forms mentioned above, there is, on our chalk downs of Kent, a white

104 VARIKTitSS OF NOCTU-B

form with almost obsolete markings. It is remarkable that in the
marshes in this neighbourhood (Greenwich) the greater number of
specimens are dark reddish-brown or reddish-grey, while at Deal a
large percentage are mottled-grey or reddish forms. Those at Kings-
down have a penchant for settling on the flowers of Centaurea scabiosa,
and look like a small Eremobia ochroleuca, being of a pale ochreous
colour with a reddish tinge and almost always of the brown form.
The reticulated or mottled form I have termed reticnlata, and have
added fusca, brunnea, and rvfa to distinguish the different forms. The
HH-like mark which is characteristic of so many allied species is found
generally in the group with the darker base, but the mark is scarcely
ever traceable in the mottled forms. The var. vinctuncula of Hiibner
shows a strange development of the central transverse line separating the
basal from the outer area. The stigmata vary considerably ; in the
unicolorous form they are scarcely noticeable, being generally of the
same shade as the ground colour, while in the mottled variety they
generally (the reniform more especially) stand out strikingly pale. Of
the general variation of this species we read in Humphrey & West-
wood's ' British Moths,' p. 180 : — " This is another extremely variable
species which in the typical variety has the basal half brown-coloured
or blackish, with clouded markings, whilst the apical portion is ashy-
white with the apical margin brown." " In other varieties the
general colour of the wing is more uniform, and either pale reddish-
brown or dull straw-coloured with the central portion darker and
bearing the characteristic markings ; others, again, have the wings
reddish and the apical margin blackish and undulated." " The hind
wings vary in tint according to that of the fore wings, but have the
margin dusky."

The following is a classified list of the principal varieties of
bicoloria. Other incidental varieties may occur as var. vinctuncula of
Hiibner, also intermediate forms, but the former must be treated
separately, and the latter will generally be found allied very closely
to one or other of the varieties mentioned in the following table : —

A. — Ground colour whitish-grey.
1. — With outer half paler than basal half = var. pallida.
2. — Mottled, distinct transverse lines and stigmata = var. insulicola,

Stdgr.
3. — Unicolorous — var. albicans. »

B. — Ground colour greyish-fuscous.
1. — With outer half paler than basal half = bicoloria,YiU. (=humeralif{,

Haw.).
2. — Mottled, distinct transverse lines and stigmata = var. reticulata.
3. — Unicolorous = humeralis, var. y.. Haw.

C — Ground colour ochreous- or reddish-brown.
1. — Outer half pale whitish grey = ysLV. furunculd, Haw.
2. — Mottled = var. brunnea-reticulata.
3. — Unicolorous = var. terminalis, a. and /S., Haw.

D. — Ground colour pale reddish-ochreous.
1. — Outer half paler reddish-grey = var. puhnonaria^, Dup., Gn.
2. — Mottled = var. rufa-reticulata.
3. — Unicolorous = var. rufuncula, Haw.

tii i-tti! BRITISH IStAiJDS. lO^

A. — Ground colour whitish-grey.

a. var. pallida, mihi. — The basal area pale grey, the outer area
almost white, the line of demarcation crossing from the costa to the
inner margin between the reniform and orbicular, the extreme margin
a little darker with a pale line parallel to hind margin, stigmata quite
white ; hind wings almost white, greyish on outer margin.

/?. var. insulicola, Stdgr. — Dr. Staudinger describes in his ' Catalog,'
p. 103, a variety under this name, as : — "Al. ant. griseis, albido nigroque
strigulosis." This is the only described variety mottled with trans-
verse lines that I have been able to trace.

y. var. albicans, mihi. — This variety has the anterior wings uni-
colorous white, with a little grey shading in the centre of the wing
around the orbicular ; the stigmata are distinguishable owing to this
gi'ey colour, the extreme outer area a little shaded with grey. This is
an exceedingly rare variety.

B. — Ground colour fuscous-grey.

The type — bicoloria, Villers — has the basal half greyish fuscous,
the outer half whitish or pale whitish grey.

a. var. reticulata, mihi. — The anterior wings pale grey with the
whole area covered with transverse fuscous lines, the stigmata gener-
ally distinct, no trace of the division of the wing into two halves, the
basal and outer areas, the stigmata (especially the reniform) generally
very distinct.

p. var. humeralis, Haw. — This is Haworth's humeralis, var. y., his
humeralis a and P being more or less referable to the typ'e, his a
is equally divided into a fuscous or blackish basal part and pale outer
part, his P has the blackish basal part broken up with whitish, whilst
his y has the blackish colour absent, the whole area being ashy or
fuscous grey. Haworth writes : — *' Nigredine anticarum pene evanes-
cente, cseteris ut in ultima (var. ^)" {' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 215).

C. — Ground colour ochreous- or reddish-brown.

a. var. furuncnla, Hb. — This is one of the most striking of all the
varieties of this species. Hiibner's fig. 545 represents the type of this
variety and has " the anterior wings of a dark reddish-brown colour
extending from the base to an almost straight transverse line between
the orbicular and reniform ; the outer area of the wing stands out con-
spicuously pale, ashy-grey in colour, the part near the boundary of the
darker basal area being more ochreous in colour. The hind wings are
pale grey with darker outer margin."

/3. var. brunnea-reticulata, mihi. — Like var. reticulata, but the
gi-ound colour reddish or ochreous-brown, instead of fuscous.

y. var. terminalis. Haw. — This is an unicolorous reddish-brown
variety, with the slightest possible traces of a darker clouding on the
outer margin and around the stigmata. Haworth's diagnosis is : — " N.
alis fusco-rufescentibus margine postico undatim nigricante." He also
adds : — " Variat." Haworth then divides his terminalis into two groups
a and /3. Of the former he writes : — " Alse anticas medio vix nebu-
losse, sed uniformiter rufescentes, posticse perfusc^e, ciliis cinereis ; "
and of the latter — " alis anticis fusco rufescentibus absque albedine, in
medio solum paulo saturatioribus, vel potius nigio pulverulentibus ;

l06

VARIETIES OF NOCTUJE

posticis cinereis fimbria latissima fusca " ( * Lepidoptera Britannica,
p. 215).

D. — Ground colour pale reddish-ochreous.

a. var. pulmonaria', Dup., Gn. (non. Hb.). — This variety has the
basal area reddish-ochreous, the outer area very pale ochreous or pale
grey. Guenee writes of it : — '* The ground colour is of a yellow-ochreous
tint, approaching brownish ; the separation of the wing into two colours
is less distinct than in termmalis, Haw. (i.e. var. a.), and the two
stigmata are ordinarily outlined in pale " ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 217).
Guenee's var. D appears intermediate between this and the var. furun-
cula of Hiibner, being paler in the basal area (more mixed with yellow)
than var. furuncula, and darker than var. pulmonarice. The presence of
the yellow would almost lead one to class it as a sub-variety of the
latter.

p. var. rufa-reticnlata, mihi. — Like fusca- and gnsea-reticulata but
with the ground colour reddish-ochreous with a yellow tinge.

y. var. rufuncida, Haw. — This pretty unicolorous red variety is
treated by Haworth as a distinct species. His description is : — " Alis
totis rufis, strigis tribus obsoletissimis pallidioribus." " Thorax, abdo-
minis barba, al^eque antic^e rufa, strigis duabus rectis medio, alteraque
undata juxta marginem posticum pallidioribus, at nisi lente vix con-
spicuis, et interdum plus minus obliteratis. Postica3 rufo-fuscee, ciliis
rufis. In ipso margine postico anticarum, lente, ordo punctorum nigro-
rum lunato-triangulatorum " ('Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 216).
Haworth's type was captured in Norfolk. Of this variety Guenee
writes : — " In this variety the whole of the wing is of a unicolorous
tint ; only the central line, the basal, and traces of a blackish colour
in the terminal space can be faintly traced " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p.
216). In the * Entomologist's Monthly Magazine,' vol. iii., p. 74, Mr.
E. Birchall writes : — " The variety rufuncida of Haworth occurs com-
monly at Howth. The wings are uniformly clay-coloured without
lines or spots. The insect has a strong superficial resemblance to
Nonagria concolor." Dr. Staudinger in his ' Catalog,' p. 103, writes : —
**al. ant. fere unicolor, rufescenti-griseis."

8. var. vinctuncula, Hb. — This is a striking form with the anterior
wings unicolorous, except a fine black transverse line crossing the
wing between the reniform and orbicular, really the boundary-line
when the wing is divided into two distinct shades of colour. Hiib-
ner's fig. 96 may be described as of a " dark greyish (tinged with red)
colour, with scarcely discernible stigmata ; greyish hind margin, with
a white line bordering it ; a fine black line crosses the wing from
costa to inner margin between the stigmata ; there is also a small black
(longitudinal) basal streak." I have never seen a specimen of this
description. Guenee says of it : — " This is only a modification of
Haworth's rufuncula, where the centre line is of a very pronounced
black. I have never seen it in nature" ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 217).
Dr. Staudinger says of it in his ' Catalog,' p. 103 : — " ut rufuncula, sed
fascia media tenui nigra margineque exteriore grisea."

Miana, St., literosa, Haw.

The type of this species is described by Haworth in his ' Lepi-
doptera Britannica,' p. 213, as: — "Alis glaucis striga postica flexuosa

IN THE British isIanDS. lOf

rosea, Hneolis litersoforraibus in medio, nigris." " Stigmata in medio
ut in ultima (marginibus nigris interruptis solum conspicua), at longe
obsoletiora, margine nigro fracto solum conspicua ; qui margo format
lineolas literaeformes nigras." This species has always been included
by Continental lepidopterists with erratricnla, Hb., which appears to
me simply a variety of hicoloria. The specimens captured by the
Messrs. Salvage, at Forres, in the summer of 1888, were rather paler
than those we obtain in the South of England. There is some variation
in the width of the median band, also in its intensity and the develop-
ment of the longitudinal •— i -mark under the stigmata. Guenee also refers
erratricula, Hb. to this species, but this, I think, is decidedly an error.
It is the most constant of all the British species of Miana.

Phothedes, Ld., captiuncula, Tr.

Treitschke's diagnosis of the type of this species * Die Schmetter-
linge,' &c., II., p. 96, is as follows : — " Alis anticis fuscis, fascia media
obscuriore, stigraate reniformi fasciaque externa albides." Our British
specimens differ from the Continental specimens, being, as a rule,
greyer and more unicolorous, so that Staudinger treats our form as a
variety. Newman, in his ' British Moths,' p. 309, referring to Her-
rich-Schaffer's figures 173 and 174, which are very variegated, says : —
" They resemble the Irish rather than the English specimens, but are
more variegated than any I possess." The English variety is first
noticed in Stainton's * Annual ' for 1855, where we find Doubleday
given as the nomenclator, and a comparison is drawn between this
species, M. fasciuncula and M. strigilis. Mr. E. Birchall thus writes
of the Irish specimens : — "Common near Gal way. The Irish speci-
mens are smaller, and much more richly coloured than any English
ones I have seen " (' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine,' vol. iii., p. 74).

a. var. expoUta, Dbdy. — In Stainton's 'Annual' for 1855, p. 41,
we find : — " Taken near Darlington." " The species may be readily
known, being much smaller and darker than fasciuncula, and extremely
glossy, the posterior wings are unicolorous grey, with pale grey cilia ;
the shape of the anterior wings being also very distinctive, the hinder
margin not being elbowed as in fasciuncula and strigilis.'' Staudinger
writes of var. expolita : — " fere unicolor grisescens," while Newman
(' British Moths,' p. 309) figures both the variegated type and the
more unicolorous expolita.

Celcena, St., haworthii, Curt.

This species, closely allied to the members of the genera Helo-
tropha and Bydrcecia, varies considerably both in ground colour and in
the markings. The colour varies from yellowish brown through deep
red and purplish brown to blackish grey. The orbicular varies from
complete absence to a clear white or ochreous spot and the reniform,
besides being very variable in shape and size, is in some specimens
indistinctly marked, in others ochreous, and in others white. There
is also a considerable amount of variation in the number of white
nervures, some specimens having no trace of them. The type, is
described in Curtis' 'British Entomology,' 260, as follows : — "Yellowish
brown, variegated with rosy scales. Superior wings with a few scat-
tered white scales, the costa with three yellowish spots, and three

lOS Varieties of noctu^

minute ones near the apex; an obscure black line near the base, and a
lanceolate one at the interior margin ; two waved, narrow, whitish
transverse lines, one before, the other beyond the middle, the nervure
in the centre cream-coloured and furcate ; above is a small ocellated
spot, and below a black hook ; beyond it is a cream-coloured ear-
shaped spot with a dark line on the inside ; near to the posterior
margin runs a yellowish dentated striga with three blackish short rays
on the inside ; cilia ochreous with a fuscous line down the middle, and
a black chain at the base. Body and inferior wings yellowish
fuscous, the former rosy-ochre at the apex, the latter with a
fuscous undefined fimbria and a lunular line towards the middle ;
the cilia ochreous with a fuscous line. Underside pale ochreous
and fuscous, the inferior wings with a distinct blackish spot
near the middle." A good figure of the type is found in Humphrey
and Westwood's ' British Moths,' pi. xxxviii., fig. 14. Herr Hoffmann,
writing of the Shetland specimens in the ' Stettiner Zeitung,' says : —
" They have a reddish ground colour and are more distinctly marked
than the ordinary form. They agree more with the specimens from
the Upper Harz." There are five named varieties : —

a. var. hibernica, St. — The hibernica of Stephens is described in
Humphrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' vol. i., p. 182, as follows :
— " The fore wings are reddish-brown, without any black lines at the
base : the strigae on each side of the characteristic portion of the wing
are present, followed by a whitish fascia, on which is a paler dentate
striga, the anterior stigma generally obsolete ; on the hinder margin is
an interrupted black line ; the pale colour of the central vein does not
extend so far as in the preceding (type), from which this accordingly
differs in the more uniform colours, and the want of the black mark-
ings. Found near Dublin." Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p.
220, says of this variety : — " Of a more ferruginous tint, less marked
with white. Orbicular concolorous and indistinct." Staudinger says
of it : — " Al. ant. ferrugineo-fuscescentibus minus variegatis." I have
some very strong red forms from Ballycastle, Ireland.

13. var. lancea, St. — The description of this variety from Hum-
phrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 182, is as follows : — "Differs
from the foregoing (hibernica), chiefly in its smaller size (measuring
only half an inch in expanse) nearly uniformly coloured fore wings,
with the scarcely waved posterior strigae and paler hind wings. Taken
near Whittlesea-mere, &c." This variety is figured by Humphrey
and Westwood, pi. xxxviii., fig. 16. I have two specimens nearly
approaching this variety, one from Ballycastle, the other from the
Norfolk Broads. Some specimens, not only of this, but also of the other
varieties are very small.

y. var. tripuncta, Curtis (^ Brit. Ent.,' 260b, without description). —
First described in Humphrey and Westwood's * British Moths,' p. 182,
as " having both the stigmata distinct and pale, as well as a patch
resting upon the subapical striga near the costa of the fore wings.
Taken at Horning in Norfolk." I have the same variety from the
Norfolk Broads. There is a good figure of this variety, pi. xxxviii.,
fig. 15 of Westwood's work.

8. var. morio, Ev. ^ Evers. Bull. Mos.,' 1842, No. 3.—^ Faun.
Ural.,' p. 272). — GueneO; in his * Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 220, thus

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 109

describes this variety : — " Of a deep blackish brown, with the subter-
minal wedgeshaped spots of an intense black, the stigmata and the
geminated nervure dull white." " Locality, Casan." This seems to
run Freyer's erupta closely. Eversmann's description of morio is : —
" Antennae maris crenatae et vix ciliatae ; abdomen griseo-nigricans ;
thorax nigro-fuscus ; — alae anticas atro-fuscae, fascia submarginali palli-
diore, striga interna et externa obsoletis, — striga submarginali albida
adjacentibus maculis triquetris atro-fuscus notata, — naevo minuto,
macula media furculaque sub ea nervi tertii albidis ; — posticae nigri-
cantes, externa obscuriores " (' Fauna Volgo-Ural.,' p. 272, No. 2.).

€. var. erupta, Frey. — Freyer in his 'NeureBeitrage,'&c., plate 472,
figs. 1 and 2, represents a variety of haworthii under this name.
His fig. 1 may be described as : — " <^ . Anterior wings blackish-grey
with a short transverse basal streak, followed by another near the or-
bicular edged internally with slaty. Orbicular and reniform ochreous-
white, with a geminated line extending from base of reniform to outer
edge of wing ; two transverse lines directly beyond reniform, upper
part dark, lower part very pale ochieous followed by another pale
ochreous transverse line ; hind wings dark grey, base paler, nervures
distinct. Fig. 2 is a $ and like fig. 1, but there is an ochreous patch
between reniform and apex, and the outer pale line is double."

Mamestra, Och.

With regard to the genus Mamestra, most of the species have two
extreme forms of variation, — one, pale brownish grey ; the other, black,
with almost all intermediate forms. Sordida (anceps) in its palest forms
seems to be the extreme ochreous type of the genus, persicarioe the
extreme black one. Based on variation, the position of furva seems
somewhat anomalous, and it seems to me that this species should
hardly be placed in this restricted genus at all. With regard to the
other species, ahjecta has two extreme forms, so has albicolon (Gruenee's
* Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 194 and 196), but we do not apparently get
the darkest forms of the latter species in Britain, though there is a
great deal of variation in our specimens, and hrassicce has also two ex-
treme forms. With regard to another phase of variation in this genus,
a careful selection of varieties shows that the albicolon mark, supposed
to be characteristic of one species, is really well-developed in aberrant
members of all the other species, the only sjDecies in which it is not
traceable being in persicarice, but my series of the latter does not con-
tain specimens of those varieties in which the reniform is more or less
obsolete, and it is in such I should expect to find it. This genus is of
course closely allied to Hadena, although so far removed from each
other in our British lists. Ahjecta comes especially near to Hadena
adusta.

Mamestra, Och., ahjecta, Hb.

The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 539,
' Sammlung Europaischer Schmet.,' &c., which may be described as hav-
ing— "Anterior wings of deep, but clear, brownish (almost reddish) grey,
an abbreviated basal transverse line and a complete one in contact with
the inner edge of orbicular, both double ; a short dark longitudinal
streak under base of median nervure ; orbicular distinct, reniform out-
lined in white ; an oblique line from costa to median nervure between

110 VAEIETIES OF NOCTU^

stigmata ; a wavy transverse line just beyond reniform, followed by
four short longitudinal wedge-shaped spots. The dark longitudinal
mai-k under the stigmata in Newman's figure (' British Moths,' p. 298)
is absent. Tlie hind wings dark grey on outer edge, with pale base
and distinct lunule." Staudinger says : — " forma, al. ant. fere unioolor
magis nigris." I rather fail to follow how Staudinger can call Hiib-
ner's figure " almost unicolorous " ; it certainly is much more varie-
gated than many specimens we get, as the above description clearly
shows, but apparently much less so than the ordinary continental form
which he has named variegata. The most unicolorous forms that I
have seen are : — (1) a fine steely grey form from the coast of Lan-
cashire, var. fribolus ; (2) a fine black form from North Kent, var.
nigro-distincta ; and (3) an ochreous grey form, var. unicolor. Some of
my specimens much resemble Hubner's type (although I have never
seen a British specimen exactly like it), others are like Newman's
figure, besides the unicolorous forms. There is really very little doubt
that this species is in reality polymorphic, closely resembling its near
allies, the members of the genus Apamea, in this respect. It would
be impossible to classify the different forms except in a most general
way. Guenee does so by classifying them into those with ground
colour " grey-brown," and those with ground colour " grey black."
He writes : — " This species offers, like albicolon, two varieties : one of
a grey-brown and one of a grey-black. The first is the type of Hiib-
ner. The markings are rarely so well marked as in the figure of that
author." Guenee then divides the form with a black ground colour
into two varieties, the fribolus of Boisduval, an almost unicolorous
blackish form, and var. B, a black form with the markings more dis-
tinct. The lunulina of Ha worth agrees pretty correctly with Hiibner's
type. His summarised description is : — " Nodua alis fuscis strigis
lunularum pallidarum " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 192, No. 92).
We thus get the following forms : —
1. — Anterior wings much variegated with black and white markings

^ var. variegata, Stdgr.
2. — Brownish-grey ground colour, with distinct markings = abjecta,

Hb.
3. — Ochreous or brownish-grey, with no markings = var. unicolor.
4. — Blackish-grey, with distinct markings = var. nigro-distincta.
6. — Deep greyish-black, with indistinct markings = var. fribolus,

Bdv., = nigricans, Freyer.
a. var. variegata, Stdgr. — Staudinger's description of this variety
is as follows : — " Al. ant. thoraceque albido nigroque variis." I do not
think many of our specimens have much white about them. The most
variegated British specimen I have seen belongs to Mr. Eobson, and
was captured near Hartlepool. This is much irrorated with whitish
scales, and variegated with black ; I have one from Shoeburyness less
strongly marked. I would include all grey or brown, irrorated and
variegated specimens under this name.

/5. var. unicolor, mihi. — Anterior wings of a brownish-grey colour,
with an ochreous tinge, and with no distinct markings. This is our
more general unicolorous form, and is much more frequent than the
blackish grey unicolorous variety. On the east coast of Britain it is the
form more often met with than any other. I have it from Strood, the

JN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. Ill

neiglibonrhood of Hull, and Shoeburyness. A series that I have looked
over, taken by Mr. Robson at Hartlepool, belong principally to this
form.

y. var. nigro-distincta, mihi. — This is Guenee's var. B., which he
describes as follows : — " Similarly (to var. fribolus) of a greyish black.
All the markin'gs clearly written. Inferior wings with the outer
margin more deeply marked, and a more distinct lunule" ('Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 194). Guenee treats this only as a North American variety,
giving the State of New York and Canada as localities. I have speci-
mens of this form from Greenwich, and the neighbourhood of Ciiffe
(Kent) ; but although those from the latter locality are well marked,
they scarcely appear so, owing to the intense depth of the ground
colour. Mr. T. Baxter writes : — " I have specimens from Lytham and
here (S. Anne's-on-the-Sea) that come under your description of var.
nigro-distincta " {in litt.).

S. var. fribolus, Bdv. — This is the nigricans of Freyer. Guenee's
description is : — " Superior wings of a deep greyish black." Same
localities as type. 1 would include all unicolorous, greyish black
forms under this name. I have specimens from Shoeburyness, Deal,
near Ciiffe, and Fleetwood. There appears to be no doubt that the
steel-grey Lancashire specimens must be included under this varietal
name.

Mamestra, Och., sordida, Bork.

The type of this species is thus described in Borkhausen's
* Naturegeschichte der Europaischen Schmetterlinge,' p. 239 : — " It is
as large and nearly the shape of Noctua hrassicoe. The fore wings
mottled, with a mixture of earth-grey and pale dirty brown ; markings
extremely indistinct and pale. In some specimens three pale trans-
verse lines can be distinguished : the one at the base is very pale ; the
second has particularly strong zigzag marks near the inner margin ;
the third forms a slight semicircle. They are all paler than the ground
colour, but edged with darker. On the inner side of the third line is
a row of brownish moonshaped spots, which turn their hollow sides
inwards. Close to the hind margin is a pale zigzag line, which forms
in the middle a small Latin W. The ordinary markings between the
second and third transverse lines are very faintly marked ; the clavi-
form is indistinctly surrounded with whitish grey, and scarcely visible,
the reniform is strongly marked with blackish grey, outlined with
whitish, and with a grey centre ; the orbicular is pale brownish ; the
costa has some dark spots, and near the apex are a few yellowish spots.
Hind wings whitish grey, shaded with black at the outer margin ;
veins darker; transverse line sometimes traceable. This Noctua varies
considerably in the amount of light and dark shading of the wings ;
in some specimens the colour of the wings is very dark, and frequently
black is mixed with the ground colour."

This is another variable species, the ground colour extending
from a pale unicolorous ochreous grey, with scarcely any markings
(var. renardii), to a bright reddish ochreous (var. ochracea), through a
dark grey form much suffused with red (var. a«^eji)sj. to a form entirely
made up of a dark, dirty-grey ground colour, much suffused with darker
greyish brown (the type). The dark red suffused forms (var. anceps) and
the dark earth-grey and brown (the type) forms are much more common

1]2 VAEIKTIES of NOCTUiE

in Kent than any others, the pale ochreous and reddish ochreous forms
being rare. The var. renardii of Boisduval is an extreme development
of the pale ochreous form. Of the general variation of this species,
Guenee writes : — " It varies much, but all its modifications are too un-
important and unstable to constitute distinct races " (' Noctuelles,' vol.
v., p. 195). There would thus appear to be foifr fairly distinct
forms : —

1. — A pale unicolorous grey form = var. renardii, Bdv.
2. — A reddish ochreous form = var. ochracea.
3. — A dark grey form, mottled with reddish ochreous = var. anceps,

Hb.
4. — A grey form, mottled with dirty brown = var. sordida, Bork.

a. var. renardii, Bdv. — This is a very pale unicolorous variety of
sordida, with the markings in its extreme forms almost entirely absent,
but leading up by intermediate forms into the other varieties. Guenee,
in his * Noctuelles.' vol. v., p. 195, thus writes of this variety : — " This
is certainly only a very pale variety of anceps. All the markings have
disappeared, and the upper wings are entirely of a whitish ochreous
colour, with the exception of the terminal space, where there remains
traces of greyish colour. The lower wings and the underside are of a
pale shining whitish, without markings. North of France." This
variety apparently occurs but rarely in England. 1 have taken it at
Sandwich, Deal, and Strood, but have never met with it in any other
locality, although I have received it from Brighton. It occurs in both
sexes, and the hind wings show a large amount of difference in the
quantity of grey shading ; some having a distinct dark marginal band,
others agreeing with the above description, and being without any
very definite trace of it.

/3. var. ochracea, mihi. — This is a very pretty variety. It is of a
very pale yellowish ochreous ground colour, strongly tinged with red
(I have one specimen entirely reddish ochreous), with the stigmata and
transverse lines very pale grey. As in var. renardii there is scarcely
any of the dirty grey colour present in the type, except on the outer
margin. The variety occurs in both sexes. I have captured it at Deal
and Strood, and received it from Cambridge, but it is apparently a rare
form.

y. var. anceps, Hb. — The anceps of Hiibner is an extreme develop-
ment of the last variety, with the ground colour dark brown instead of
pale ochreous, but much mottled with reddish, as in that form. Hiib-
ner figures it in his ' Schmetterlinge,' &c., 484, the following being
the description made of it : — "Anterior wings ochreous brown, tinged
with reddish ; an abbreviated transverse line followed by a complete
basal line ; claviform outlined in blackish, the reniform and orbicular
in whitish ; directly beyond reniform, a double line internally edged
with black ; a pale wavy line close to hind margin, with a W-shaped
mark in its centre. Hind wings dark grey, with pale base ; two pale
transverse lines pass through the dark grey margin." I would include
under this varietal name all dark brownish forms mottled with red.
This is the most abundant form occurring in Kent, being much more
abundant than the type, which is of a greyish colour, marked with
dirty brown. The anceps of Hiibner is the usual form found near
London.

IIJ THS! BRITISH ISLANDS. 113

Mamestra, Och., furva, Hb.

The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 407,
which I have described as follows : — " Anterior wings reddish brown,
with an abbreviated, followed by a complete basal streak, both of
which are ochreous and very pale in colour ; stigmata outlined with
yellowish, a dark transverse line passes between the stigmata from
costa to inner margin, two pale wavy ochreous lines between the reni-
form and hind margin. Hind wings grey, dark on the outer edge,
with a pale line running through the darker part." My own note is
this : — " This is not a good figure oi furva as we know it, and presents a
strong superficial resemblance to Luperina cespitis, but the transverse
lines are different to those of that species, and agree exactly with those of
furva." Guenee mentions two varieties, both from Russia ; and Freyer
has figured another. Herr Hoffmann, in the ' Stettin Entomologische
Zeitung,' 1884, p. 365, writes of the Shetland furva: — "Kleiner und
dunkler als Stiicke aus den Schweizer Alpen," Guenee's description
(vide var. ochracea) of furva would answer very well for specimens I
have from Ayton (Berwickshire) and Paisley, except that the ground
colour is not yellowish brown ; but those from Aberdeen, Pitcaple and
Sligo are much darker. My Paisley specimens are of the ground
colour of Hiibner's type, whilst the German, Swiss, and French speci-
mens are paler. Our Aberdeen and Sligo forms apparently belong to
var. infernalis and var. silvicola, which only appear to be slight modifi-
cations of freyeri. Taking Hiibner's brown form as the type, —
Guenee's furva is a lighter, freyeri and infernalis darker, and silvicola
an extreme melanic form.

a. var. ochracea, mihi. — Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 197,
describes furva as : — " Anterior wings yellowish brown, with the three
first lines very distinct, wavy, geminated, and outlined with yellowish
in the middle ; the angulated line composed of lunules in contact, a
series of very small yellowish dots between it and the subterminal,
which is very distinct, yellowish, wavy, broken in the centre and
marked with an M, and preceded by three or four black wedge-shaped
marks. The three stigmata clear, the outline of the reniform yel-
lowish, the claviform short, black, often indistinct. Fringe spotted.
Inferior wings greyish yellow, with a broad dark border, cut near the
anal angle by a short clear line, and a large dark lunule." I do not
think we get so pale a variety of furva as this in Britain. Mr. N. F.
Dobree writes : — " I have specimens from Turkestan, and these agree
pretty closely with the var. ochracea " (in litt.).

fi. var. freyeri, Frey. — The type of this variety is figured by
Freyer in his * Neuere Beitrage,' &c., pi. 159. It has the "anterior
wings of a more blackish ground colour." But Guenee, in his
* Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 197, 198, writes : — " I have seen a specimen
sent from Germany under this name, which does not differ in tint from
the ordinary /Mn;a." My own description of freyeri is as follows: —
"Anterior wings blackish grey, with seven short black costal streaks,
with pale (almost white) transverse basal line ; orbicular and reniform
outlined in white, a pale wavy line directly beyond the reniform,
followed by a transverse row of pale ochreous dots, and a pale wavy
line (white), edged internally with blackish wedge-shaped marks (in

114 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiEl

contact) parallel to the hind margin. Hind wings pale grey, outer
margin dark grey, lunnle and nervures still darker."

y. var. infernalis, Ev. — " Eversmann, * Bull Mosc.,' 1842, = furva,
* Fauna Ural.,' p. 247," is the reference given by Guenee for this variety.
He also describes it as : — •' Differs but little from furva. It is a little
darker. The spaces in the stigmata are marked in brown. The dis-
coidal line of the under sides of the inferior wings is a little more
wavy, clearer, and appears a little on the upper side ; but these differ-
ences are very slight, and perhaps not constant. Localities : Casan,
Orembourg, and Ural " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 198). The specimens
I have from Aberdeen would apparently belong to this variety.

8. var. silvicola, Ev. — Guenee, also on p. 198, describes anothe??
Kussian variety as : — "Superior wings still darker, almost black, with the
stigmata and lines more or less absorbed by the ground colour. In-
ferior wings of a blacker shade. Thorax and anal tuft not mixed with
yellow scales. Locality : Woods of the Ural." The specimens I have
from Sligo would appear to belong to this variety.

Mamestra, Och., alhicolon, Sepp.

The type of this species is figured by Sepp in his ' Beschouwing
der Wonderen Gods,' &c., II., pi. 1, figs. 1-9 ; and is described by
Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 196, as : — " Anterior wings of
a blackish grey, on which stands out strongly the little white broken
C, which borders the lower and outer edge of the reniform. None of
the other markings are very distinct." Guenee also adds: — "I have
never found the type in our country (France), where the following
variety (brunnea) is found occasionally." I have taken this dark type
at Deal, and have also received it from Mr. Baxter, where it was taken
in the neighbourhood of Lytham ; but generally our British specimens
are the grey alhicolon of Stephens. Mr. N. F. Dobree, however,
writes : — " I have taken alhicolon through a series of years on the sand-
hills at the mouth of the Humber, and there the dark form predomi-
nates " (in litt.). Hubner also figures a dark brown form, which
Guenee says " occurs occasionally in France." There is a little vari-
ation in the character of the pale line, which is parallel to the hind
margin ; in some the line is fairly complete, in others it forms a row
of white dots, while in others they are distinctly yellow. There is
also a considerable amount of variation in the colour of the hind wings,
this variation not being sexual ; in some specimens the hind wings
are entirely dark grey, in some pale grey, and in others pale grey with
a dark hind marginal band. One of my Deal specimens has a trans-
verse row of white dots between the discoidal spot and the subterminal
line, and it is dusted with white along the nervures.

a. var. hrunnea, mihi. — This is Guenee's var. A, which he refers
to Hiibner's fig. 543. The note I made of Hubner's figure is as
follows : — " Anterior wings dark brown, but all the markings very
distinct." Guenee's description of the variety is as follows: —
" Anterior wings yellowish brown, more or less pricked out in blackish,
with the subterminal line of a yellowish white, broken up, but well
marked, and the ordinary lines more distinct than in the type. Inferior
wings paler, and tinged with the jellow of the upper wings " (* Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 196).

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 115

p. var. cinerascens, mihi. — This is the English form, which is
much greyer than the continental specimens. It is Guenee's second
var., which he calls albicolon, St., and he takes as his type, Stephens'
' Illustrations,' &c., vol, ii., p. 184, and pi. xxiv., fig. 3. He describes
it, ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 196, as: — "Anterior wings ashy grey,
strongly sprinkled with black atoms, with all the markings very dis-
tinct. The subterminal line as in var. A. The two stigmata paler and
clearer. The reniform almost entirely surrounded with white. The
black terminal points triangular, and well marked." The only locality
Guenee gives is " England." As a rule, our English specimens have
not the wedge-shaped spots so distinctly marked. Of this grey
(British) variety, Mr. Robson has a strongly-marked specimen, which
almost resembles Guenee's second var. albicolon, St. It is of a pale ocb-
reous grey ground colour, with the black transverse basal lines very
strongly marked, and the space between the strigae directly before and
beyond the reniform filled in with darker, so that it resembles a
narrow band. I have seen no other specimens like it.

Mamestra, Och., hrassiccB, L.

The type of this excessively abundant and widely distributed
species is described by Linnaeus, in the * Systema Naturae,' 10th edition,
p. 516, No. Ill, as follows: — " JVoc^wa spirilinguis cristata alis depressis
cinereo nebulosis : unco nigro supra maculam priorem." In the 12th
edition, p. 852, No. 163, he adds : — " Stigmata alee ordinaria punctis
albis notata et raargo inferior punctis 3 albis." It must be noted that
no mention is made in the Linn^an description of a subterminal
line, and mention is made of three white dots on inner margin. My
specimens have one or two of these dots present, not three ; and I have
specimens in which the subterminal striga is practically obsolete ; the
" uncus " is well seen around the claviform, and there are traces in
some specimens of another around the lower part of the orbicular. It
would appear that we rarely get specimens in Britain satisfying the Lin-
naean description of the type, our specimens being principally referable
to var. albicolon, St. Guenee, in his * Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 198, 199,
says of the variation of this species : — " It varies a little both in colour
and markings, but I have never seen a distinct race. Albidilinea of
Haworth has the reniform and subterminal line well marked in white ;
albicolon of Stephens is, on the contrary, of mixed colours, with the
claviform obliterated ; lastly, the figure d of Engramelle has a yellow
ochreous tint. These last specimens are generally smaller than the
type." Regarding this ochreous form, Mr. Dobree has specimens, a
description of which he has kindly given me {vide var. ochracea).
In England we appear to get three fairly distinct forms : — (1) Ashy
grey, mottled with darker on the costal margin and with ochreous on
the inner (the ochreous often with a reddish tinge), with distinct stig-
mata and subterminal line = var. albicolon, St. (2) An almost uni-
colorous blackish grey form, with all markings and lines, except
reniform, almost obsolete = var. unicolor. (3) An intensely black
form, with very distinct white subterminal line and reniform = var.
albidilinea. Hiibner figures (88) the pale form under the name of
brassicce. Mr. Gregson (' Entomologist,' iv., p. 52) writes : — " Of this
constant and abundant species I dare not say how many I have care-

116 VARIETIES OF NOCTU-*

^ fully secured, and the results are before me : — One very small perfect
specimen ; one of a smooth rich brown colour and without markings,
a large specimen ; and two large females having full white stigmata,
and a rich, distinct, wavy, light striga near the outer edge. These
are very striking insects." I have a very small specimen, but have
never seen one that could be called really brown, so that Mr. Greg-
son's specimen must have been a very unusual form. Taking the
mottled grey insect as the type, we have the following forms : —
1. — Ashy grey, mottled with darker, no ochreous colouring, white,

reniform, subterminal line more or less obsolete = brasstcce.
2. — Grey, mottled with ochreous, distinct stigmata and subterminal

line = var. alhicolon, St.
3. — Ochreous grey, mottled with darker, white reniform, subterminal

line present = var. ochracea.
4. — Unicolorous blackish grey, white reniform, obsolete subterminal

line = var. unicolor.
6. — Very black, white reniform, white subterminal line = var.

albidilinea, Haw.
a. var. ochracea, mihi. — This is the fig. d of Engramelle, 456.
Hiibner's figure (88) may be described as: — "Anterior wings pale
ochreous, with darker fuscous shades ; all the characteristic lines and
markings of brasstcce of a pale whitish ochreous. Hind wings grey,
margin darker than base, lunule distinct." None of our British speci-
mens appear to be referable to this variety. Mr. Dobree, however,
writes : — " I have specimens from Amurland, where it is very com-
mon. These are of quite a pale, warm ochreous ground colour, with
typical faint markings. Reniform white, and more compact than in
British specimens, and outlined with black. Orbicular, the same as
ground colour, with strong black outline, and beneath the orbicular a
conspicuous semicircular black mark facing inwards ; the subterminal
line almost obsolete " (in litt.).

/3. var. albicolon, St. — This would appear to be the more common
form of brassicce in the southern part of England, being mottled with
ochreous and dark fuscous, and with distinct stigmata and transverse
lines outlined in pale ochreous. Stephens' albicolon {' Illustrations,'
&c., ii., p. 195), however, had an " obliterated claviform," which is
not usually the case with the mottled variety.

y. var. unicolor, mihi. — Anterior wings dull blackish grey, with
the subterminal line almost obsolete, the markings, blending with the
dark ground colour, give it a very unicolorous appearance. The outer
edge of the reniform white, as in the type. My specimens are labelled
Nottingham and Westcombe Park, but I dare say it is found occasion-
ally wherever the type or var. albicolon is abundant.

8. var. albidilinea, Haw. — Haworth's description of albidilinea is as
follows: — '• Alis anticis nigricantibus, striga postica alte bidentata
albicante." " Statura et magnitude fere N. brassicce. Alse anticae
stigmatibus ordinariis, strigaque alte dentata juxta marginem posticum
albicante, exacte ut in Noctuis vulgo dictis ' Brocades.' " This extreme
variety is, I believe, rare. I have only one of this intensely black
form with distinct white markings. My specimen was bred from
pupae, sent me by Mr. Mottershaw, of Nottingham. Mr. Eobson, in
the * Young Naturalist,' vol. ix., p. 103, referring to Mr. Gregson's

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 117

specimens, mentioned above, describes them, and I have very little
doubt they belong to this variety. I have seen a specimen of Mr.
Kobson's belonging to this variety, but the subterminal line is more
ochreous than white. I would include all black specimens with
strongly-marked reniform and subterminal line under this varietal
name.

€. var. andalusica, Stdgr. — Dr. Staudinger has a variety in his

* Catalog ' under this name, which he describes as : — " dilutior, magis
unicolor." I thought that probably this variety might refer to my
var. ochracea, as this short description is so vague that it is impossible
to tell from it to what form Dr. Staudinger refers. Mr. Dobree,
however, in answer to a query, writes : — " Andalusica is certainly not
the Amur type. It is merely the pale form so constantly occurring in
all continental, as opposed to British, lepidoptera, the ground colour of
the Amur type {vide above) is ochreous, but that of andalusica is grey "
(in litt.).

Mamestra, Och., persicarice, L.

This species, as far as my knowledge extends, appears to be very
constant in Britain. I find a slight variation in the amount of ochreous
colour in the white discoidal, some variation in the extent to which the
orbicular is obsolete, and rather more in the character of the sub-
terminal line. I have some in which this latter is obsolete, others in
which it is represented by a more or less complete series of ochreous
dots, and but few in which it is quite complete. On the Continent,
however, it appears to be more variable, at any rate, so far as the dis-
coidal is concerned ; in some specimens it is ochreous, and in others
only of the ground colour. The former is, according to Guenee, the
accipitrina of Esper, the latter the unicolor of Staudinger, although, as
mentioned below. Dr. Staudinger considers accipitrina a distinct species.
The type of this species is described by Linnaeus, * Fauna Suecicae,' pp.
319, 320, No. 1208, as: — " Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alis f usco-nebu-
losis: macula reniformi albo pupilla lunari flavescente." "Alas
superiores fusco nigricantes, venis nebulosee, margine postico quasi
dentato atomis albis. Inferiores antice pallidae, postice fuscescentes
margine albido. Subtus omnes glaucescentes : fascia lata, obsoleta et
puncto nigro. Anus ferrugineus " ; and in the ' Systema Naturee,' p.
847, we read : — " Alarum superiorum margo posticus albo-dentatus."
Our specimens have an ochreous subterminal line, not " white."

a. var. accipitrina, Esp. (?) — Of this variety there are specimens
in the Doubleday collection (continental), with " the reniform ochreous,
and the whole insect much less strongly marked." Guenee says of
it : — " Accipitrina, Esp., * Die Schmet. in Abbildungen,'&c., pi. 129, fig.
4, appears, after what he himself states in his text, to be a purely acci-
dental and very singular variety oi persicarice." Dr. Staudinger, in his

* Catalog ' says : — " Accipitrina of Esper is another species, the var.
accipitrina of collections is not Esper's accipitrina." He then suggests
for the accipitrina of continental cabinets the varietal name of
unicolor.

j3. var. unicolor, Stdgr. — Of this variety, Staudinger says in his

* Catalog ' : — " Al. ant. absque macula alba." Mi*. Dobree writes : —
" I have specimens of this variety in my collection. It seems to be a
common continental variety " (in litt.).

118 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

Crymodes, Gn., exulisy Lef .
This most interesting and excessively variable species occurs but
rarely on the mainland of the British Isles, but in the extreme northern
islands it is sometimes fairly abundant, becoming in Iceland, Green-
land and Labrador one of the most common Noctu^. It is also one of
the most variable species, and large numbers of different forms have been
described by different authors, more especially by Dr. Staudinger in
his papers on the Entomology of Iceland. In 1889 and 1890 a very
considerable number were captured by the Rev. Dr. Walker, and Dr.
P. B. Mason, and exhibited at the meetings of the Entomological Society
of London. In * Entom.' xxii., p. 300, we read that Crymodes exulis
was common at Reykjavik and Thingvellir, and that one specimen of
a very dark type was taken at Triusvik. Of the variation in the
species Dr. Staudinger says : — " species incredibiliter aberrans ; an
prsecedentis (maUlardi) sp. Darw. ? " (' Catalog,' p. 100). This species is
comparatively rare in Britain, and my series is too short to attempt a
classification of the different forms, although some of those that I have
seen are very striking. I shall therefore only deal with those varieties
which have been described by other authors. The type is described
by Lefebvre in the 'Ann. Soc. Er.,' 1836, p. 392, and figured Plate 10,
2. His description is : — " <? . Alis anticis fusco-cinereo variis,
fascia media rufescente, maculis ordinariis cinereis, renif ormi dilutori,
striga postica dentata fulva ; fimbria fulvo fusco intersecta ; posticis
fulvo cinereis ciliis flavidis." He then remarks : — " This Noctuelle is
near Hadena adusta. Its fore wings are variegated above with grey
and brown, and traversed by a broad reddish -brown band, bordered on
each side by a black dentate line. In this band are the two ordinary
stigmata, grey in colour, the orbicular oblong and very oblique,
the reniform much clearer and edged exteriorly with white. Parallel
to the hind margin is a dentate line, of a clear fawn colour, and
bordered internally with a row of cuneiform spots of a deep brown.
Fringes reddish-brown with clear fawn-coloured markings. Posterior
wings greyish fawn-colour ; fringes yellowish-white." The specimen
came from " Labrador." Guenee writes of this type : — " It is near to
groenlandica, but its facies is different, and it resembles equally a
Hadena or a Luperina. Its superior wings are a little squarer, more
dentate, with the last tooth of the inner margin deeper. The median
space is deeper than the ground colour, the edging of the transverse
lines less black. The subterminal is more wavy, more continuous, and
its lighter portion forms a letter M. The two ordinary stigmata are
larger, the reniform longer. The fringe is more spotted. The inferior
wings also have the fringes of a very clear ochreous- white " (* Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., pp. 186 — 187). Guenee adds that his description was
made from the specimen that served as the type of M. Lefebvre. In New-
man's * British Moths,' p. 411, there is a description of C. exulis taken from
Continental specimens, in the collection of Mr. H. Doubleday, together
with figures of two different forms. On the same page, a comparison
is also drawn between exulis and var. assimilis. We read : — "It seems
desirable here to say a few words concerning Crymodes exulis, a species
to which the perfect insect, Hadena assimilis, has been referred by Dr.
Staudinger. In the first place I would remark that, supposing Cry-
modes exulis and Hadena assimilis to be identical, it is a remarkable

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 119

instance of one genus assuming the character of another, for I can in
no respect distinguish generically the two insects under consideration,
and yet the caterpillar of C. exulis, as described and figured by
Milli^re, seems to have little or no resemblance to the caterpillar of an
Hadena. Seeing that the name of Crymodes exulis (should it not rather
be Crymodes exul) has been introduced into our list, it seems desirable
to give figures and a description of authentic continental speci-
mens of that insect kindly lent me by Mr. Doubleday, and quote, from
Milliere's inestimable works, a description of the caterpillar." In the
* Entomologist,' vol. xvii., pp. 2 — 3, Mr. J. Jenner Weir, writes of
the capture of this species in the Shetland Isles by Mr. McArthur in
1883 : — " Of this insect, so rare in Britain, few were taken, but they
are fine and large, and vary exceedingly ; the yellow markings in
some are very well-defined bands ; a reference to the plate, Nos. 5, 6,
7, will show this peculiarity better than the most elaborate description.
This may be regarded as the most valuable species taken. The Ran-
noch form of the insect is also figured (No. 4) for comparison." In
the same volume, three different forms of the variegated varieties from
Shetland are figured, all more or less with well-defined yellow or
ochreous bands and lines (figs. 5, 6 and 7) whilst side by side the dark
Rannoch var. assimilis is figured for comparison. I have seen a great
number of figures of this species but scarcely two appear to be alike,
although roughly they may be classified as those which are practically uni-
colorous, those with pale longitudinal markings and those with distinct
ochreous transverse markings, but there is such apparent endless
variation that an attempt at classification would be useless without a
very long series for comparison.

a. var. gelata, Lef . — This variety is also figured and described by
Lefebvre. He writes of it : — " Hadena gelata. Alls anticis fusco-
cinereoque nebulosis, strigis tribus dentatis nigro-fuscis, maculis
ordinariis distincte albidis ; posticis fulvo cinereis, margine fuscis
ciliis flavidis." He also writes as follows : — " Superior wings grey-
browD, a clear space in the centre, three dentate transverse lines of a
brownish- black, one near the base, the two others a little distant from
the outer margin. The last (or third) is bordered exteriorly with
light yellowish and between the first and second lines the two ordinary
stigmata are very distinctly outlined with white but their inner areas
grey. These stigmata are separated by a blackish-brown patch which
extends a little below the orbicular. The fringe grey washed with
yellowish, is preceded by a row of small black lunules" ('Ann. Ent. Soc.
France,' 1836, pp. 393-394). Of this variety Guenee writes :— "It is
distinguished readily from the preceding (gelida, exulis and groenlandica)
by the transverse lines being strongly marked in black on a ground
colour of an uniform tint and almost without pale spaces, and by the
line on the inferior wings which, above, limits a sort of terminal band
separated from the fringe by a clear space, being more marked. The
streaks which are placed on the subterminal line are longer and more
pointed. The stigmata are bordered with black, which almost fills up
the space between them. The claviform is as black as the rest of the
markings" (' Nootuelles,' vol. v., p. 186).

p. var. groenlandica, Dup. — Of this form Guenee writes : —
" Superior wings well-rounded at the apex, of a greyish-brown tinted

120 VARIETIES O^ NOOTUiE

with yellowish ; powdered with white scales, the nervures concolorous ;
the transverse lines distinct, black, slightly outlined with white ; the
elbowed line dentate, followed by a series of clear, oblong marks,
placed on the nervures ; the subterminal angulated, above all in the
centre, each of the angles surmounted by a blackish chevron more or
less developed, and slightly preceded by a darker colour. The two
stigmata, filled in with greyish white and surrounded with blackish ; the
orbicular obliquely oval, the renif orm large, and well hollowed out ; the
claviform elongate, black, ill-developed exteriorly and tinted with
yellowish in the centre. Inferior wings of a greyish-yellow, fringe
whitish-yellow preceded by blackish streaks ; underneath, with the
lunule and transverse line blackish. ? a little more powdered with white
and with more distinct transverse lines " ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 185).

y. var. marmorata, H.S. — This is another variety figured by
Herrich-Schaffer in his ' Systematische Bearbeitung der Schmetterlinge
von Europa' (fig. 451). This figure represents a small specimen (not
much larger than Agrotis tritici) which may be described as having the
" anterior wings rich purplish-brown, with distinct white nervures ;
an incomplete, is followed by a complete ochreous basal line ; orbicular
and reniform outlined in pale ochreous ; elbowed line and line parallel
to outer margin also ochreous. Posterior wings grey, outer margin
darker, with a dark central line and lunule." Of this variety Guenee
writes : — " My poll is probably the species Herrich-Schaffer pablished
at first under the name of marmorata, which he recognised as incorrect,
and replaced in the text by the name cervina, which has not improved
matters, since another Noctuelle exists of that name " (' Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 187). The marmorata of Herrich-Schaffer does not appear
to agree with Guenee's poU, and since these are sunk as species, and
only exist as varietal names, marmorata takes precedence.

8. var. assimilis, Dbdy. — This variety was described by Doubleday
as a distinct species in the * Zoologist,' p. 1914, and the descrip-
tion copied into Newman's * British Moths,' pp. 410, 411, where
we read : — " The palpi are porrected, distant at the base, extremely
sharp-pointed, and rather incurved, or approximating towards
the tips; the antennae are perfectly simple in both sexes: the
forewings are ample and densely clothed with scales ; their
colour is the richest umber-brown, almost black, and glossed
with purple ; the discoidal spots are distinctly outlined in
ochreous-white, but there is a solution of continuity, or almost so,
on the inner side of each ; at the base of the wing is a pale spot, and
the disk of the wing is traversed by two transverse zigzag pale brown
lines, one within the orbicular, the other without the reniform ; the
hind marginal area between this second transverse line, and the hind
margin itself is traversed by eight pale parallel wing-rays, and each
joins a slender pale marginal line ; a minute white spot appearing at
each junction ; the hind wings are smoky towards the hind margin,
but paler at the base, andj have a distinct crescentic discoidal spot ;
the fringe is rather paler than the disk of the wing, and there is a
delicate pale line on the hind margin itself, similar to that on the fore
wings : the head and thorax are exactly of the same colour as the fore
wings ; the thorax is very stout and densely clothed with scales ; the
body has more the colour of the hind wings." Since Newman's book

m THE BEITISH ISLANDS, 121

was written, considerable numbers of this dark form have been cap-
tured in the Kannoch district, although on no occasion has it been
found commonly. But Newman only records four specimens, two taken
by Mr. H. Doubleday, and one each by Messrs. Stainton and Weaver.

€. var. geltda, Gn. — This variety is described by Guenee as
follows : — " It is certainly very near to groenlandica, but is much smaller
(37 mm). The superior wings are of a pale greyish-blond, with the
costa, lines and stigmata, whitish and less covered with black scales.
The orbicular is more rounded at least in the ^ . The fringes of all
four wings are of a yellowish- white. The sabterminal line is lost pos-
teriorly in the terminal space which is clearer. The $ is of the same
shade as the J^ , only the lines are bordered a little more conspicuously
with black and the reniform is more lengthened. The thorax is mixed
with ashy scales." Guenee then adds : — " Having only two specimens,
I cannot assert that the species is distinct. It has, however, a peculiar
appearance " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 186).

g. var. poll, Gn. — This variety is thus described by Guenee : —
" Smaller than horea. The superior wings, less square, of a brownish-
black mixed with white on the costa, the nervures lightly sprinkled
with white, the two stigmata clearly outlined in white, separated by a
black patch ; the reniform often of a reddish tint. A series of white
dots, very distinct on the nervures, is placed before the subterminal
line, which has on it a series of large cuneiform black spots, the
lighter part of the subterminal line being almost obsolete. Some black
lunules are situated just within the fringe, which is brown marked
with fine black lines. Inferior wings of a greyish-black, much clearer
at the base " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 187).

r]. var. horea, H. S. — Herrich-Schaffer figures this variety in his
* Systematische Bearbeitung der Schmetterlinge von Europa ' (figs. 566
and 567). This figure 566 may be described as : — " S' • Not larger
than Agrotis tritici, of a dull purplish-brown colour, an abbreviated
basal followed by a complete basal line ; the spaces just inside this
line and between the bases of the nervures being filled in with black ;
orbicular and reniform pale (whitish) ; the black elbowed line comes
well over the reniform at costa ; the line parallel to hind margin
whitish, with a complete row of black wedge-shaped spots on it ; ner-
vures whitish ; hind wings grey with a darger margin, central line and
lunule. Figure 567 represents a ? , which is similar to the ^ (567)
but duller, and hind wings greyer. This is hardly the borea of
Guenee which he describes as : — " Superior wings of a brownish-black,
more or less mixed with whitish or yellowish on the disc, with all the
nervures whitish and very distinct ; the median lines whitish and com-
posed of small lunules ; the ordinary stigmata of a yellowish-white
separated by black ; fringes of an ochreous- white tint ; hind wings as in
groenlandica. Female more uniformly black than the male and having
the outer transverse line as distinct as the elbowed line" ('Noctuelles,'
vol. v., pp. 186-187). It will be seen by these descriptions that the
horea of Herrich-Schaffer and the horea of Guenee represent two rather
different forms.

Pachetra, Gn., leucophcea, View.
Vieweg, in his * Tabellarisches Verzeichniss,' &c., p. 23, No. 28,
thus describes the type of this species: — " Noctua leucophoea alis in-.

122 . VARIETIES OF NOCTTiE

cumbentibus dentatis griseo fuscoque variegatis, maculis ordinariis
albidis." This short Latin diagnosis he follows up with a much fuller
description in German, as follows : — " The antennae of the males are
pectinated. The toothed fore wings are whitish grey, with darker
shades. In the middle of the wing are the orbicular and reniform
stigmata, both of a whitish colour. Beneath the orbicular stigma is a
black mark, like a Greek v. Near the hind margin runs a whitish
transverse line, with a row of black triangular spots, pointing to the
base of the wing. The hind margin is black and white-spotted. The
hind wings are grey. Under side of fore and hind wings with a dark
spot and a transverse line." This species is very rare in Britain,
although most cabinets contain specimens, which their possessors
believe are British. On the Continent, however, the species is in
many places common. Hiibner, under the name of leucophcea, figures
(fig. 80) a specimen of a pale grey ground colour, with a much darker
central band, having a purplish tinge. The darker markings, however,
are much as in the figure in Newman's * British Moths,' p. 295, but
there are only two of the black wedge-shaped spots parallel to the
hind margin. The specimen is a large female. Geyer, in his Sup-
plement to Hiibner's ' Sammlung europaischer Schmetterlinge ' &c.,
figures (817) another female, of bad shape, but purplish in colour.
Kegarding these purplish specimens, Mr. Dobree, writes: — "From
Asia Minor I have a pair, of which the female is a splendidly richly-
marked example of the purplish-tinged form ; the male is a lighter
pale grey." Fabricius describes this species under the name oifulmi-
nea, his description of the species agreeing almost precisely with that
of Vieweg. It is as follows : — " Bomhyx alis incumbentibus dentatis
griseo fuscoque variegatis, thorace antice albo ; striga nigra " (' Ento-
mologia Systematica,' &c., p. 484, No. 241). Newman, in his ' British
Moths,' p. 295, says, " tinged with ochreous," which has been the
case with several specimens I have seen. These " ochreous-tinged "
specimens would appear to be Hiibner's mstigialis (described below),
whilst a peculiar slaty form, with dark red central band, is figured by
the same author under the name of ravida. It is also the ochreous
form which is the leucophcea of ' Guenee's ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 177,
where he writes : — " Superior wings of a greyish white, tinged in
places with yellowish, and shaded with brownish black," &c., and Mr.
Dobree writes me that the " ochreous-tinged form is apparently the
prevailing one on the Continent, for, of the many I have received, all
are of this form " (in litt.). There is also a great deal of sexual differ-
ence, the males being not more than two-thirds the size of the females.
Taking the white and fuscous form as the type, there seem to be the
following varieties noted by other authors : —
1. — Speckled with ochreous zz= vestigialis, Esp.
2. — With the central area red = ravida, Esp.
8. — Smaller than type = bombycina, Ev.

a. var. vestigialis, Esp. — Esper (* Die Schmet. in Abbil-
dungen,' &c., vol. iii., pi. liii., (fig. 5) figures a form of leucophcea
under this name, of which I made the following description: —
** Male. Pectinated antennae ; ground colour greyish brown,
with yellowish nervures ; a white patch at base of wing directly
under costa, followed by a double whitish basal line, edged

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. ^ 128

interiorly with black. Claviform of ground colour outlined in
black and then with white ; orbicular reaching to costa, outlined in white
and then with black ; reniform also outlined in white and then with
black ; a black wavy line from base of reniform to the inner margin ;
six short black costal streaks above the reniform and towards the apex ;
a series of black wedge-shaped spots paiallel to hind margin ; fringes
alternately dark and pale grey. Hind wings grey, paler in centre and
towards the upper margin ; lunule in this paler space, dark hind mar-
gin, extreme outer edge whitish." His figure 4 on the same plate is a
female, " much more brightly marked, more variegated, orbicular not
reaching costa ; ground colour deeper, and with a slight reddish tinge,
a wavy transverse line parallel to hind margin." This variety is, as
mentioned above, the leucophcea of Guenee. Under this name I would
include all specimens speckled with ochreous.

/?. var. ravida, Esp. — Esper (' Die Schmet.,' &c., vol. iv.,
p. 145, fig. 1) figures another variety of leucophcea under this
name. The description I have made is as follows : — " Female.
Anterior wings grey, with a slaty shade along the costa, in which there
are four short black costal streaks ; there are also two black trans-
verse basal streaks ; the claviform brown, edged with black ;
reniform and orbicular slaty, outlined in pale. Directly beyond reni-
form is a white transverse wavy line, edged internally with black ;
all the wing, between this transverse line and the base, tinged with
reddish brown, except the costa and inner margin, which are of
a slaty colour ; a wavy W line parallel to the hind margin, pale, but
internally edged with black. The space outside this waved line, and
between it and the hind margin, deep reddish brown. Hind wings
dark grey, central area, which contains a dark lunule, paler ; im-
mediately beyond the lunule is a dark transverse line, extreme hind
margin paler." Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 178, writes of
this variety : — " all the median space reddish, lines and stigmata well
marked. Between the lunule and the subterminal shade of the inferior
wings is a median line. Locality, Bavaria."

y. var. bombycina, Ev. — Staudinger mentions in his * Catalog ' a
variety under this name, which is there described as " minor." I know
nothing of it.

Cerigo, St., mdtura, Hufn.

Thanks to Herr Hoffmann, of Hanover, I have been able to get
Hufnagel's description of this species f rom * Berlinisches Magazin,'iii.,p.
414. The description is as follows : — " Phalcena matura (Die Glanz-
motte). Anterior wings brownish grey, with white and light yellow
markings, which are generally surrounded with brown. Hind wings
light yellow, with a broad brown margin." It will at once be seen
on looking through a long series of this species, that there are two
well-marked extreme forms — one much marbled with white and red,
and with distinct transverse lines and stigmata ; the other with these
lines and markings very obscured, and the marbling, due to the white
and red scales, almost entirely absent, although these are joined by inter-
mediate forms. Newman in his ' British Moths,' pp. 295, 296, writes : —
" Their colour is various, most commonly bistre-brown of several
shades, yet sometimes tinged with brick-dust red, and always having

124 VARIETIES OF NOCTU-aiS

four transverse lines and the two discoidal spots mapped out, or, at least,
indicated in pale brown, grey or white." Guende, in his * Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 179, describes the variegated form under the name of cythereay
as also does Fabricius in his ' Entomologia Systematica,' &c., p. 57,
No. 157, where he writes : — " Noctua cristata alis incumbentibus
variegatis, striga alba ; posticis flavis, margine fusco." Hiibner figures
a striking form in his * Schmetterlinge,' &c., under the name of con-
nexa, with the red colour greatly predominating, while Esper's texta
(pi. 108, fig. 5) rejDresents the most obscure forms of this species.
Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 179, also remarks : — " One must
breed this species if one wishes to have fine specimens, for so fleeting
is the colour, that, even on emergence, it appears as if faded." Taking,
therefore, the variegated form as the type, I think it advisable to
refer simply to the two forms named by Hiibner and Esper.

a. connexa, Hb. — Anterior wings with the base reddish brown to
the first transverse basal line ; between the first and second basal lines
a broad black line from the costa to the inner margin. A -pale grey
line beyond the reniform, beyond which to the hind margin the
colour is blackish grey ; a wavy, red transverse line runs from
costa to inner margin. Hind wings pale yellow, with brown margin
and distinct nervures (Hiibner's ' Schmetterlinge,' &c., fig. 548).

fS. texta, Esp. — Esper, * Die Schmet. in Abbildungen,' &c., pi. 108,
fig. 5, figures a variety of matura under this name, of which the fol-
lowing is the description : — " Male. Anterior wings almost unicolorous,
dull purplish brown, with a dark streak parallel to the costa from base
to reniform, and two dull basal lines; no orbicular, but distinct
reniform ; a dull wavy line parallel to hind margin. Hind wings
yellowish, with a dull purplish grey hind margin." Although this
description would scarcely apply to any of our specimens of matura,
there is no doubt that Esper had before him an obscurely marked
specimen of this species. I think this name should therefore, stand
for all specimens of the obscure form.

Neuronia, Hb., popularis, Fab.

This species was described more than once by Fabricius. His
description, taken from the 'Entomologia Systematica emendata et
aucta,' &c., p. 484, No. 240, is as follows : — " Bombyx* alis incumben-
tibus fuscis albo venosis posticis albidis. Statura prsecedentis
(graminis). Antennse pectinatse, f uscas. Alae anticae fuscas venis albis.
In medio maculee ordinariae pupilla obscuriore. Versus apicem striga.
e maculis parvis, sagittatis, atris. Posticae albidas margine obscuriore
subtusque puncto central i, fusco." Haworth, in the ' Lepidoptera
Britannica,' p. 117, describes the species under the name oi popular itts ;
whilst Hiibner figures a form tinged with pink under the name of
graminis. The variation of this species appears to be confined within
very narrow limits. In some specimens the orbicular is large, and
formed of a dark centre surrounded by white or ochreous, in others
it is a pale spot, while in others it is almost obsolete ; the reniform
also varies in colour and size. The transverse lines are sometimes
white, sometimes ochreous, sometimes tinged with pink, as in Hiibner's

* It must .be borne in mind that the early lepidopterists classed all our
Noctua with pectinated antennae as Bombtces.

liT THlC iRITISfl ISLANDS. l2S

grdmtnis. There is also a considerable amount of difference in the
intensity of the dark grey border to the hind wings of the males. In
some it may be described as black, so intense is it ; while in other speci-
mens there is every grade of intensity to an almost total absence. In
both sexes there is a great deal of difference in the development of the
dark wedge-shaped marks parallel to the hind margin, but the males
vary most in this respect. There is a great deal of sexual difference,
the males being, as a rule, much smaller than the females. Mr.
Dobree writes : — " In a male I have from Central Russia, the ground
colour is slate-grey " (in litt.).

a. var. graminis, Hb. — Hubner's fig. 59 has " all the pale longi-
tudinal and transverse markings with a distinct pinkish tinge, hind
wings also pinkish." The markings are as in our British specimens,
the only difference being that of colour, although our British speci-
mens often have the nervures tinged with pink.

Neuria, Gn., reticulata, Vill.

The type of this species is described in De Villers' * Caroli Linnaei
Entomologia Fauna Suecicee,' &c., ii., p. 254, as follows : — " Phalcena
Noctiia (le reticulee) spirilinguis, thorace cristato-angularie, alis deflexis
fuscis, rivulis reticulatis griseis. Alae superiores brunneae, lineis
strigisquegriseis quasi reticulatsB ; in medio prope marginem exteriorem,
macula grisea ovaliformi duplicique circulo. Alee inferiores infra et
supra grisese." This is one of our most constant species in Britain.
In the series I have, the only noticeable point of variation is in the
shape and direction of the stigmata (orbicular and reniform) ; but it
does not appear to be so invariable, in the ground colour at least, on
the Continent. Hiibner, under the name of typica, figures a rich
purple-brown variety ; while Guenee says of the French specimens : —
" The two median lines geminated, tinted with rose colour " (* Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 167). Probably these brightly-coloured forms exist
in collections in Britain. Mr. N. F. Dobree writes : — "N. reticulata is
so scarce in this part of the E. Eiding (Beverley) that I have never
taken more than two ; but these still retain a decided vinous tinge,
though taken five years ago " (in litt.). Our ordinary British form was
described by Haworth under the name of marginosa (' Lepidoptera
Britannica,' p. 195, No. 101).

a. var. typica, Hb. — Hiibner figures (58) the type of this variety,
of which I made the following description : — " Anterior wings of a
rich purplish brown, with the longitudinal nervures nearly absent,
otherwise much like our own specimens ; the three pale transverse
lines and stigmata outlined in pinkish grey. Hind wings grey, hind
margin darker, with three white dots in centre of extreme outer
margin ; a distinct transverse line and lunule."

(3. var. unicolor, Stdgr. — This variety is mentioned by Staudinger
in his trade list, and in answer to a query Mr. Dobree has written : —
" The var. unicolor derives its name from being a uniform brown-grey,
the nervures and markings being pricked out in a lighter shade of the
ground colour. My specimens are from Kaschgar, in Eussian Turkes-
tan " {in litt.).

Heliophohus, Bdv., hispida, Hb.-Gey.

Geyer's figures 784-86, in his Supplement to Hubner's * Schmet-

11^6 VARIETIES Olf NOOTU^

terlinge/ &c., represent the type of this species. His figure 784 may
be described as : — " Anterior wings purplish-brown, with all the pale
markings of a delicate violet, except along the inner margin, where
they are yellow. Antennas pectinated. Hind wings grey, darker on
the hind margin, with a dark line parallel to the hind margin." His
figure 785, is the under side of the male represented in fig. 784 ; while
figure 786 is a female, having " the anterior wings dark reddish
brown, with all the pale transverse lines ochreous, and nervures
white." I believe the oditis of Hiibner (fig. 694) is only a small
hispida $ . It would appear that the continental specimens of this
species are, in general, more violet than our British specimens, for in
the * Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 172, Guenee, describing his var. A, says, "less
violet," thus leaving us to assume that their type, which he refers to
Hiibner's fig. 784 is violet-coloured. For this type he gives as a lo-
cality " Provence." Eegarding these violet-tinged hispida in England,
in answer to a query from me, Mr. Nelson M. Kichardson, B.A., writing
from Weymouth, says : — " I cannot see anything worth calling a violet
tinge on any of my specimens : there is an approach to a violet tinge
on the transverse line just beyond the reniform, but I should not
mention it in a description as such, as it is scarcely violet, but rather
steel-grey." I have received specimens from Mr. Kichardson, and
Colonel Partridge, captured at Portland in 1888, and I have a number
of specimens from Torquay, but none of these show the typical violet
coloration. I have also bred several from Portland pupae and these
show no trace of it. , It is remarkable that the specimens from Portland
have a much clearer white ground colour* than those from Torquay, —
the hind margin of the anterior wings with a broad silvery band ;
while those from the latter place have only a fine line, and the hind
wings of the former are so white that they present a very different
appearance to Torquay specimens. The latter, indeed, appear to be
very close to Hiibner's oditis. Among our ordinary British specimens,
we appear to have four (at least) distinct forms ; —
1, — A dark brown form, with deep ochreous stigmata, and dark

ochreous grey hind wings in both sexes =: var. snffma.
2. — A dark brown form, with silvery white markings, white band
on hind margin, hind wings comparatively pale = var.
argentea.
3. — A pale brownish grey form, with white markings and white hind

wings =:z var. pallida.
4. — An obsolete form, with no markings whatever between the reni-
form and outer margin = var. obsoleta.
a. var. intermedia, mihi. — An intermediate form, described by
Guenee as var. A, which serves to connect Hiibner's violet type with
our British specimens which are without such a tint. It is described
in his ' Noctueiles,' vol. v., p. 172, as : — " Generally paler, more yellow,
less violet, with the lines and stigmata more decided, of a clearer white.
The inferior wings clearer. Locality, West of France." If Guenee
did not leave us to suppose that this variety was violet-tinged, I
should certainly suppose it was the same as the ordinary Portland
specimens.

* This is worthy of notice, as the same difference exists in specimens of
Epwnda lichenea from these localities.

IK THB BRITISH ISLANDS. 12?

p. var. suffusa, mihi. — Ground colour dark brown, with the
stigmata of a deep ochreous colour, the transverse lines and nervures of
a whitish ochreous in the males, yellow ochreous in the females, a fine
line bordering the hind margin ; fringes grey. Hind wings grey in
both sexes, with a very dark outer margin, and a dark transverse line ;
fringes grey. This is by far the most suffused form I have seen. My
specimens came from Torquay.

y. var. argentea, mihi. — Ground colour dark brown, with longitu-
dinal nervures and basal transverse lines white ; orbicular and reniforin
white, with a faint yellow tinge ; a transverse grey (almost steel-grey)
band beyond the reniform, and a broad white line parallel to the hind
margin. Hind wings white, with a broken grey hind marginal band,
and a grey transverse line ; fringes white. The ground colour of the
females is darker. My specimens came from Portland.

8. var. pallida, mihi. — Ground colour grey, very pale, with a slight
brownish tinge ; costa very pale, whitish ochreous ; a broad white Ime
at hind margin ; fringes white. Hind wings white, with scarcely a
trace of the grey marginal border, and only the basal part of the grey
transverse line; fringes white. This is an extreme form of var.
argentea. Of this variety, Mr. Nelson Kichardson writes : — " This is a
more common var., and very pretty, .... I think the pale hispidus is
the prettiest form of the species " (in litt.). My specimens came from
Portland.

e. var. obsoleta, mihi. — A very peculiar form of the insect. Ground
colour dull grey, with very few pale markings ; a pale abbreviated
transverse basal line, a complete one just before the orbicular, a bifurcate
transverse median line, extending under the orbicular to the reniform,
and the central part of the basal nervures, are the only pale markings,
besides the orbicular, reniform, and a line parallel to hind margin.
There is scarcely a trace of the ordinary pale markings between the
reniform area and hind margin. Hind wings as in var. argentea. This
appears to be a rare variety, for Mr. Eichardson writes : — " This does
not seem to be a common var., as I have only seen one or two others
with so little in the way of light markings " (in litt.). I have only
Portland specimens.

^. var. oditis, Hb. ? — I am not certain that Hiibner's figs. 694, and
695, oditis, really represent a variety of hispida, but I firmly^ believe it
is the same as my var. suffusa. If Hiibner's oditis really is this species,
the name would take priority of Geyer's hispida. My description of
oditis is as follows : — " $ . Looks like a small hispida. Anterior
wings brown, all nervures, transverse lines and stigmata yellow-
ochreous. Hind wings grey, darker on margin, a dark line parallel
to hind margin, and dark lunule." Fig. 696 is the under side of fig.
694. Guenee, referring to od^Ws, says ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 172): —
" I have not seen it, and know no one who possesses it."

Charceas, St., graminis, L.

The type of this destructive, and occasionally superabundant
species is described by Linnaeus in his 'Systema Naturse' (10th edition),
p. 506, No. 50, as : — " Bomhyx spirilinguis alis depressis griseis ; linea
ramosa lunulaque glaucis." It is a most variable species, not only in
ground colour, which varies from a dull grey through different shades

128 VARIETIES OF KOOTUifi

of brown to a ferruginous red, but in the character and quantity of the
pale markings. The type has the branched central line and reni-
form glaucous ; most British specimens have them white ; whilst
others have only the forked end of the central line and reniform white,
the base of the line and branches being almost of the ground colour,
whilst, on the other hand, I have specimens in which the white median
nervure develops into a broad band, with many branches, running
longitudinally through the centre of the wing from the base to beyond
the reniform. As in all this family, there is great variation in the size
and shape of the stigmata, and the females are, as a rule, much larger,
and less liable to variation than the males. Mr. Porritt writes me that
" red and grey forms in both sexes occur in the Huddersfield
district." There are numbers of intermediate forms, but the following
are some of the most striking forms that have been described : —
1. — Grey, with branched central line and stigmata glaucous =

graminis, L.
2. — Grey, with white three-branched central line, stigmata yellowish

:r:= grammeus, Haw.
3. — Eed-brown, with ochreous ramose central line, ochreous stigmata

z= tricuspis, Esp., <^ .
4. — Red-brown, with white ramose central line, whitish stigmata =

var. rufa (:= tricuspis, Hb.).
5. — Grey, with red costa, with ochreous ramose central line, ochreous

stigmata = var. rufo-costa (== graminis, Hb.).
6. — Dull yellowish brown, with ochreous ramose central line, ochreous

stigmata = hiburnicus, Curt.
7. — Pale ochreous yellow, with dark nervures, white orbicular and

reniform with a bifid line joining base of reniform = var. ochrea

(:= tricuspis, Esp. $ ).
The first five make the only reasonable method of arrangement
of the varieties which can be readily adopted, and include most of the
general forms. It will be seen from Herr Sven's paper, which
follows, that the description of his var. brunnea would include not only
Nos. 3, 4, and 5, but also his own albipuncta and Boisduval's albineura ;
megala apparently belongs to the same group as 6 and 7, but I know
nothing of it beyond the information kindly given by Mr. Dobree.
From Curtis's figure, pi. 451, it can be seen that No. 6 is only an ex-
treme modification of No. 3, and I have never seen an extreme form like
No. 7, although Mr. Dobree has it from Southern Germany. Two other
marked forms occur ; one (var. obsoletd), of an unicolorous dull grey-
brown, with all the ordinary pale transverse lines of the same colour
as the rest of the wings, but slightly paler, the whitish reniform and
a white blotch at its base alone being distinct of all the original mark-
ings ; another form (var. pallida), has the central ramose line developed
into a large white blotch. In Humphrey and Westwood's ' British
Moths,' p. 113, we find : — " Varieties occur with the fore wings of an
uniform colour, except the pale yellow marks and stigmata ; and others
have the latter markings edged with black on a plain ground." Thanks
to Mr. Dobree, I am able to append a translation of the following ex-
tract, written by Herr Sven, and published in the Scandinavian * En-
tomologisk Tidskrift,' 1884, pp. 160-1 : — " As supplement of the
foregoing (an article * On the abundance of and damage done by

JN THE BBITI8H ISLANDS. 129

Charceas graminis') by Lektor Holmgren ; on the * Grasmasken,* Mr.
Sven has added the following more precise description of the varying
forms under which graminis appears with us * : — ' It varies very much
in size and colour, and although no precise definition of either
can be given, they may be placed in two groups: — I. Graminis,
Linn. ' Sys. Nat.,' x., 506 ; Esp., 68, fig. 1. — Fore wings, ground colour
brownish or reddish grey. II. Yar. brunnea. — Fore wings, ground
colour red-brown {graminis Hb. 480 (?), 481 ; Bd., pi. Ixxiv., fig. 5).
As regards the markings of the fore wings, these are also subject to
much variation ; of the many specimens collected by Lektor Holmgren,
the following are the most marked variations: — Ab. tricuspis, Esp.
(Hiibner's fig. 143 varies but little from the type) — Fore wings have
no other markings than the usual spots, with the white nervures which
are connected with the outside bottom corner of the reniform. This
form seems to occur in our northern latitudes. Ab. albipuneta. — Fore
wings reddish-brown with blackish nervures, with a white spot at the
bottom corner of the reniform. Ab. albineura, Bdv. * Ic.,' 74, 4. — The
same points as the former, but the cells are black at the base and
between the median nervures, and also at the outer edge." These
descriptions are not very precise or clear, and the references seem in-
correctly given in some instances. The paper is useful, however, as
being one of the few attempts to classify the varieties of one of the
species of the Noctu^ by a continental lepidopterist.

a. var. gramineus, Haw. — No. 2, above. This is described by
Haworth as : — " Alis griseis linea trifurca alba, stigmatibus pallidis,
lineolisque acutis ad apicem atris." " Affinis praecedentibus (popularis)
at duplo minor ; antennis ferrugineis minus pectinatis et absque strigis
moniliformibus. Maris alse anticse griseae linea media trifurca albida a
basi post medium ducta ; supra lineam maculis tribus nigris difformi-
bus parvis et stigmata ordinaria lutescentia circulo pallidiore : subtus
lineam macula altera nigra trigona, et stigma tertium teliforme lutes-
cente nigro cinctum sed aliquo interruptum ; subtus hoc stigma lineola
nigra ad marginem tenuiorem prope basin. Ordo trans versus punctorum
nigrorum cuspidatorum versus marginem posticum. Alae posticae
fuscae, ciliis flavicantibus " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' pp. 117, 118).
This is probably the most common form occurring in Britain. I have
it from Glasgow, Sligo, Yorks, and many other localities, north and
south.

/?. var. tricuspis, Esp. — No. 3, above. Esper's tricuspis, (' Die
Schmet. in Abbildungen,' &c., plate Ixviii., figs. 2 and 3),
may be described as follows : — Fig. 2, <^ . " Anterior wings
deep reddish brown, with a short, two-forked, longitudinal, basal
mark starting from centre of thorax ; between this and the
base, and extending along the median nervure, is an ochreous
longitudinal blotch, which is in contact with the orbicular and reni-
form, the blotch branching beyond the reniform. All the markings
dull ochreous grey." Esper's fig. 3 is a pale ochreous form, which he
calls a 2 > but from the tufted anal segment it would appear to be a 3^ .
Of tricuspis, Esp., Guenee writes : — " The ordinary stigmata and the
bidentate spot confluent, also the claviform, and prolonged in bright
yellow almost to the base of the wing " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 176).

* In Scandinavia.

I

130 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiE

This should include all reddish forms with ochreous markings. I have
this variety from Sligo, Glasgow, Morpeth, &c. Continental lepi-
dopterists often send out as trtcuspis, Esp., varieties which differ very
much from Esper's figure ; many of the specimens have a white
central line instead of ochreous, and others are more like Haworth's
gramineus.

y. var. rufaj mihi. —No. 4, above. This is Hiibner's trtcuspiSf fig.
143, which may be described as : — " Anterior wings dark reddish, with
a pale streak below the costa ; orbicular indistinct ; the pale median
nervure, touching the base of the orbicular and reniform, makes at
the base of the reniform two distinct white branches ; the wedge-
shaped spots parallel to the hind margin are preceded by a pale band."
Of this variety Guende says : — " Hiibner's fig. 143 is a strongly-
marked variety, but entirely accidental " ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 176).
Herr Sven, on the other hand, as may be noted in the extract from his
paper just quoted, says : — " Hiibner's fig. 143 varies but little from the
type." I quite agree with Guen^e that it is a strongly marked form.
Staudinger's description of tricuspis, Esp., does not apply so well to that
form as to var. rufa. He says : — " Al. ant. unicolor rufescentibus,
mac. magna trifida alba" ('Catalog,' p. 89). This name should include all
red forms with white markings. I have this variety from Sligo, Glas-
gow, Yorkshire, &c.

8. var. rufo-costa, mihi. — No. 5, above. This is Hiibner's graminis^
fig. 480, which may be described as : — " Anterior wings grey, with
bright red costa from base to apex ; stigmata ochreous, median nervure
branched, ochreous ; that part of the wing just around the stigmata
dark reddish brown ; beyond the reniform a broad red patch extends
from the costa to the inner margin ; the ordinary row of wedge-
shaped spots parallel to the hind margin." I would include all forms
with a red costa under this name. I have only specimens from the
Hebrides of this variety, but it undoubtedly occurs elsewhere.

€. var. Mbernicus, Curt. — Curtis' description (* British Entomology,'
p. 451) is as follows : — "Dull yellowish brown ; superior wings with an
elongated pale ochreous spot at the base above the central nervure, and
another subelliptical one more towards the middle, with a lemon-
shaped one above it ; beyond the middle is a trapezoid spot resting on
a trifid character all of the same pale colour, some of them being par-
tially relieved by a dark brown ; between the nervures, at the posterior
margin, are obscure, elongate-trigonate brown marks ; abdomen and
inferior wings fuscous, cilia pale ochreous." He then adds : — "I am fully
aware that C. graminis is a most variable species ; but as I have never
seen one similar to the specimen figured, I consider it may be a dis-
tinct species. It was captured last September, in the county of Mayo,
Ireland." I have this variety from Mr. Kuss, of Sligo ; and Mr.
Gregson ('Entom. iv., 51) records it from Staleybridge Brushes.

J. var. ochrea, mihi. — No. 7, above. Anterior wings of a pale
ochreous yellow, with dark nervures, with whitish or ochreous reni-
form and orbicular, the former joined with a bifid line, the extension
of the pale central line. It is figured by Esper (pi. Ixviii., fig. 3), as
a ? of var. tricuspis. 1 have never seen specimens of this variety.
The nearest approach that I have to this form came from Mr. Russ of
Sligo.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 131

rj. var. obsoleta, mihi. — Anterior wings unicolorous dark grey, with
no pale markings whatever, except the trifid mark made up of the
reniform, and a bifid patch joined below it. I have this variety from
Mr. Finlay of Morpeth, Mr. Euss of Sligo, and it is obtained by Mr.
Harrison of Barnsley.

6. var. pallida, mihi. — Anterior wings dark grey, but the white
central median line developed into a broad white band, including the
claviform, orbicular and reniform, and extending over the whole of
the centre of the wing. This is an extreme development of Ha worth's
var. gramineus. I have this variety from Sligo and also from Yorkshire
localities.

t. var. megala, Alph. — In 1883, Dr. Staudinger had in his trade
list a doubtful variety of this species from Turkestan. The name I
find is also retained (as a distinct species, however) in the last trade
catalogue of Herr Heyne, Leipzig. Of this variety Mr. Dobree
writes : — " I obtained a male, which is small, and closely resembles
tricuspis, Esp., differing only in that the ground colour, blotch, and
markings are all fainter, giving the insect a more generally unicolorous
look." This would appear to be closely allied to our var. obsoleta.

K, var. albineura, Bdv. — Boisduval, in his * Icones ' &c., pi, 74, fig.
4, figures a variety of gramims, which I have been unable to refer to.
In his * Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 176, Guenee writes : — " I have not
seen in nature Boisduval's albineura, which appears to be simply a
variety of graminis;'' and in the * Entomologisk Tidskrift,' 1884, p.
161, referring to this variety, Herr Sven writes: — "Liknar hufvud-
f or men (var. albipuncta, Sven), men cellerna aro svarta uti framvin-
games basal-och mellanfalt, samt nara utkanten," so that it would
apparently be closely allied to Esper's tricuspis, although from Herr
Sven treating them as distinct it could hardly be a synonym of this
variety.

A. var. albipuncta, Sven. — Herr Sven, * Entomologisk Tidskrift,'
1884, p. 161, describes a variety as : — " f ramvingarne rodbruna, med
svartaktiga ribbor, samt en hvit punkt i njurflackens bakkant, J ,
Sallsynt ; " i.e., fore wings red-brown with blackish nervures, and
with a white spot at the lower corner of the reniform.

/A. var. brunnea, Sven. — Sven, ' Entomologisk Tidskrift,' 1884, p.
161, describes his var. brunnea as: — " f ramvingarnes grundfarg rod-
brun ; " i.e. fore wings with the ground colour red-brown, but this is
so general a description that it would not only include vars. rufa and
rufo-costa, but his own var. albipuncta as well as the albineura of Bois-
duval and the tricuspis of Esper, so that the name is useless as a varietal
one.

Aporophyla, Gn., australis, Bdv.

This is an exceedingly variable species, and the type from Southern
Europe differs a great deal from most of our British forms. Our
British specimens generally have the markings sharper, more clearly
defined, and black instead of brown, but our specimens vary very much
in intensity inter se, and the Continental specimens even more perhaps
than our own. Some of our specimens are pale and almost devoid of
markings, others are very dark, but we do not in England appear to get
the very dark variety orientalis referred by some authors to this species.
There is running through the different varieties, Continental and

182 VARIETIES OP NOCTU^

British, a sexual variation, the females being always darker, both in the
anterior and posterior wings, than the males, and the markings are, as
a rule, rather more distinct in the $ 's ; in British males there is also
a little variation in the hind wings, some having them pure white,
while others have a distinct grey hind margin. The hind wings of the
females are always wholly grey. The type of this species is described
by Guenee as : — " Superior wings with the fringe alternately marked
with brown and ashy ; of a clear ashy-grey colour, with the costa, a
part of the stigma, the inner margin and a series of longitudinal sub-
terminal spots, and the nervures of a carmelite-brown. The two
transverse median lines very fine, black, more or less distinct, very
much bent, zigzag and then uniting to form a long rhomboidal ring,
which traverses the submedian nervuie. The three stigmata more or
less visible, brown, finely ringed with black. All these markings a
little obliterated in the male, more distinct in the female. Inferior
wings of a pure white in the (^ , shaded with brown in the $ , with the
nervures more or less tinted with brown. A black line on the top of
the collar" (Guene'e's * Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 151, 152). The two
transverse median lines mentioned in this description, are the one
before and the one beyond the stigmata, which join in our British
specimens to form, sometimes a ring, sometimes a dark dash under the
reniform and orbicular. The English form is known under the
varietal name of pascuea, while the scriptura of Freyer and Herrich-
Schaffer and also the orientalis of the latter are referred to this species, as
is also Freyer's ingenua by Staudinger. Freyer's australis, vol. iii., pi.
209, is dark grey with a brownish tinge on the costa, the reniform
outlined in brown, the orbicular oval and rather narrow and outlined
in black, nervures dark grey, the inner margin and centre of wing
(below stigmata) pale with a slight ochreous tinge ; a series of wedge-
shaped spots from the costa to just beyond the anal angle, parallel
with, and at a short distance from the hind margin ; two V-shaped
marks arranged thus >< under the stigmata ; fringe dark ochreous.
Hind wings grey with the base paler and dark nervures." Herrich-
Schaffer's plate 32, fig. 159, is a male, 'pale ochreous-grey, with a red-
dish costa, reniform ochreous outlined in grey, the orbicular almost
lost in the dark shade on costa; two transverse lines, one before, and one
beyond the stigmata, and traces of the ordinary wedge-shaped spots.
Hind wings white with faint nervures and traces of lunule. His fig.
160 is a $ ' slightly darker and less distinct markings than in the male.
Hind wings dark grey, base paler.' Guenee gives as localities for the
type " Provence, Corsica."

a. var. pascuea, Curt. — A full description of this variety is given
with plates of both sexes in Newman's * British Moths,' p. 289. All
our ordinary British specimens would be included under this name, as
they differ so much from Continental specimens. Dr. Staudinger says
of this variety : — •' IVJagis variegata, cinerascens, distincte nigi'o-signata.
Localit}^, Anglia " (' Catalog,' p. 96). Guenee in his ' Noctuelles,' vol.
v., p. 152, gives a very complete description of a specimen then in the
Doubleday collection. Staudinger's summary contains the pith of
Guenee's description. It is useless to further describe a variety that is
well represented now in all our cabinets.

p. var. scriptura, Freyer. — The type of this variety is Freyer's vol.

rk THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 133

iii., pi. 55, fig. 2. of which I made the following description : — "Rather
larger than our British amtrali}<, colour slaty-grey, with the base and
outer margin dark grey, the wedge-shaped spots developed into lines
reaching the outer margin, the stigmata as in australis, the reniform
not ochreous ; a waved transverse line beyond the reniform from the
costa to the inner margin. Hind wings dark grey, nervures darker."
Probably this figure represents a female. Herrich-Schaffer's figs. 504:
and 505 which are also referred to scriptura represents a ^ and $ .
Fig. 504 ( J ) is " rather large for australis, of a slaty-grey ground
colour, completely marbled with ochreous-grey. The markings are
very indistinct and confused, but a basal transverse line, with the or-
bicular and reniform outlined in slaty, and a much waved slaty
transverse line just outside the reniform, are distinct ; traces of two or
three wedge-shaped markings. Hind wings white with dark nervures."
His fig. 505 is a ? and " is much like 504 but darker grey, and look-
ing still more suffused. Hind wings dark grey, with pale almost
white base and distinct dark nervures." It will be seen that although
Herrich-Schaffer's insects are referred to Freyer's scriptura, they accord
but little with them. Staudinger simply says of the variety " obscurior."
Guenee says it appears closely allied to australis and gives Turkey as
its locality, but following Herrich-Schaffer, treats it as a distinct
species.

y. var. ingenua, Frey. — This form of Freyer's plate, 508, fig. 1,
appears to be intermediate between var. scriptura and var. orientalis.
It has the dark colour of orientalis but has the longitudinal dark mark-
ings of australis and scriptura. The following is the description I
made of Freyer's figure : — " Anterior wings dark blackish-grey with
the ordinary black, longitudinal and transverse markings of australis
visible ; the reniform outlined in grey and the external edge of the
wedge-shaped markings, parallel with the hind margin, with pale dots
externally ; these dots the only pale markings ; fringes alternately
dark and pale. Hind wings pale grey." The specimen is a $ .
Staudinger says of it : — " al. ant. unicolor obscuris " (' Catalog,'
p. 96).

8. var. orientalis, H. S. (?) — Whether this is an extreme variety of
australis or not is open to question. It is figured by Herrich-Schaffer
in his ' Schmetterlinge von Europa,' figs. 502, 503, ' Fig. 502 is a
male, unicolorous dark grey with a slight slaty tinge, and no trace of
the numerous longitudinal markings characteristic in all other forms of
australis. All three stigmata are distinctly outlined in black, whilst the
characteristic transverse row of marks parallel with the hind margin are
white but edged internally with black ; there are 3 or 4 short, black,
costal streaks ; fringes alternately light and dark. Hind wings white
with distinct nervures.' 'Fig. 503 is a J , marked like 502, but the ground
colour of the anterior wings still darker ; the hind wings dark grey
with a very pale base.' Staudinger does not treat this as a variety.
Guenee says : — '• It appears allied to scriptura but still deeper in
colour." He also gives as its locality ' Turkey ' as in the case of
scriptura. There is a distinct narrow black linear edge to the hind
wings of Herrich-Schaffer's figs. 502 and 503 (orientalis) and in figs.
604, 505 (scriptura) just within the fringe. This is clearly distinct in
specimens of australis from Sussex and Kent localities.

1S4: VARIETIES OF NOCTUJE

Lujyerma, Bdv.

This interesting genus contains a species, /M<ea(/o, a variety of which
namedfcarre^fn, was long placed as a distinct species in the genus Dianthce-
cia. Of the other species testacea is exceedingly variable both in colour and
markings, the ground colour extending from pale silvery-grey to in-
tense black, and dark brown, the markings in many cases being almost
obsolete. There appears to be but little doubt that guenSei, so far as is
at present known, is a var. of testacea, but there is no proof yet that
nickerlii, Freyer, should be similarly sunk. This matter was fully dis-
cussed at a meeting of the City of London Entomological Society as
reported in the 'Entomologist's Eecord,' &c., for April 1891. The
silvery-grey variety captured by Mr. Baxter at St. Anne's-on-Sea, differs
entirely from gueneei, inasmuch that it is without the wedge-shaped
marks of that variety. It differs most essentially from the nickerlii of
Freyer and Herrich-Schaffer both in colour and markings; nickerlii
being ochreous, more like some fine forms Mr. A. J. Hodges has taken
in the Isle of Wight, so far as the markings are concerned. In the
present state of our knowledge, Freyer's nickerlii must be looked upon
as distinct.

Luperina, Bdv., luteago, Hb.

The type of this species does not occur in Britain, but a melanic
f 01 111 from the Irish coast was described as a distinct species by Mr.
Doubleday, under the name of barrettii, and has been generally placed
in the genus Dianthcecia. Hiibner's fig. 184 represents the type of
this species, and may be described as : — "Anterior wings of a pale yel-
lowish colour, median nervures reddish, a reddish transverse basal line
with another just within the orbicular ; the stigmata very pale ; a
double transverse line just beyond the reniforra, and a wavy reddish
line parallel to the hind margin ; a dark reddish blotch between the
second and third transverse lines (under the stigmata), continued up
narrowly outside the reniform, and making another blotch on the costa
just outside the reniform ; hind margin dotted. Hind wings very
pale grey, slightly darker on the hind margin." Hiibner's argillacea
is, according to Dr. Staudinger, a var. of this species, whilst Guenee
refers Hb.-Geyer's olbiena to this species, and Esper figures
another form under the name of " brunneago." Of the general varia-
tion Guenee writes ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 181) : — "It varies in colour
from a more or less pure and a more or less intense yellow to greyish
in some specimens." Of the varieties, the British barrettii is by far
the most striking, and this peculiar form is, I believe, unknown on the
Continent. Barrettii seems first to have been referred to this species
by the late Mr. Buckler, who (' Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol. xvi., p. 55)
writes : — " I am constrained to believe barrettii to be an isolated and
melanic variety of luteago.'' On the same page Mr. M'Lachlan, in a
footnote, writes : — " When last in London, Dr. Staudinger stated to
me that, in his opinion, D. barrettii is a form of D. luteago,'' and Mr.
Dobree writes : — " My continental specimens of the full-fed larvge of
luteago correspond exactly with Mr.Buckler's description oi barrettii {'Ent.
Mo. Mag.,' August, 1879), and anyone who has seen them will recog-
nise that this species has been quite misplaced among the Bianthoscice"
(in litt.). B. luteago occurs very rarely in Mecklenburgh, Pomerania,

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. ISS

and elsewhere in Central Europe, in Sardinia, and Corsica, and is one
of the rarest French moths " (' Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy,' 1884, p. 107).

a. var. harrettii, Dbdy. — This variety was first described by Mr.
Doubleday, at p. 124, of the ' Entomologist's Annual ' for 1864. It is
also fully re -described and figured in Newman's 'British Moths,' pp.
390, 391. There seems to have been a great deal of confusion attend-
ing these early specimens, the dark varieties of conspersa, since added
in tolerably large numbers to our cabinets, having been discovered
about the same time, and frequently mistaken for them. The follow-
ing remarks on the occurrenceof this variety in Ireland are interesting: —
" D. harrettii is now considered to be a remarkable variety of D. lute-
ago, a species which occurs rarely in Central Europe. One object I
proposed to myself this summer (1884) was the further investigation
of this group, Dianthcecia. The occurrence of D. harrettii only in one
very restricted locality at Howth, while its food-plant flourishes luxu-
riantly everywhere on the littoral, seemed a remarkable anomaly. I
was successful in taking it on the coast of Waterford, and, I believe,
the larvae on the Wicklow shores, but unfortunately an accident killed
the pupae before they hatched out. I have no doubt that the insect
occurs elsewhere, but its habits are such as to render it very difiicult
to capture. The divergence of this insect from its original
type is so great as to lead to the inference that a vast period must have
elapsed since its isolation from the parent stock" (W. F. de V. Kane,
in the ' Proceedings of the Eoyal Irish Academy,' 1884, p. 107).

p. var. hrunneago, Esp. — Esper {' Die Schmet. in Abbildungen,'
vol iv., pi. 196, fig. 3), represents the type of this variety. This figure
may be described as having : — " Anterior wings dull yellow, with
several (eight) short, dark red costal streaks ; nervures at base dark
reddish, with a single arched basal line of the same colour ; directly
beyond reniform another transverse waved line, at its centre in con-
tact with lower part of reniform ; a narrow streak of dull brownish
orange colour along the costa, continued a short distance from the
apex down the outer margin ; median space (between two transverse
lines mentioned) extending from costa to inner margin, also dull
brownish orange ; stigmata dull grey ; a small yellowish patch between
and under orbicular and reniform ; outer margin below apical patch
dull yellow ; hind margin with a darker line. Hind wings grey, with
dark hind margin." His fig. 3, on the same plate, represents a female
which has " more orange tint in the ground colour, and two transverse
orange bands, — one nearer base than orbicular, one just beyond reni-
form ; a curved series of arches of the same colour parallel to hind
margin. Hind wings grey, distinct lunule and transverse line, hind
margin orange."

y. olhiena, Hb.-Gey. — Geyer's figure 829 is considered by Guenee
to represent a form of this species. It may be described as : — " An-
terior wings of a deep orange colour, with an abbreviated and complete
double basal transverse line outlined in reddish ; stigmata also out-
lined in reddish ; two double transverse lines beyond the reniform,
the outer one wavy." Geyer's fig. 830 is the under side of 829.

8. var. argillacea, Hb. — According to Dr. Staudinger, Hiibner's
argillacea is a variety of luteago. This variety, represented by Hiib-

136 VARIETIES OF NOCTTJ^

ner'iS fig. 590, may he described as: — " ^ . Anterior wings having
the ground colour bright yellow, tinted slightly with orange, and
much clouded with grey atoms; the two transverse basal lines .stand
out distinctly in the clear ground colour ; stigmata clear yellow ; a
broad shade of the same colour from near the apex to the inner mar-
gin ; the central area above, below and around the stigmata grey with
a greenish tinge, the outer margin of wing also greenish-grey with a
fine wavy line passing through it parallel to hind margin. Hind
wings very dark grey, base paler."

Lupenna, Bdv., dumerilu, I)up.

Of this very distinct Luperina six specimens are supposed to have
been captured in Britain ; see ' Entomologist,' vol. xviii., pp. 73, 74,
and Newman's ' British Moths,'* pp. 296, 297. I have seen none of
the British specimens, but amongst the continental ones I have looked
through, there appears to be a great deal of difference in the intensity
of the markings. The type form has distinct markings and pale stig-
mata in both males and females, but the females are rather darker than
the males. Some specimens are, however, almost unicolorous, although
the markings are traceable. Dr. Staudinger treats these dark speci-
mens as Boisduval's desyllesi. The following note I made some time
ago of the specimens in the continental Doubleday collection at the
Bethnal Green Museum : — " Dumerilu is very distinct from any other
species. The females are darker than the males ; the males have
whitish stigmata, and so has one female ; the other two females are
more unicolorous, and have the stigmata indistinct."

a. var. desyllesi, Bdv. — This is treated by Guenee as a distinct
species, but Dr. Staudinger treats it as a var. of dumerilii, a view I
believe now to be acce23ted by most continental lepidopterists.
Staudinger says of it : — " Al. ant. fere unicolor." Guenee, in his
* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 183, gives a very complete description. He
writes : — *• Superior wings of a grey-brown, with the two median lines
slender, blackish, margined exteriorly with a fine yellowish line. No
claviform stigma (at least in the one I describe from). Ordinary
stigmata distinct, of a yellowish white, with a grey-brown centre.
Subterminal line of a yellowish white, straight, but continued so as to
touch the two edges of the wing. Terminal space not much darker
than the ground colour. Inferior wings white in both sexes, with a
greyish margin ; all four wings white beneath, with an angulated
grey line near the outer margin." Guenee mentions, too, only " two
examples."

Jd. var. diversa, Heyne ? . — A variety is found in Heir Heyne's trade
catalogue under this name, but I know nothing of it.

Luperina, Bdv., cespitis, Fab.

The type of this species is described by Fabricius in his * Man-
tissa,' p. 166, No. 148, as: — '' Noctua cristata, alis incumbentibus
fuscis : strigis tribus undatis albidis nigr^e innatis, posticis albis."
" Media. Caput et thorax fusca, immaculata. AIj© anticse fuscae niti-
dulas strigis tribus undatis pallidis, unica ante medium, duabus pone

* This latter record is not quite correct in its particulars j vide «Entom./
xviii., p. 74.

ti^ THiJ BRITISH ISLAtTDS. IS?

medium, quae interne terminantur strigja atra. In medio maculse ordi-
narise annulo albo. Posticus albae marj>;ine interdum fuscescente."
Hiibner figures (428) cespitis as *' brown with a reddish tinge ; a pale
abbreviated, followed by a complete, basal streak, outlined in black ;
stigmata outlined in yellowish ; a pale wavy line beyond the reniform,
edged externally with black ; another pale transverse lino parallel to
hind margin. Hind wings dark grey, base paler, a pale line parallel
to hind margin." There appears to be a little variation in size. I
have some specimens from South Wales much larger than others from
Lancashire and Sussex. There is also a slight sexual variation, the
hind wings of the female being darker than those of the male. The
hind wings of the male vary in colour, as noticed by Newman in his
* British Moths,' pp. 297, 298: — "The hind wings of the male are very
pale, almost white, sometimes with one, sometimes with two darker
bars, parallel with the hind margin : in some specimens I find scarcely
any trace of these bars,"

a. var. conjinis, St. ? — In Humphrey and Westwood's ' British
Moths ' (vol. i., p. Ill) we read : — " Mr. Stephens in his * Catalogue '
regarded as a doubtful variety of this species a unique specimen ob-
tained from the Marshamian collection, which in his ' Hlustrations '
he described as distinct, under the name of Charwas conjinis, which
differs from the foregoing (cespitis) in the paler colour and narrowness
of the fore wings, nearly uniformly coloured hind wings, and slightly
pectinated antennae."

Luperina, Bdv., testacea, Hb.

The type of this most variable species is figured by Hiibner in
his * Schmetterlinge, &c.,' fig. 139. It has the '* anterior wings of a
very deep (for this species) brown, with a dark outer margin, and
clouded with darker around and under the stigmata. The mark, on
which Haworth named his varieties, not complete. Hind wings white,
lunule clearly marked, with a clouded hind margin." Hiibner's type
has a central band almost as in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 296, tig.
1, but has the outer margin darker, and a shade on the outer margin
of the inferior wings. This common species varies very much through-
out Britain. I have specimens of a clear whitish-grey colour, with
scarcely a trace of typical markings (var. ohsoleta), and other extreme
forms almost black (var. myreHccns.) The specimens from the coast
districts of Lancashire, and the neighbourhood of Deal and Sligo,
sometimes show a great tendency to melanism. The markings also are
very variable. Some specimens have a distinct, dark, central band, others
have no trace of it. On the hind wings, too, our specimens rarely
have the lunule well-marked. In Britain, the specimens are not
generally brown, although a certain percentage are ; grey is the pre-
vailing colour, differing greatly, however, in intensity in different
specimens. The Hartlepool specimens are, as a rule, much browner than
those I have from any other British locality. One specimen from this
locality, captured by Mr. liobson, has the nervures of the anterior
wings much dusted with white, giving it a peculiar apjDearance. I
have also seen very brown specimens from Barnsley. Haworth named
three forms of this species, and Guene'e described two others besides
the type. There is but little doubt that the yueneei of Newman's

138 VARIETIES OF NOCTUiB

* British Moths,' p. 297, is only an extreme variety of this species.
Haworth's three varieties are all based on the character of the mark,
which joins the transverse lines, and which is situated directly under
the stigmata. The form in which this mark is absent he calls lunato-
strigata, from the lunar mark in connection with the outer striga being
the principal character ; the form in which this mark is a simple hook he
calls unca, and that in which it forms an x-like mark, he calls x-'fi^otata.
A pale silvery-grey form with distinct undulating transverse lines,
but without any of the characteristic longitudinal marks and dashes,
was captured at S. Anne's-on-Sea. It differs from the var. guenSei, in
not having the longitudinal marks and dashes of that var., and from
most of the other vars. in the absence of the central band, i-h -like mark
under the stigmata, and in colour. The Continental nickerlii, Freyer,
H.-S., which it was supposed to resemble is a somewhat ochreous
species with a fairly dark central area. The hind wings of teslacea
vary from pure white to grey, those of the $ 's generally being darker.
The dots on the extreme hind margin also vary, and are frequently
absent. The following is an attempt to tabulate the named varieties : —
1. — Pale greyish- white, with no darker markings whatever = var.

obsoleta.
2. — Pale greyish- white, some of the markings indistinct = var.

guenSei.
8. — Ashy-grey, with distinct markings = var. cinerea.
4. — Blackish-grey, with indistinct markings = var. nigrescens.
5. — Brownish or brownish grey, with well-developed central band ■—

the type.
6. — Greyish, tinged with reddish, or brown ; striga beyond reniform

composed of lunules, but no mark under stigmata = var. lunato-

strigata.
7. — Greyish, tinged with red or brown ; longitudinal hook-shaped

mark under stigmata = var. unca.
8. — Like M«ca, but the longitudinal mark ^-shaped = var. x-notata.

a. var. obsoleta, mihi. — Of a pale ochreous-grey colour, with all
the lines, markings and stigmata still paler. This is an extreme pale
unicolorous form, and seems excessively rare. I have specimens taken
in Deal, and Mr. Percy Russ has sent it to me from Sligo ; I have also
a specimen closely resembling this obsolete form from Mr. Kobson, at
Hartlepool ; and Mr. Porritt, writing to me some time since, states : —
" A pale yellowish form occurs near Huddersfield " (in Utt.).

/?. var. gueneei, Dbdy. — There does not seem to be the slightest
doubt that this is anything but a variety of testacea of an extremely
pale ground colour, as in var. ohsoleta, but differing from that variety
in having most of the characteristic markings of testacea rather more
distinctly marked, owing to the paler ground colour ; otherwise there
appears to be no difference — certainly no specific difference — between
the variety and testacea. The original description of Mr. Doubleday
is transcribed verbatim into Newman's ' British Moths,' (p. 297),
together with notes on its occurrence. Mr. Doubleday writes that
Guenee stated it to be his var. A (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 182). If
properly worked, I believe testacea would in many distiicts furnish a
fair proportion of gueneei. Staudinger, in his * Catalog ' says of it : —
" Al. ant. unicolor, nigro alboque irroratis." Mr. Vine of Brighton,

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 139

sent me a specimen of the genus Luperina to look at, a short time since,
about which he wrote : — "I beat out a Luperina from a blackthorn
bush in Abbott's Wood, which 1 think is gueneei." It is, I think, un-
doubtedly this variety, but it is exceedingly small* (scarcely larger
than Miuna strigilis), very pale grey, with a few very indistinct black
costal markings, all the markings of teslacea faintly marked, the three
stigmata traceable although indistinct. Hind wings pale grey. The
history of the original guenSei may be found in the * Entomologist,' vol.
xviii., p. 54.

y. var. cinerea, mihi. — 1 have given this name to Guenee's var. B.,
a not uncommon form in Britain. Guenee thus describes it : —
" Superior wings of an ashy grey, with a slight reddish tinge. The
transverse lines indistinct, the basal one having the points at the
lower part very pointed. The terminal space edged by a series of
blackish streaks, which are placed between the nervures. Inferior
wings of very pure white, with an indistinct shade. Locality, the
Eastern Pyrenees." " This is very different to our teslacea, but M.
de Graslin, who has reared it from the larva, and who is better able
to recognize any variation in all its stages than myself, considers it
a simple variety " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 283). This grey form is
probably the most common one in Britain ; I have it from Sligo,
Lancashire, Hartlepool, Aberdeen, Strood, Deal, London, and other
localities.

5. var. nigrescens, mihi. — Anterior wings blackish-grey, varying in
intensity. The markings too, vary, some having them darker than the
ground colour, while others have them so nearly of the same hue as to
make the specimens look almost unicolorous. I have specimens in my
cabinet from Sligo, Aberdeen, St. Anne's-on-Sea (Preston), Ijytham,
and Strood. A black specimen is also recorded (' Entom.', vol. iv., p.
305) as being captured at St. Ives, Hunts ; and Mr. Eobson informs
me that it occurs at Hartlepool. Mr. C. G. Barrett, ' Ent. Mo. Mag.,'
vol. xxii., p. 124, writing of this species at Belfast, says : — " Several of
the L. teslacea were nearly black ; " whilst at p. 188 of the same
volume, we read that Mr. Porritt exhibited at the London Society's
meeting a melanic specimen from Glasgow.

€. var. lunato-strigata, Haw. — Haworth's type of this variety is
described by him as follows : — " Noctua. Alis rufescentibus nigro
nebulosis, strigis duabus fasciaque marginali fuscis." "Praecedenti
vix differt nisi magnitudine minore, et coloribus saturatioribus, sed
rarissime variat " (* Lepidoptera Britannioa,' p. 194, No. 97). This
form, without the mark under the stigmata, is not uncommon in most
localities.

f . var. unca. Haw. — Haworth's type of this variety is described
by him as follows : — " Alis pallide rufescentibus strigis duabus fas-
ciaque marginali fuscescentibus." " Alse anticse subnebulosse, striga
undata fracta ante medium : tunc stigmata ordinaria fusco palli deque
imperfecte marginata ; tunc striga secunda extus arcuata, ex lunulis
confertis nigris pallido extus adnatis composita ; et priore fascia con-
nexa per lineolam nigram unciferam. Margo posticus undatim sub-

* It is worthy of note that Mr. Gregson, ' Entomologist,' vol. iv., p. 61, writes
of this species : — " I possess specimens from less than 1 inch to 1 inch 4 lines in
expansion."

140 vAkteties op noctuA

fuscus apice pallido. Cilia rufo-cinerea maculis cinereo-fuscis.
Postica3 albas striga in ipso margine subinterrupta fusca, ciliis rufes-
centibus " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. liJ4:, No. 96). This form, with
a simple curved or hooked lineola, joining the transverse lines and
extending under the stigmata, is one of our most common varieties.

rj. var. x-**^^«'^> Haw. — Haworth's description of this variety-
is : — " Alis rufescentibus macula oblonga nigra utrinque emarginata in
medio, strigaque arcuata pone medium ex lunulis nigris." ''Prascedenti
valde affinis (lunato-strigata), at magis rufescens. Antennae hirto-
pectinatae ut in ilia, at macula media nigra diversa est. Alae posticse
alla% apice strigaque in ipso margine f ulvis " ('Lepidoptera Britannica,
p. 194). Another not uncommon form, with the mark under the
stigmata somewhat x-shaped ; this is due to the nearness with which
the two transverse strigse approach each other under the stigmata.

6. var. incerta, mihi. — Anterior wings greyish-fuscous, with a
slightly ochreous tinge, a short basal longitudinal line under median
nervure ; an abbreviated basal line (with a distinctly pale costal spot)
is followed by a complete transverse double line before the orbicular,
also paler on the costa ; another double transverse line beyond the reni-
form, bends under the reniform until it nearly touches the previous line ;
a pale wavy line near hind margin. The orbicular is oval, pale, outer
line darker ; centre of reniform also of ground colour, surrounded by
paler. The claviform shows a tendency to form a line under the
orbicular and reniform ; a row of dots on the extreme hind margin.
Fringes alternately pale (like transverse lines) and darker (like ground
colour). Hind wings pure white. This is the variety captured by
Mr. T. Baxter, at 8t. Anne's-on-Sea, and referred to in the ' Entomo-
logist's Record,' vol. ii., pp. 21 — 22, where the reasons for considering
it as a simple var. of testacea, and not in any way linked with
nickerln Freyer are fully discussed.

Caradrinidce, Bdv.

We now reach a small group of Noctu^, distinct in themselves as
a family, but with some of the species very closely allied. Guenee
says of this group: — "The family is composed almost entirely of
European species, of which the greater part have been very long, I
should say, too long, known, for there exists such a confusion that
their synonymy is almost inextricable. The English authors have
increased this difficulty by creating a crov-^d of species, so badly charac-
terised that I have not been able to classify them even as constant
varieties " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 235). One of the species, Hydrilla
palustris, in this family is very rare in Britain. Grammesia trigram-
mica (irilinea) is subject to a fairly wide range of variation, but the
genus Caradrina itself, has, as Guenee remarks, been overnamed, and
even now it is not at all an easy matter to follow out what the different
authors have meant by their descriptions.

Grammesia, Stphs., trigrammica, Hufn.

This is a variable species, and strange to say, in Britain more so
in some years than others. The usual colour is whitish-grey, but
ochreous specimens (sometimes with a reddish tinge) are moderately
common ; occasionally, however, the wings are dark fuscous. Huf-

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 141

nagel's diagnosis of the type is " N. trigrammica. Colour of anterior
wings pale yellowish-grey, with three transverse brown lines" ('Berl.
Magazin,' No. 86). Esper's diagnosis is : — " Noctiia spirilinguis sub-
cristata, alis incumbentibus lutescenti griseis, strigis flexuosis fuscis,
quarta baseos vix conspicua." Ha worth made no less than four
species out of this, two being based on the character of the transverse
lines, in which there is considerable variation, both as to intensity,
position and direction. It is advisable to note that this species has
practically no stigmata, the reniform being rarely traceable, the
others, I believe, never. The ochreous (reddish) forms are sometimes
very striking. The hilinea of Hiibner, and that of Haworth are very
different, but Treitschke's 6^7«nea, is very little different from Haworth's.
The <n7mea of Guenee (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 235) is intermediate
between the grey type and the reddish-ochreous emdens, for he writes
of it : — " Clear testaceous tinted with reddish on the outer margin."
On the next page Guenee writes of the general variation : — " All the
principal varieties and a crowd of intermediate forms are found in
England, and occasionally in Austria and France. They are evidently
only modifications of the typical trilinea and can hardly be classed as
races, their variation is so inconstant." Taking therefore, the grey
form as the type, we have the following varieties : —

a. var. evidens, Borg. — This is the ochreous variety of the species ;
the wings being entirely ochreous instead of grey, but with the ordi-
nary transverse lines as in the type. From Esper, 333, we get the
following: — " JV. evidens. Magnitudine N. trapezince grisea, fere
flavescens, punctis minutissimis vix conspicuis nigris adspersa, oculis
nigris." " Alse anticse incumbentes, supra fasciis quatuor, tenuibus
nigris, prima in ipsa basi vix observanda, secunda ante medium ob-
liqua tertia in medio recta, quarta pone medium extus curvata. Puncta
nulla ordinaria. Subtus fascia unica et punctum nigrum, uti in posti-
cis " (' Borgstroem's Insecta Seucica '). I would include all unicolorous
yellow-ochreous or reddish-ochreous forms under this name. I have
taken it freely in most of our Kent woods and on the seacoast at
Deal.

p. var. approximans, Haw. — This scarcely merits mention, as it is
reddish-ochreous like the var. evidens with the exception that the 2nd
and 3rd transverse lines approach at their lower edges. Haworth's
description is : — " Noctua (The unequal Treble-lines). Alis rufo-
griseis, strigis tribus sesquialtera saturatioribus inaequidistantibus."
" Prsecedenti simillima (trilinea). Differt. Alae anticse minus canae
striga abbreviata basi evanescente. Tertia striga oblique approximat
usque ad secundam in margine tenuiore. Margo posticus non satura-
tior. Alse jDosticae fuscae ciliis rufescentibus." He also adds: — "An
varietas feminae praecedentis ? " (* Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 249,
No. 263). This form of variation is frequently found, not only in the
ochreous varieties but in the grey type.

y. var. semifuscans, Haw. — This is another reddish variety, with
the outer margin of the wing dark reddish-fuscous, and the striga3
more intense. Haworth writes : — " Noctua (The clouded Treble-lines).
Alis rufo-griseis postice saturatioribus strigis tribus sesquialtera aequi-
distantibus fuscis." " Penultima vix diffort nisi in colore, qui pone
strigam secundam perfectam usque ad marginem longe saturatior, et

142 VARIETIES OF NOOTUJB

fusco-rufus est. Striga ipsa secunda cseteris triplo validior est, et
fusca. Alee posticse ut in ultima " (^ Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 249,
No. 264). This variety is much rarer than either of the preceding as
far as my knowledge extends. It sometimes has the basal area to the
median transverse shade of the ordinary greyish colour, the whole of
the outer area beyond being smoky-fuscous rather than reddish-
fuscous. The Kev. G. H. Ray nor has such a variety taken at Brent-
wood in Essex.

8. var. bilinea, Hb. — Of the variety hilineay Guenee writes: —
" Under this name each author has given a very different variety of
trilinea which is modified infinitely " (* Noctuelles,' vol v., p. 236).
This is unfortunately the case, the bilinea of Hiibner differing greatly
from that of either Treitschke or Haworth. It is necessary to retain
the name for the bilinea of Hiibner. This is represented by his fig.
216, of which I made the following description : — *' Anterior wings red-
dish-grey, with the space between the median shade (between the
stigmata) and the complete basal transverse line, of a blackish-grey,"
so that the variety is really distinctly banded. I am unable to say
whether the variety occurs in Britain, as I have never seen one.

€. var. obscura, mihi. = bilinea, Haw. — This is the most unicolor-
ous and obscure form of the species, being of a very dark smoky-grey
or brown colour, generally with only two transverse lines clearly
marked, although the others are somewhat faintly traceable.
Haworth's description is : — " Noctua (The dark Treble-lines). Alis
griseo-fuliginosis strigis duabus rectis, stigmate obsoletissimo inter jecto."
" Prioribus maxime affinis est, at longe saturatior et quasi fuliginosa,
hinc illinc tinctura grisea. Striga abbreviata praecedentium deest, at
tertia certo situ paululum appareat fuliginosior quam alse, et transit
stigma reniforme evanescens. Stigma anticum nullum. Antennae
testacese validse, lente pectinatse sunt. Posticas fuscae ciliis rufis "
(^ Lepidoptera Britannica,' pp. 249, 250). This is not by any means a
common variety, but it is widely distributed and occasionally taken in
almost all the localities where the type is common. Guenee very
rightly remarks : — " In the specimens of bilinea which I have seen, I
have sometimes noticed traces of the reniform " {' Noctuelles,' vol. v.,
p. 236).

f. var, pallida-linea, mihi, = bilinea, Tr. — Treitschke, *Die
Schmetterlinge,' &c., vol. v., p. 275, thus describes bilinea : — "Caradrina.
Alis anticis fusco griseis, strigis duabus pallidioribus." In the German
description following he adds : — " It is the size of trihnea. The
colour of the anterior wings dark ashy-grey; the first trans-
verse line is wanting. There are two pale transverse lines,
between which is a broad band with a dark brown shade
in the middle. The hind wings are light brown with a light
fringe and a dark lunule." Guenee writes (* Noctuelles,' p. 236) of
Treitschke's bilinea : — " The bilinea of Treitschke is entirely reddish*
with the two ordinary transverse lines, each placed on a paler band ;
and the median band incomplete or wanting," but this is an error. I
have a fine example of this dark fuscous variety with the 2nd and
3rd transverse lines clearly edged with pale, thus making the form

* It is not reddish but greyish-fuscous according to the description of that
author.

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 143

very striking ; mine, however, is a slight modification of Treitschke's,
having the abbreviated basal line, which is generally absent, marked
in the same striking manner.

Hydrilla, Bdv., palustris, Hb.

This species, which is excessively rare in Britain, and far from
uncommon upon the Continent of Europe, presents very marked sexual
variation. Kegarding this Guenee writes : — " The genus HydriUa, as
now understood, is one of the most abnormal in this or neighbouring
families. The most remarkable fact which is presented is the difference
in the sexes. One can say, without exaggeration, that it is in the
Noctuelles, analogous to Chemerina in the Geometrina, and to the genus
Diurncea in the Tineina, so much is the female disproportionate to the
male in shape and form. One might take the former for an abortive
specimen " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 237). The type of this species is
represented in Hiibner's fig. 367, which is " a male of a greyish-brown
ground colour, with one irregular transverse basal line, traces of the
reniform, and two transverse lines (roughly parallel to the hind
margin) outside the reniform." This figure is nearly twice the size
of the small female figured in Newman's * British Moths,' p. 311, which
has two dots instead of the first transverse line (before the stigmata).
The description in this work is a direct translation of that in Guen^e's

* Noctuelles,' vol. v., pp. 237, 238. The Caradrma exz'Z/s of Eversmann's

* Bull, de la Soc. de Mos.,' 1842, iii., p. 548, is the ? of this species and
the same author's diagnosis of exilis from the * Fauna Lep. Vol.-Ural,'
p. 261, is as follows : — " C. exilis. Alls anticis augustis subparallelis
obtusis, saepe obscuratis brunneo-fuscis unicoloribus posticis griseis."

Acosmetia, Stphs., caliginosa, Hb.

This species is not very variable in Britain, although the type,
represented by Hiibner's fig. 474, is somewhat different to our specimens.
The colour of the anterior wings is grey-brown, with a transverse basal
line, then the ordinary stigmata, then a transverse row of dots out-
side the reniform, and lastly a double transverse line parallel to the
hind margin ; there is also a dark shade from the base of the reniform
to the inner margin. The hind wings are darker on the margin than
at the base. Haworth's lutescens is simply a redder form of this species,
the same form that Guenee describes as caliginosa. There are sometimes
traces of the basal line being double, and, instead of the shade from the
reniform to the inner margin, there is usually an angulated line
directly outside the reniform ; the outer line, too, is very pale in our
specimens ; the reniform is also very pale, and there is rarely any
trace of the orbicular. Guenee describes another Acosmetia as aquatilisy
Bdv., but Staudinger treats this as a variety of caliginosa, simply adding
in his * Catalog ' " dilutior." The female of this species is strikingly
smaller than the male. It is therefore only needful to notice the fol-
lowing forms : —

a. var. lutescens, Haw. — Haworth thus describes this variety
which he treats as a distinct species : — " Phytometra (the reddish Buff).
Alis subunicoloribus sordide ruf o-lutescentibus ad marginem crassiorem
rufis ; posticis subfuscis." ** Cilia omnia rufescentia, anticarum satura-
tiora " {' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 260). This reddish form is gene-

144 VARIETIES OF N0CTU2B

rally much more clearly marked than the greyer type, but there is
considerable difference in the intensity of the markings.

p. var. aquatilis, Bdv., Gn. — On the authority of Dr. Staudinger,
I add this as a variety of caligmosa. Guenee writes of it : — " Shape
and size of caligmosa, of which it is very probably only a variety. It
differs from the latter in colour, which is of a whitish-grey tinged
with ochreous, very clear and unicolorous ; the markings are scarcely
visible ; the interior wiugs are white, lightly powdered here and there
with grey. There is, under the superior wings a black cellular shade,
which extends along the commencement of the nervures ; body and
palpi greyish white. Locality : — Borders of the Ural " {' Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 240). Guenee described a single specimen in Boisduval's
collection.

Laphygma, Gn., exigua, Hb.

This species is very rare in Britain, and from our specimens we
have very little chance of determining its range of variation. Hiibner's
fig. 362 (' Sammlung europaischer Schmetterlinge,' &g.) is the type and
may be described as having: — "Anterior wings dull grey-brown with
three costal basal streaks, and double basal line ; stigmata pale, with a
dark patch between and beyond them ; a double angulated line beyond
the reniform and another broken line parallel to the hind margin.
Hind wings grey with distinct nervures." A variety is figured by
Hiibner under the name of /mZ^ctis, and Eambur's ^^(/moea, treated by
Guenee as a distinct species, is also considered as a variety by Dr.
Staudinger. Guenee's description of the type is as follows : —
*' Superior wings, of a clear testaceous grey, lightly tinged with
brownish, with the median lines distinct, concolorous, geminated and
almost parallel. The two stigmata very distinct, the orbicular very
round, of a yellowish colour more or less ferruginous ; the reniform
interiorly of the same colour, the subterminal line pale, wavy, bordered
posteriorly with greyish red, and interiorly with fine black streaks ;
inferior wings of a transparent white, with the nervures strongly
brownish, and the margins shaded with deep grey brown (* Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 158).

a. var. fulgens, Hb.-Gey. — in Geyer's supplement to Hiibner's
" Sammlung europaischer Schmet.' &c., fig. Id6, fulgens is figured with
the anterior wings of a " dull grey brown (as in fig. 362), with
double basal lines, the orbicular outlined in yellow ; a dark transverse
line running between the stigmata from the costa to the inner margin ;
reniform yellow, a double angulated line beyond the reniform, and a
row of white dots parallel to the hind margin. Hind wings grey,
paler at base, lunule darker. Guenee writes of Geyer's fulgens : — " I
have not seen it in nature, but I believe it belongs here (i.e. as a var. of
exigua) ; perhaps, even it is only the type of our exigua from the south,
which appears to differ slightly from those of Dalmatia, if we may
judge from Hiibner's figure " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v.. p. 158).

p, var. ijygmcea, Kamb. — This is treated by Guenee as a distinct
species. He writes : — " I have not seen it, but place it here on the
testimony of M. Kambur, who says it comes near exigua, and of Mr.
Boisduval, who simply considers it as an accidental variety "('Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 158). Dr. Staudinger writes : — " minima, alas anteriores
fere unicolores, macula flava nigro-punctata " (^ Catalog,' p. 110).

IN tHK BRITISH , ISLANDS. 1^

Caradrina, Och.
This genus contains but very few British species, yet their closely
allied character causes the determination of some of them to be trouble-
some. C. morpheus and C. quadripunctata are the most distinct. C.
alsines and C. ambigua are also fairly distinct, but specimens of C. ta-
raxaci run both these latter very closely. There is a bright ochreous
form of the latter species superficially resembling C. alsines, whilst a
form obtained at Deal, much dusted with grey scales closely resembles
ambigua. In fact, the coast form of taraxaci appears to have a different
facies from the inland form, some of the extreme specimens, which I
have been accustomed to call taraxaci, and which have white hind
wings like ambigua, differ so much from the normal form of both these
species that I feel satisfied they are the superstes of Treitschke. They
are hardly ochreous enough for taraxaci, and the hind wings although
white, are hardly so clear as those of ambigua. It is probable that the
Sligo specimens, although much darker, are also a local form of
superstes. Of these, I have two specimens captured by Mr. Euss
(at Sligo), which appear to be named with equal propriety ambigua
or taraxaci, including a very dark blackish-grey form from the same
locality which is a great puzzle. C. ambigua is in Britain a great rarity, and
several species closely allied to ours, common on the Continent, are un-
known with us. How hopelessly the two species alsines and taraxaci
were formerly muddled, the following note by Mr. Bentley, published
in vol. i. of the 'Entomologist,' will show: — " Caradrina ambigua, redactd,
alsines, implexa, Icevis and sordida. These varieties are taken in woods,
about field-edges and gardens. Var. 1. Anterior wings fuscous, with
two stigmata, a transverse row of black dots behind the posterior
stigma, and a faint striga near the posterior margin ; posterior wings
ashy. Var. 2. Anterior wings deep fuscous, with one obsolete trans-
verse striga near the posterior margin, stigmata distinct, posterior wings
dusky. Var. 3, ambigua. Anterior wings ashy-brown, with three
darker transverse strigae, the first between the stigmata, the second
behind the posterior stigma composed of black dots, the third undu-
lated near the posterior margin ; stigmata distinct with slender pale
markings, posterior wings ashy with dusky margins. Var. Jf, redacta.
Similar to the last in colour but smaller, stigmata and markings more
indistinct. Var. 5, alsines. Anterior wings fuscous with two trans-
verse strigse ; posterior stigma large and distinctly margined with
white. Var. 6. Anterior wings of a rusty yellowish hue, with five
transverse fuscous strigge, two before the anterior stigma, the third
between the stigmata, the fourth composed of black dots, the fifth
undulated ; the posterior margin distinctly dotted with black ; posterior
wings ashy tinged with yellow. Var. 7 . Similar to the last in colour,
with two large fuscous spots in place of stigmata, with a strong fuscous
line extending from the posterior spot to the inner margin. Var, 8,
implexa. Anterior wings rusty or yellowish, with four fuscous trans-
verse strigae, the posterior striga rather more undulated. This and
the two preceding varieties are in the collection of Geo. Kobertson,
Esq., who has kindly sent me a fine series of these insects for ex-
amination. Var. 9, Icevis. Similar to var 5, except in the stigma,
which is scarcely visible. Var. 10, sordida. Kusty or reddish, with
two transverse fuscous strigae, approximating towards the inner mar-

K

J46 vrAHlEl'lES OF NOCTtJi?e

gin ; posterior margin dotted with black. I took this specimen many
years since .xi a little wood at Highgate ; it was examined and named
by the late Mr. Haworth. These varieties do not differ in the least in
any one essential specific character, either in antennas, palpi, tibiae or
tarsi ; their only difference is in the number of transverse strigje, and
the colour of the wings varying from deep fuscous to a rusty yellowish
hue. They constitute but a single species." " Caradrina sepii and
morpheus. The anterior wings of sepii are usually griseous clouded
with fuscous, stigmata composed of fuscous spots, behind the posterior
is a dusky fascia ; some specimens are darker clouded and spotted with
deep fuscous or black ; these are generally called morpheus. I have
lately examined two specimens in the British Museum named morpheus :
these have the anterior wings flavescent ash, with the stigmata and
posterior fascia of a deeper hue. Probably age has caused their
flavescent appearance ; they are only slight varieties of sepii." "Cara-
drina cuhicularis and superstes. The large and dark varieties are
generally named in British collections superstes ; all that I have seen
are mere varieties of cuhicularis."

Caradrina^ Och., morpheus, Vieweg.

The type of this species is thus described by Vieweg : — " Noctua
morpheus cristata, alls planis anticis cinerascentibus, macuJis ordinariis,
fasciaque postica fuscis ; posticis albis," whilst in a further German
description he writes : — " Yellowish grey, with greyish double trans-
verse lines, the ordinary stigmata dark grey. Hind wings white, with
a blackish lunule " (' Tabellarisches Verzeichniss,' &c., p. 40).
TreitMchke quotes the * Berl. Mag.,' ' Naturf.,' and Vieweg in his
SA'iionymy and then adds : — " Car. alis anticis cinereo ochraceis,
maculis ordinariis fasciaque externa obscurioribus ; posticis albidis "
(' Die lichmet. von Europa,' p. 249). The sjjecies is not very prone to
vary. Hiibner figures a reddish-brown variety as sepii. A few of our
specimens are of the ochreous grey tint of Vieweg and Treitschke's
morpheus, and thus agree with the type, but most are of a deep ashy-
grey or fuscous-grey colour, strongly tinged with reddish on the
disc aud around the stigmata, although occasional specimens have the
ground colour of a fuscous, inclining almost to black. The females
are generally rather smaller than the males. In vol. i. of the ' Ento-
mologist,' Mr. Eentley, as mentioned above, writing of morpheus and sepii
says: — " The anterior wings of sfip// are usually griseous clouded with
fuscous, stigmata composed of fuscous spots, behind the posterior is a
dusky fascia; some specimens are darker, clouded, and spotted with deej)
fuscous or black ; these are generally called morpheus. I have lately
examined two specimens in the British Museum named morpheus. These
have the anterior wings flavescent ash, with the stigmata and posterior
fascia of a deeper hue. Probably, age has caused their flavescent
appcaiance. They are only slight varieties of sepii." As a matter of
fact, it is the other way about, the yellow or ochreous specimens con-
stitute the type, and our greyish fuscous forms are the variety. The
paler forms, i.e., the type and var. se/>w are generally distinctly marked,
but sense of our darker specimens have the markings very indistinct.
There is no doubt that the yellow-tinged form is quite a natural one.
The following are the only varieties I know of : —

tin THfe feRITISti IStAlit)S. l4?

a. var. sepity Hb. — Hiibner in his ' Sammlung europaischer
Schmetterlinge' &c., figures a form of a pale reddisli-brown ground colour,
with all the ordinary markings of morpheus, and a very pale line
parallel to the hind margin. Of this figure, we find in Humphrey
and Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 145 : — *' Sepii, Hb. given as a
synonym, is probably a pale var. of morpheus J* Our fuscous specimens
are frequently tinged with reddish, especially round the stigmata, and
have the markings very distinct, and would thus be probably referable
to Hiibner's sepii. It would appear to be advisable to refer all our
ordinary specimens with a reddish tint round the stigmata to sepii.

p. var. ohscuray mihi. — The ground colour of the anterior wings
deep greyish-fuscous inclining to blackish, the darker stigmata and
transverse lines being comparatively inconspicuous owing to their
being but little deeper in shade than the ground colour. My darkest
specimen of this variety came from Burton-on-Trent.

y. var. minor, mihi. — I have in my collection a very small speci-
men, measuring only I of an inch in expanse, captured at Deal in June,
1888. It is of the pale greyish (sepii) form with distinct markings.

Caradrina, Och., alsines, Brahm,* Bork.

The type is thus described by Borkhausen : — " This species is not
so large as N. stahilis. The ground colour of the upper wings is a
shiny light greyish brown, of which, sometimes the brown, sometimes
the grey preponderates; three somewhat blackish transverse lines;
the first at the base, then follow the two stigmata, the second of which
is dark centred, while the second transverse line is situated under the
third stigma (reniform) which is also darker than the light-yellowish
ground colour ; this is followed by a narrow band (spotted) whilst the
ordinary transverse line at the hind margin is yellowish with the
inner margin (of the line) darker. Hind wings whitish in the males,
grey in the females, with a darker margin " (* Naturegeschichte,' &c.,
vol. iv., p. 607). This species, closely allied to, but abundantly distinct
from taraxaci, exhibits some traces of sexual dimorphism, the females
being, in the upper wings, darker and much more strongly marked
than the males, especially with regard to the dark transverse shade
passing through the reniform and the wavy line just beyond it. This
is undoubtedly the implexa of Stephens, which is described in Hum-
phrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 144, as : — " Anterior wings
rusty or yellowish, with four fuscous transverse strigse ; the posterior
striga rather more undulated." Mr. South in * The Entomologist
Synonymic List' erroneously calls this a var. of taraxaci ; and sordida,
Haw., which is really a var. of taraxaci, is treated as a synonym of
alsines. Yars. 6 and 7 of Bentley, in the extract quoted under Cara-
drina, are also referable to alsines.

a. var. suffusa, mihi. — Guenee describes a suffused form which he
calls var. A as follows : — " The costa, median space, subterminal line,
and a line bordering the fringe strongly powdered with black scales.
Comes from the same localities (as typical alsines) " (* Noctuelles,' vol.
v., p. 245). It would appear that Bentley's var. 7 agrees somewhat
with this variety.

*Brahm only described the early stages.

148 VAKllJTIteS OiF KOCTU-S

/?. var. amurensis, Stdgi*. — ^A variety of alsines appears under this
name in the last trade lists of Dr. Staudinger and Herr Heyne of
Leipzig.

Caradrina, Och., ambigua, Fab.

This species, common on the Continent of Europe, is very rare in
Britain, but probably its rarity is due to the fact that it is so often
overlooked. I have taken specimens at Deal and Yarmouth (Isle of
Wight), Mr. Vine has captured it at Brighton, and Mr. A. J. Hodges
at Freshwater (I. of W.). This species has a somewhat close resem-
blance to taraxaci in the fore wings, but these are much paler, and
rather more ochreous; the distinguishing feature, however, is the pure,
white hind wings of ambigua. The original Fabrician description
is : — " Noctua. Lsevis alis deflexis cinereis ; atomis strigaque pone
medium nigris." " Kustica indistincta. Alee cinereae punctis aliquot
baseos strigaque pone medium nigris. Maculae ordinarise in medio.
Posticas albidae subtus puncto medio, nigro " (* Entomologia Systema-
tica,' &c.. No. 131. p. 48). Guenee says of this species : — " It is easily
distinguished from the preceding (taraxaci) by the inferior wings being
bluish or pearly, pure in the male, a little tinted with grey on the
outer edge in the female." I have a specimen which shows traces of
a series of longitudinal blackish marks between the reniform and sub-
terminal line. Guenee further writes : — " It is certainly the ambigua
of Fabricius, who says : — ' alis cinereis ' and ' posticee albidse' " (* Noc-
tuelles,' vol. v., p. 247). This typical form of ambigua, in which the
dark transverse shade which runs from the lower part of reniform to
the inner margin is well developed, forms the plantaginis of Hiibner.

a. var. plantaginis, Dup. — In Duponchel and Godart's * Histoire
Naturelle des Lep.' &c., vol. vi., p. 59, we get a description of the
ordinary form of this species. Taking as the type the form in which
a median striga is developed, the pale form is described by Duponchel
as : — " The body and the superior wings are of a pale ashy grey. One
notices near the outer margin a transverse angulated yellowish shade,
a little farther in a transverse row of small black points on an arcuated
line, then the two ordinary stigmata of reddish-grey bordered with
yellowish, and lastly a wavy line of interrupted black streaks ; the
inferior wings of a shiny white, tinged on the outer margin with
reddish." Duponchel also figures the species in the same work, plate
76, fig. 2.

Caradrina, Och., superstes, Tr.

The superstes of Treitschke is treated as a distinct species by Dr.
Staudinger (* Catalog,' p. Ill), but as a var. of blanda by Guene'e
(* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 246). Treitschke {' Die Schmet. von Europa,'
p. 260) describes superstes as : — " Car. alis anticis flavo-cinereis, nigro
adspersis strigisque punctatis." Guende writes : — " It partakes at the
same time of alsines, of blanda and of ambigua, and may even prove to
be a distinct species when the larva shall be discovered. The inferior
wings are paler than in blanda, almost white, and not of the bluish
tint us in ambigua but rather a little yellowish. The superior wings
are paler and more whitish than alsines and less brown than blanda.
The row of dots which borders the elbowed line is very strongly

IN THE BHITISH ISLANDS. H9

developed, the outer line often equally so " (' Noctuelles,* vol. v., p. 246).
Dr. Staudinger also refers Hiibner's blanda (fig. 162) to this species.
Of this figure I wrote : — " Fore wings pale ochreous- brown with two
narrow fine wavy basal lines ; the stigmata well-defined, and two
lines between the reniform and outer margin, the outer one pale — edged
internally with darker. Hind wings white, tinged with ochreous on
the hind margins." Herrich-Schaffer writes of superstes : — " Griseo-
testacea, grossius nigro irrorata, punctis strigarum ambarum duplicium
et lineaa limbalis nigerrimis, alis posterioribus albidis, limbum versus
griseis " (' Systematische Bearbeitung der Schmet,' &c., p. 212). I have
specimens which I can make to be no other species than this, received
from Mr. Percy Euss, and captured at Sligo. I was inclined at first
to consider these specimens as aberrant forms of our ambigua,
but there is no doubt of their distinctness from this species. They
were sent to me as blanda, and as such, remained until recently in my
cabinet, but they are at onc'e distinguished from that species by the
white hind wings of the male, and the paler and more ochreous fore-
wings. Of this form, Mr. Euss also sent me a specimen with the
fore wings very dark (inclining to blackish), but with characteristic
white hind wings. I have also specimens from Yarmouth (I. of
Wight) and Deal, which have long stood in my cabinet as doubtfully
ambigua or taraxaci, but which appear to be this species. These, however,
are greyer than the Sligo specimens, and appear to agree with
Herrich-Schaffer's superstes (vide description above), whilst the Sligo
specimens agree almost exactly with the description of Treitschke.

a. var. suffusa, mihi. — Anterior wings deep fuscous, inclining to
blackish, basal lines indistinct owing to depth of ground colour ;
orbicular and reniform dark internally, outlined with paler ; elbowed
line indistinct, edged internally with a row of black dots, a dark sub-
terminal line near hind margin edged externally with paler. Hind
wings white, nervures fuscous. Captured by Mr. Euss at Sligo.

Caradrina, Och., taraxaci, Hb.

This species, which appears to vary but little when superficially
examined, offers, however, a considerable range of minor variation
both in colour and markings, and thus became divided into numerous
species by our early British authors. In the ' Entomologist,' vol. i.,
Mr. Bentley described ten varieties, and then suggested that they all
formed one variable species. All his ten forms are undoubtedly referable
to what we now know as C. alsines and C. taraxaci (blanda), although we do
not now know the same form as C. alsines which Mr. Bentley did, and
the C. ambigua of Mr. Bentley in no way resembles the distinct species
lately added to the British fauna under this name. The British speci-
mens run from pale ochreous, closely resembling C. alsines, except
that the transverse lines are so far obsolete in taraxaci as to give it a
very smooth appearance, to a fuscous black form, which I have taken
at Deal. Our coast specimens are rarely brown, but more of a fuscous
ground colour with a purplish tinge, and very much powdered with
greyish-white, and thus apparently differ from those obtained in more
inland localities. Some of the specimens, however, are rather difficult
to locate. The form obtained from Shetland and Forres is of a distinctly
ochreous-brown colour, but without the well-developed characteristic

150 VARIETIES Ot NOCTIT^

transverse markings of alsines. Some British specimens of taraxaci
are brown, others, pale brownish-grey, powdered with white, others
distinctly of a purplish hue. Hiibner's type represented by fig.
575 (by error 175), may be described as follows: — "Anterior wings
dark-brownish with the space between the two outer transverse lines
darker, the lines themselves pale, orbicular and reniform outlined in
pale, with a pale waved oblique line at base. Hind wings grey, ner—
vures darker." Guenee writes of this species : — " English authors
have made many species out of blanda, which varies very little, at
least with us, but which is probably more variable in England, where
the N0CTU.2B are modified very much according to locality. These are,
the N. redacta, Icevis and sordida of Haworth, and C. ambigua, alsines and
implexa of Stephens ; but it is impossible for me to classify and describe
these varieties, which differ from the type only in characters as incon-
stant as they are slight" (< Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 246). Of the
similarity between alsines and hlanda, ' Newman writes : — " Few
entomologists distinguish accurately between this and the preceding,
and therefore, the published localities for the two species are not
trustworthy ; they are exceedingly similar, the principal distinction
being in the tint of colour, alsines having a tendency to ochreous,
hlanda to obscure purple and rosy ; nevertheless, there can be no doubt
as to their distinctness, the caterpillars being so different " (* British
Moths,' p. 314). Guenee writes of Hiibner's type: — '^Taraxaci
has the superior wings of a less rosy tint (than blanda, Gn.),
more blackish, with a light reddish tint on the disc, the subterminal
line a little less waved ; the inferior wings of a more yellowish
tint " (* Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 246). Taking Hiibner's dark brownish
form without a purplish tinge, therefore, as the type, the following
is a summarised list of the named varieties : —
1. — Eeddish-brown, with distinct stigmata and transverse markings =

taraxaciy Hb.
2. — Keddish-brown, with indistinct stigmata and transverse markings

= sordida. Haw.
3. — Ashy-brown, with distinct stigmata and transverse markings =

ambigua, St.
4. — Ashy-brown, with indistinct stigmata and transverse markings =

redacta, Haw.
6. — Fuscous, distinctly tinged with purplish = hlanda, Gn.
6. — Fuscous, with distinct stigmata and transverse markings = egens,

Haw.
6a. — Fuscous, with indistinct stigmata and transverse markings and

reniform outlined in white = alsines. Wood.
7. — Fuscous, with indistinct transverse lines and stigmata = Icevis,

Wood (wow Haw.),
a. var. sordida. Haw. — This var. is dull reddish, with two indis-
tinct strigse, the stigmata also obliterated except the outer margin.
It is, like the type, very closely allied to true alsines, approaching it
very nearly in ground colour, but with the characteristic transverse
lines of alsines obliterated. Haworth thus describes this form : — "Alee
superiores rufescentes ; pone medium strigss duae fere obliteratas.
Stigmata ordinaria obsoletissima, margine solum vix conspicua ; ante-
rius orbiculare evanescente exterius reniforme et ad latus interius

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 161

fiiscum. Ordo punctorum minutissimorum marginalis. Al^e inferiores
pallidiores" (' Lepidoptera Britannica/ p. 208). From Ilaworth's
large size 1". 4"', I was inclined to think that this referred to a larger
species, but Bentley in his article in the ' Entomologist,' vol. i., says
that his variety of this species " was examined and named by the late
Mr. Ha worth." My most characteristic examples of this brownish ob-
solete form are from Forres and from Chattenden Wood in Kent. In
Humphrey and Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 144, we find : — " *Sor-
dida is rusty or reddish, with two transverse fuscous strigae approxima-
ting towards the inner margin ; posterior margin clothed with black.'
/?. var. amhigua, St. — The amhiijua of Stephens is described in Mr.
Bentley's previously quoted paper (' Entom.,' vol. i.) as having " the an-
terior wings ashy-brown with three darker transverse strigse, the first
between the stigmata, the second behind the posterior stigma composed
of black dots, the third undulated near the posterior margin, stigmata
distinct with slender pale margins, posterior wings ashy with dusky
margins." This, as will be seen, is one of those forms in which the
markings and stigmata are distinctly developed.

y. var. redacta, Haw. — Similar to var. amhigua but with the
stigmata and markings more indistinct. Haworth's description of
redacta is as follows : — " Alis griseis strigis tribus obsoletis fuscis,
aliaque postica pallescente, stigmatibus albido marginatis " (' Lepi-
doptera Britannica,' &c., p. 20G). This is a simple sub-variety of the
preceding and is of the more obsolete form. In Humphrey and
Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 144, we find : — " Smaller than the type,
with the stigmata and markings more indistinct."

8. var. blanda, Gn. — Of this Guenee writes : — " Superior wings
less yellow than in ahinen, dusted with reddish-grey, always
powdered with white, the median transverse shade less distinct, the
inferior wings slightly hyaline, with the nervures distinctly darker
especially on the outer margin in both sexes " {' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p.
245). This reddish or purplish-grey form is called taraxaci by
Herrich-Schaffer and described as : — " Yiolacea-fusca, alis posteriori-
bus albidis limbum versus fuscis." He also adds : — " Chocolate-brown
with violet tinge and sprinkled with grey dots, the males often much
lighter than Hiibner's fig. 575. Hind wings dull whitish-yellow,
blackish-gi-ey on the hind margin, paler at base" ('Systematische Bear-
beitung,' &c., p. 211). This is an excellent description of our specimens
from the coast of Kent, where the specimens are rarely brown, and
often have a distinct purplish tinge, the basal area of the hind wings
of the male also being of a very pale grey.

€. var. egens, Haworth. — Another clearly' marked form, which
Haworth says is very similar to his redacta, but scarcely the same.
His description is : — " Alse anticae unif ormiter f uscescentes, stigmatibus
ordinariis fuscis distinctis, strigaque postica fusca, angustiore quam in
sequente (sepii). Posticae maris ut in prsecedente ; feminae, pallidiores
ut in praecedente " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 206). This is one of
our most common forms of the species.

^. var. alsines. Wood. — This is in reality only a slight sub-variety
of the preceding with the reniform outlined in white. It is described
as : — " The anterior wings fuscous with two transverse strigag, the pos-
terior stigma large and distinctly outlined in white."

tn2 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^

7j. var. IceviSy Wood. — This is anotlier obsolete form, resembling
the egens of Ha worth and alsines of Wood in ground colour, but without
the distinct markings of those varieties. It is described as " re-
sembling the var. alsines but the stigmata scarcely visible " (Humphrey
and Westwood's * British Moths,' p. 144). Haworth's Icevis is now
generally referred to Noctua neglecta.

Caradrina, Och., quadripunctata, Fab. (cubicularis, Bork.).

The type of this species is thus described by Fabricius : — "Noctua
Iflsvis alis incumbentibus griseis fusco undatis ; punctis quatuor mar-
ginis exterioris nigris." " Alas gTisese, strigis obsoletis undulatag.
Stigmata ordinaria parva, obsoleta, posteriori albo punctata. Puncta
quatuor nigra ad marginem crassiorem. Margo posticus obscurior.
Posticae striga marginali punctata fusca " {' Entomologia Systematica,'
&c., No. 46). Of the variation of this species Guenee writes : — " This
varies much both in shape, intensity of colour, and clearness of mark-
ings, but it is difficult to classify the varieties as races, because there
are so many intermediate forms. Those from the South are particu-
larly large and strongly coloured. Others, generally smaller, appear
to have the upper wings more rounded, their markings clearer ; these
come near selini. Lastly, others, generally larger, have the ground
colour very pale almost without markings, but with the reniform
well-developed and clearly surrounded by white spots " {' Noctuelles,'
vol. v., p. 251). In our British specimens there is a great deal of
difference in the intensity of the dark shade on the outer margin
(which is occasionally red), and also in the ground colour, which varies
from pale whitish and ochreous-grey in its paler forms to dark grey-
ish fuscous. There is also a great deal of variation in the number of
transverse lines, some specimens being quite irrorated with the num-
ber of lines, others again are quite clear and exhibit an almost com-
plete absence of transverse markings, especially in the central area.
This excess or absence of markings is perfectly independent of the
colour. The reniform stigmata are occasionally of an orange colour,
generally they are greyish surrounded with white dots ; in some
specimens, however, the white dots are absent and the stigmata are
simply grey of a slightly darker shade than the general ground colour.
The different varieties mentioned in Staudinger's ' Catalog,' p. Ill, are
ill-defined, and it appears difficult to classify the varieties satisfac-
torily. Bentley writes of this species 'Entomologist,' vol. i : — '^ Cara-
drina ctibicularis and superstes. The large and dark varieties are gene-
i-ally named in British collections superstes, all that I have seen are
mere varieties of cubicularis." The blanda of Haworth, and the segetum
of Esper are apparently identical with the quadripunctata of Fabricius.
Haworth's diagnosis is : — " Alis canescentibus fusco pulverulentibus,
striga postica undulata rufo-fusca extus pallida " (' LepidopteraBritanni-
ca,' p. 208). The following is an attempt to classify the named forms : —
1. — Pale whitish-grey, with distinct transverse lines and stigmata =

cuhicularis, Haw.
2. — Pale whitish-grey, with indistinct transverse lines and stigmata

= grisea, Ev.
2a. — Pale whitish-grey, with indistinct transverse lines and stigmata,

but dark outer margin = congesta, Ld.

IN THE BUrTTSH ISLANDS. 153

3. — Ashy-grey or greyish-fuscous, with distinct transverse lines and

stigmata = quadr (punctata, Fab.
4. — Ashy-grey or greyish-fuscous, with indistinct transverse lines and

stigmata, = menetriesii, Kret.
5. — Dark fuscous, with indistinct transverse lines and stigmata =

superstes, St.
6. — Ochreous, with distinct transverse lines and stigmata = alhina, Ev.

a. var. euhicularis, Haw. — This is one of the palest forms of the species
and has distinct transverse lines and stigmata. Haworth describes it
as : — " Noctua. A lis canescentibus nebulosis, striga postica undulata
ex punctis confertis triangulari-sagittatis rufis extus pallidis." " Margo
posticus (ani angulo excepto) fuscus, ante ordinera punctorum fuscorum
in ipso margine, ciliis cinereis " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 208).
This would appear to be Treitschke's cuhicularis, of which he says : —
" Caradrina alis anticis griseis fusco undatis, punctis quatuor margine
fuscis " ('Die Schmet. von Europa,' v., p. 251).

f3. var. grisea, Ev. — This is described by Dr. Staudinger as : —
" albidior, magis unicolor " (' Catalog,' p. 111). Guenee's var. A from
the West Indies would appear to fit in here. He writes : — " Superior
wings very pale, with the markings indistinct; the reniform red,
surrounded by white dots, like the specimens I have just referred
to ; but the inferior wings are of a clear grey almost unicolorous, with
the nervures darker and the fringe unicolorous." Guenee also adds : —
" In spite of the marked difference in the inferior wings, I can only
consider this Caradrina a simple variety of our cuhicularis, from which
it does not differ in any other respect. It exactly resembles Herrich-
Schaffer's figure 425, which represents a specimen from Southern
Eussia" (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 251). It would appear to be
Haworth's cuhicularis var. jS., of which he says : — " Alis anticis absque
striga fusca in postico margine " (' Lep. Brit.,' p. 208).

y. var. congesta, Ld. — This is a sub- variety of the var. cuhicularis of
Haworth. It is almost unicolorous, except the outer margin, which is
dark as in that variety. Staudinger says of it : — " Al. ant. albido-cine-
reis, exter. infuscatis, eadem cum prseced. ?(^?*/sea Ev.) " (* Catalog,'
p. 111). This would appear to be very close to Haworth's cuhicularis
var. y. of which he writes : — " Paulo minor. Stigma anticum minu-
tissimum punctiforme, vel subinde deest : posticum tenue reniforme,
margine fusco solum conspicuum. Strigae posticae rufas pallida9 et
fuscas precedentium (cuhicularis) omnino desunt, caeteris ut in illis "
(' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 203).

8. var. menetriesii, Kret. — This variety, recorded from Russia, is
described in the ' Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift,' 1863, p. 432,
and Dr. Staudinger (' Catalog,' p. Ill) writes of it: — "fere unicolor
obscure cinerascens."

e. var. superstes, Stephens. — This name was given by StejDhens in
his ' Illustrations ' &c., p. 159, to those larger and darker specimens
of cuhicularis, generally with ill-developed markings, which occasion-
ally occur in most localities. The largest and darkest specimens that
I have in my collection came from Mr. Percy Kuss and were captured
near Sligo.

(?). J. var. albina, Ev. — Eversmann's alhina from the Ural is
treated by Dr. Staudinger as a probable variety of quadripunctata,

154

VARIETIES OF NOCTURE

writing of it : — " Prsec. (quadripunctata) ab. lutescens?." Guenee treats
it as a distinct species, and it is so treated in most of the dealers'
catalogues. There appears to be no difference whatever, except in
the yellow ground colour, and our specimens occasionally vary in this
way. I have such from Deal. Eversmann's description is : — ** Alse
anticse lutescenti-griseae, punctis aliquot costalibus punctisque tribus
linese internse nigris, serie externa flexuosa punctorum fuscorum obso-
leta, maculis ordinariis dilute fuscescentibus, rotunda minuta nigra,
media reniformi, punctulis obsoletis albis terminata. Alse posticae
candid«e " ('Bulletin de la Society de Moscou,' 1848, iii., 215).

IN THE BRITISH ISLANOS. 155

ADDENDA.

Thyatyra hatis., L. var. confluens, Reuter. — ^In the * Entomologisk
Tidskrift,' 1890, pp. 201-202, Enzio Eeuter describes a variety with
the superior wings, having the base and centre dull reddish- white, the
costal margin with an almost semi-oval, dull, brownish-olive spot before
the middle ; from thence to the hind margin dull, sparingly and very
obsoletely subfasciate, dusted with fuscous ; the third apical (exterior)
portion distinctly dull brownish-olive, adorned with the typical spots,
but these posterior spots much more obsolete than in the type ; fringes
unicolorous fuscous. Posterior wings as in the type but the median
fascia paler. The abdomen whitish. He also gives a figure of the
specimen. His description is as follows : — " Alis anticis supeme basi
medioque sordide rubido-albidis, margine costali ante medium macula
fere seraiovali sordide fusco-olivacea, ab ea usque in marginem posti-
cum pulvere fuscescenti parce et valde obsolete subfasciatim sordidatis ;
parte tertia apicali (exteriore) sensim sordide fusco-olivacea, maculis
typicis omata, his posterioribus autem quam in typo multo obsoleti-
oribus ; ciliis fuscis unicoloribus ; alis posticis ut in typo, sed fascia
media pallida obsoletiore ; abdomine albicanti ( ? )."

Some varieties occur in the trade lists of Dr. Staudinger and Herr
Heyne. As I cannot certainly trace their synonymy, nor as yet, find
descriptions, I do not know whether they are actually described
varieties or mere trade names. They are as follows : —

Asphalia flavicornis var. finnmarchia, Schoyen (Heyne's list).
Viminia albovenosa var. murina, Spaugsberg (Heyne's list).
Nonagria gemimpuncta var. pallida, Stdgr., (Heyne's list).
Miana furuncula \SLr. ptaUidior, Stdgr., (Staudinger 's list).
Crymodes exulis var. obscura, Stdgr., (Heyne & Staudinger's lists).
Caradrina alsines var. amurensis, Stdgr., (Heyne & Staudinger's lists).
Caradrina ambigua var. dilucida, Stdgr., (Staudinger's list).

CORRIGENDA.

p. 45 (11 lines from top) delete " var. " before "fulva, Hb."

p. 104 (7 lines from bottom of page) for "furuncula. Haw." read

"furuncula, Hb."
p. 112 (11 lines from top of page) for "var. sordida, Bork." read

" sordida, Bork. (the type)."
p. 128 (line 26 from the top) for " hiburnicus, Curt.," read " hibernicm,

Curt,
p. 136 (line 8 from bottom of page) for " diversa, Heyne," read

" diversa, Stdgr."

CATALOGUE

OF

THE SUB-CLKSSES, FAMILIES, GENERS
SPECIES, VARIETIES, Md PRINCIPAL SUB-

YIRIETIES

Mentioned in Vol I. of
THE

BRITISH NOCTU^

AND THEIR VARIETIES.

18D1.

INDEX,

169

PAGE

PAGE

NOCTUiE, Linn

var. impar, Warren

10

BOMBYCIFOKMES, Gn. ...

BOMBYCOIDJB, Bdv.

11

CYMATOPHORIDiE, H.S.

Moma, Hb.

11

Gonophora, Brd.

orion, Esp

11

derasa, L.

var. runica, Haw. ...

12

var. intermedia, Brem.

2

var. rosea, Tutt

12

var. derasoides, Dobree

2

Diloba, St.

12

Thyatyra, Och

2

caeruleocephala, L. ...

12

batis, L.

2

var. armena, Stdgr.

12

var. juncta, Tutt. ...

2

Bisulcia, Chapm.

12

var. mexicana, Hy.-Edw

. 2

ligustri. Fab

12

i'ar. confluens, Eeut.

155

var. coronula. Haw.

13

Cymatophora, Tr.

3

var. olivacea, Dobree

13

ocularis, L.

3

var. nigra, Tutt

13

var. octogesima, Hb.

3

Cuspidia, Chapm.

13

var. rosea, Tutt

3

aceris, L.

13

or, Fab.

3

var. candelisequa, Esp.

14

var. scotica, Tutt ...

4

var. infuscata. Haw.

14

var. flavistigmata, Tutt

4

var. intermedia, Tutt

14

duplaris, L. ...

4

leporina, L

14

var. argentea, Tutt...

4

var. bradyporina, Tr.

14

var. obscura, Tutt ...

5

var. semivirga, Tutt

15

fluctuosa, Hb.

5

var. rosea, Engr. ...

15

Asphalia, Hb. ...

5

megacepbala, Fab. ...

15

diluta, Fab

5

var. turanica, Stdgr.

15

car. nubilata, Eobson

5

var. rosea, Engr. ...

16

flavicornis, L.

5

var. ochrea, Tutt ...

16

var. galbanus, Tutt

6

strigosa, Fab.

16

var. scotica. Stand....

6

alni, L.

16

var. rosea, Tutt

6

var. suffusa, Tutt ...

17

«;ar.finnmarchia,Sch6yenl55

car. obsoleta, Tutt ...

17

ridens, Fab

6

tridens. Fab 17

,19

var. xantboceros, Hb.

7

var. virga, Tutt

20

var. erythrocephala, Esp

7

var. rosea, Tutt

20

var. inter rupta, Tutt

7

var. bidens, Tutt ...

20

Bryophilid^, Gn. ...

7

var. quinquedentata, Tutt 20

Bryopbila, Tr

7

var. juncta, Tutt ...

20

perla. Fab.

7

psi, L 17

,20

var. flavescens, Tutt

8

var. virga, Tutt

21

var. suffusa, Tutt ...

8

var. juncta, Tutt ...

21

var. distincta, Tutt...

8

var. bivirgas, Tutt ...

21

algse. Fab.

8

var. suffusa, Tutt ...

21

var. degeuer, Esp. ...

8

var. cuspis, St.

21

var. mendacula, Hb.

9

var. bidens, Chapm.

22

var. calligrapha, Bkh.

9

var. rosea, Tutt

22

muralis, Forst.

9

Viminia, Chapm.

22

var. par, Hb.

9

auricoma. Fab.

22

var. viridis, Tutt ...

10

var. similis. Haw. ...

23

var. flavescens, Tutt

10

var. menyanthidis. Haw.

23

var. pallida, Tutt ...

10

var. pepli, Hb.

23

var. obscura, Tutt ...

10

menyanthidis, Vw. ...

2a

leo

iNDfiX.

PAGE

PAGE

var. obsoleta, Tutt.

24

impudens, Hb.

35

var. scotica, Tutt

24

var. pudorina, Hb

36

var. suffusa, Tutt

24

var. striata, Dobree

36

euphorbias, Fab.

24

var. rufescens, Tutt

36

var. montivaga, Gn

25

putrescens, Hb.

36

var. myricae, Gn.

25

brevilinea, Fenn

37

rumicis, L.

25

var. sinelinea, Fam

37

var. salicis, Curt.

27

comma, L.

37

var. euphorbise, St.

27

var. suffusa, Tutt ...

37

var. euphrasies, St.

28

var. ochracea, Tutt

38

albovenosa, Goze

28

var. nigropuncta, Tutt

38

var. murina, Spaug

155

obsoleta, Hb

38

var. centripuncta, H.S. 28

var. nigrostriata, Tutt

38

var. ochracea, Tutt

28

var. grisea, Tutt ...

38

var. argentea, Tutt

28

straminea, Tr.

38

Genuinje, Gn. ...

29

var. obsoleta, Tutt . . .

39

Leucanid^, Gn....

21)

var. intermedia, Tutt

39

Synia, Dup.

29

var. rufolinea, Tutt

39

musculosa, Hb.

29

var. nigrostriata, Tutt

39

var. myodea, Kbr.

29

impura, Hb. ...

39

Leucania, Och. ...

29

var. fuligosina. Haw.

40

vitellina, Hb.

29

var. punctina. Haw.

40

conigera. Fab.

30

var. punctilinea, Tutt

40

var. intermedia, Tu

tt 30

pallens, L.

40

var. flavipunctum.

Tutt 30

var. arcuata, Stphs.

41

var. suffusa, Tutt

30

var. ectypa, Hb.

41

albipuncta. Fab.

30

var. rufescens, Haw.

41

var. rufa, Tutt

31

var. suffusa, Stphs.

42

var. suffusa, Tutt

31

var. ochracea, Stphs.

42

var. grisea, Tutt

31

phragmitidis, Hb.

42

lithargyria, Esp.

31

var. rufescens, Tutt

42

var. argyritis, Rbr.

31

var. pallida, Tutt ...

42

var. pallida, Tutt

32

litoralis, Curt.

43

var. ferrago, Fab.

32

Meliana, Curt. ...

43

var. extraiinea. Tut

t 32

flammea. Curt.

43

var. fulvescens, Tu

tt 32

Tapinostola, Och.

43

var. marginata, Tul

:t 32

elymi, Tr

43

turca, L.

33

hellmanni, Evers.

43

var. lutescens, Tutt

33

var. saturata, Stdgr.

44

var. obscura, Tutt

33

fulva, Hb 44

,45

var. lividus, Tutt

33

var. concolor, Tutt 44

,45

var. grandis, Btl.

33

var. ochracea, Tutt 44

45

unipuncta. Haw.

33

suh-var, ochracea-suffusa

>

var. extranea, Gn.

34

Tutt 44

,45

var. asticta, Tutt

34

var. punicea, Tutt . . .

45

var. saccharivora, 1

3tl. 35

mh-var. punicea-suffusa.

var. antica. Walker

35

Tutt

45

var. trifolii, Btl.

35

var. pallida, St.

45

var. convecta, Wal

ker 35

var. pygmina. Haw.

45

var. separata. Wall?

er 35

var. fluxa, Tr. ... 45

,46

loreyi, Dup. ...

35

var. neuiica, St. ... 45

,46

INDEX.

161

PAGE

(?) cooicolor, Gn. ... 46

Chortodes, St 47

extrema, Hb. ... ... 47

var. bondii, Knaggs 47

arcuosa, Haw.... ... 47

var. morrisii, St. ... 47

Caanobia, St. ... ... 48

rufa, Haw. ... ... 48

var. lineola, St. ... 48

var. pallescens, Tutt 48

Senta, St. 48

maritima, Tausch. ... 48

var. ulvse, Hb. ... 48

var. bipunctata, Haw. 49
var. wismariensis, Schmidt49

var. nigricostata, Stdgr. 49

var. nigrostriata, Stdgr. 49

Nonagria, Och. ... ... 49

Hb.

49

var. arundineta, Schmidt 49
var. rosea, Tutt ... 50
var. dissoluta, Tr. ... 60
geminipuncta, Haw. ... 50
sw6-?;a?-.umpuncta,Tutt51, 52
sub-var. obsoleta, Tutt 51, 52
var. pallida, Tutt ... 61
sub-var. pallida-unipuncta

Tutt 51

sub-var. pallida-obsoleta,

Tutt 51

var. rufa, Tutt ... 51
sub-var. rufa-unipuncta,

Tutt 51

sub-var. rufa-obsoleta,

Tutt 51

sub-var. paludicola, Hb. 51
var. fusca, Tutt. ... 51,52
sub-var. fusca-unipuncta

Tutt ^ 51,52

sub-var. nigricans, Stdgr.

51,52
cannae, Och. ... ... 52

sparganii, Esp. ... 53

var. obsoleta, Tutt... 53

var. bipunctata, Tutt 53

var. rufescens, Tutt 54

arundinis. Fab. ... 54

var. fratema, Tr. ... 54

Calamia, Hb. ... ... 55

lutosa, Hb. ... ... 55

var. pilicornis, Haw. 55

PAGE

var. crassicomis. Haw. 65
var. rufescens, Tutt 55, 66
mr. cannae, St. ... 65,56
sub-var. rufescens-suffusa

Tutt 55,66

VpAMiDiB, Gn. ... ... 57

Gortyna, Och 67

ochracea, Hb.... ... 67

var. flavago, Esp. ... 68

riydraecia, Gn. ... ... 68

nictitans, L. . . . ... 58

var. pallida, Tutt ... 60

var. rosea, Tutt ... 60

var. auricula, Haw. 60
var. erythrostigma. Haw. 61

var. obscura, Tutt ... 61

var. albicosta, Tutt 61

lucens, Frr. (sub-species) 61

var. pallida, Tutt ... 62

var. grisea, Tutt ... 62

var. rufa, Tutt ... 62

paludis, Tutt (sub-species) 63

var. intermedia, Tutt 64

var. brunnea, Tutt ... 64

var. grisea, Tutt ... 64

micacea, Esp. ... ... 64, 65

var. grisea, Tutt ... 65

var. lutea, Tutt ... 65

var. cypriaca. Haw. 65

var. rubida, Tutt ... 65

var. brunnea, Tutt ... 65

petasitis, Dbday. ... 66

var. vindelicia, Ereyer 66

var. amurensis, Stdgr. 66

Helotropha, Ld.... ... 67

leucostigma, Hb. ... 67

var. albipuncta, Tutt 67

var. lunina. Haw. ... 67
sub-var. flavo-lunina, Tutt68

var. fibrosa, Hb. ... 68

Axylia, Hb 68

putris, L. ... ... 68

var. lignosa, Hb. ... 68

(?) var. sicca, Gn. . . . 69

Xylomiges, Gn 69

conspicillaris, L. ... 69

var. melaleuca. View. 69

var. intermedia, Tutt 70

var. medio-linea, Tutt 70

Xylophasia, St. ... ... 71

zollikoferi, Ereyer ... 71

ir,2

INDEX.

PAGE

var. pallida, Tutt ... 72

polyodon, L. (monoglypha,

Hufn.?) 72

var. obscura, Tutt ... 73
var. brunnea, Tutt ... 73
var. inf uscata, White 73, 74
var. sethiops, Stdgr. 73, 74

lithoxylea. Fab. ... 74

sublustris, Esp. ... 75

var. pallida, Tutt ... 76
var. intermedia, Tutt 76
var. lithoxylea, Hb. 76

rurea, Fab 76, 77

var. argentea, Tutt... 77, 78
I'ar. ochrea, Tutt ... 77,78
var. intermedia, Tutt 77, 78
var. flavo-rufa, Tutt 77, 79
rar. putris, Hb. ... 77,79
var. combusta. Haw. 77, 79
var. combusta, Hb. 80

var. alopecurus, Esp. 77, 80
far. nigrorubida, Tutt 77,80

hepatica, L. ... ... 80

var. characterea, Hb. 81

var. epomidion. Haw. 81

scolopacina, Esp. ... 81

var. abbreviata, Haw. 82

(?) var. nux, Freyer 82

Dipterygia, St 82

scabriuscula, L. ... 82

var. pinastri, L. ... 83

Apamea, Och. ... ... 83

basilinea. Fab. ... 84

mr. pallida, Tutt ... 85
var. unicolor, Tutt ... 85
var. nebulosa, Vwg. 85

var. cinerascens. Tutt 85
rar. finitima, Gn. ... 85

pabulatricula, Brahm 86

rar. elota, Hb. ... 86

ophiogramma, Esp. ... 87

gemina, Hb 87, 89

car. rufescens, Tutt 89

sub-var. intermedia-grisea,

Tutt 89

mh-var. intermedia-rufa,

Tutt 89

i-ar. oblonga, Haw.... 89
var. remissa, Hb. ... 89

unanimis, Hb. (/8) ... 90

var, seoalina (^), Haw. 91

PAGE

didyma, Esp 91,93

var. grisea, Tutt ... 93,94
var. reticulata, Tutt 93, 95
var. secalina (y). Haw. 93, 95
var. virgata, Tutt ... 93,95

var. I-niger, Haw 93, 95

i?ar. oculea, Gn. ... 93,95
var. rufa, Tutt ... 93,96
i7ar. nictitans, Esp. 93, 96
var. secalina, Hb. ... 93,96
ijar. rava. Haw. ... 93,96
«;ar. f urea. Haw. ... 93,97
var. nigra, Tutt ... 93,97
I'ar. lugens, Haw. ... 93,97
var. albistigma, Tutt 93, 98
var. leucostigma, Esp. 93, 97
Miana, St 98

strigilis, 01 99

var. prseduncula. Haw.

99, 100
var. suffuruncula, Freyer

99, 100
var. virgata, Tutt 99, 100
var. aerata, Esp. 99, 101

var. latruncula, Haw. 99, 101
i)ar. nigro-rufa,Tutt 100, 101
var. rufa, Tutt 100, 101

var. unicolor, Tutt 100, 101
var. fasciata, Tutt 100, 102
var. aethiops. Haw. 100, 102

fasciuncula. Haw. ... 102
var. rubencula, Frr. 102

var. cana, Stdgr. ... 102
var. pallida, Tutt ... 103
var. suffusa, Tutt ... 103

bicoloria, Vill. ... 103

var. pallida, Tutt ].04, 105
«7ar.insulicola,Stdgr.l04, 105
var. albicans, Tutt 104, 105
var. reticulata, Tutt 104, 105
var. humeralis (y). Haw.

104. 105
var. furuncula, Hb. 104, 105
var. brunnea-reticulata,

Tutt ... 104,105

var. terminalis (a), Haw. ...
104, 105
var. pulmonarias, Dup.

104. 106
var. rufa-reticulata, Tutt

104, 106

tUD«X.

163

PAGE

var. rufuncula, Haw.

104, 106

var. vinctuncula, Hb. 1(>6

var. pallidior, Stdgr. 155

literosa, Haw.... ... 106

Phothedes, Ld 107

captiuncula, Tr. ... 107

var. expolita, Dbdy. 107

Celgena, St 107

haworthii, Curt. ... 107

var. hibemica, St. ... 108
var. lancea, St. ... 108
var. tripuncta, Curt. 108
var. morio, Ev. ... 108
var. erupta, Freyer 109

Mamestra, Och. ... ... 109

abjecta, Hb 109

var. variegata, Stdgr. 110
var. unicolor, Tutt... 110
var. nigrodistincta, Tutt

110,111
var. fribolus, Bdv. 110, 111

sordida, Bork....

Ill

var. renardii, Bdv

112

var. ochracea, Tutt...

112

var. anceps, Hb. . . .

112

furva, Hb.

113

var. ochracea, Tutt

113

var. freyeri, Freyer

113

var. infernalis, Ev.

114

var. silvicola, Ev. ...

114

albicolon, Sepp

114

var. brunnea, Tutt...

114

var. cinerascens, Tutt

112

brassicas, L. ...

115

var. ochracea, Tutt...

116

var. albicolon, St. ...

116

var. unicolor, Tutt...

116

var. albidilinea. Haw.

116

var. andalusica, Stdgr.

117

persicarias, L.

117

(?) var. accipitrina, Esp

.117

var. unicolor, Stdgr.

117

Crymodes, Gn. ...

118

exulis, Lef.

118

var. gelata, Lef.

119

var. groenlandica, Dup.

119

var. marmorata, H. S.

120

var. assimilis, Dbdy.

120

var. gelida, Gn.

121

var. poli, Gn.

12ll

PAGE

var. borea, H.S. ... 121
var. obscura, Stdgr. 155

Pachetra, Gn 121

leucophaea, Vieweg ... 121
var. vestigialis, Esp. 122
var. ravida, Esp. 122, 123
var. bombycina, Ev. 123

Cerigo, St. 123

matura, Hufn. ... 123

var. connexa, Hb. ... 124

var. texta, Esp. ... 124

Neuronia, Hb. ... ... 124

popularis. Fab. .. 124

var. graminis, Hb. 125

Neuria, Gn. ... ... 125

reticulata, Vill. ... 125

var. typica, Hb. ... 125

var. unicolor, Stdgr. 125
Heliophobus, Bdv. ... 125

hispida, Hb.-Gey. ... 125

var. intermedia, Tutt 126
var. suffusa, Tutt 126, 127
var. argentea, Tutt 126, 127
var. pallida, Tutt 126, 127
var. obsoleta, Tutt 126, 127
(?) var. oditis, Hb. 126, 127
Chareeas, St. ... ... 127

graminis, L. ... 127,128

var. gramineus. Haw.

128, 129
var. tricuspis, Esp. 128, 129
var. rufa, Tutt 128, 130

var. ruf o-costa, Tutt 128, 130
var. hibernicus, Curt.

128, 130
var. ochrea, Tutt 128, 130
var. obsoleta, Tutt 131

var. pallida, Tutt 131

var. megala, Alph. 131

car. albineura, Bdv. 131

var. albipuncta, Sven 131
var. brunnea, Sven 131

Aporophyla, Guen. ... 131

australis, Bdv. ... 131

var. pascuea. Curt 132

var. scriptura, Frr.... 132
var. ingenua, Frr. ... 133
var. orien talis, H.S. 133

Lupei:ma, Bdv 134

luttago, Hb , 134

nar. ban'ettii, Dbdy. 135

164

INDEX.

PAGE

PAGE

var. bninneago, Esp.

135

Laphygma, Gn 144

var. olbiena, Hb.-Gey.

135

exigua, Hb. ... ... 144

var. argillacea, Hb....

135

var. fulgens, Hb.-Gey. 144

dumerilii, Dup.

136

var. pygmsea, Ramb. 144

var. desyllesi, Bdv.

136

Caradrina, Och. ... ... 145

var. diversa, Stdgr.

136

morpheus, View. ... 146

cespitis, Fab.

136

var. sepii, Hb. ... 147

? var. confinis, St.

137

var. obscura, Tutt . . . 147

testacea, Hb. ...

137

far. minor, Tutt ... 147

var. obsoleta, Tutt . . .

13H

alsines, Brahm ... 147

var. gueneei, Dbdy.

138

var. suffusa, Tutt ... 147

var. cinerea, Tutt 138

139

var. amurensis, Stdgr.

var. nigrescenSjTutt 138

139

148,155

var. lunato-strigata, Haw.

ambigua, Fab. ... 148

138

139

var. plantaginis, Dup. 148

var. unca, Haw. 138

139

var. dilucida, Stdgr. 155

var. x-notata, Haw.

superstes, Tr. (sub-species) 148

138

140

var. suffusa, Tutt ... 149

mr. incerta, Tutt ...

140

taraxaci, Hb. ... 149,150

Caradrinid^, Bdv.

140

var. sordida. Haw. ... 150

Grammesia, St

140

var. ambigua,. St. 150, 151

trigrammica, Hufn. ...

140

var. redacta, Haw. 150, 151

var. evidens, Borg....

141

var. blanda, Gn. 150, 151

var. approximans, Haw.

141

var. egens. Haw. 150, 151

var. semifuscans, Haw.

141

var. alsines. Wood 150, 151

var. bilinea, Hb. ...

142

var. Isevis, Wood 160, 152

var. obscura, Tutt . . .

142

quadripunctata. Fab. 152

var. pallida- linea, Tutt

142

var. cubic ularis, Haw.

Hydrilla, Bdv

143

152, 153

palustris, Hb.

143

var. grisea, Ev. 152, 163

Acosmetia, Stphs.

143

var, congesta, Ld. 152, 153

caliginosa, Hb.

143

var. menetriesii, Kret. 153

var. lutescens, Haw.

143

var. superstes, St. ... 153

var. aquatilis, Bdv....

144

var. albina, Ev. ... 153

NATURALISTS' SUPPLY STORES,

31, PARK STREET, WINDSOR.

pt>mH E. EDMONDS, %moimu

MANUFACTURER OF

ENTOMOLOGICAL APPARATUS & CABINETS

C0 %Er iilafcBt^ tbc (@u££tt, tlje Hojal yantil^, and to (Btott ©oUegc.

MACRO LEPIDOPTERA, PRESERVED LARV^, AND BIRDS' EGGS.
A large Stock always on hand. Catalogue on receipt of stamps.

THE "IMPROVED" LARV^ PRESERVING APPARATUS, including
every article necessary for Preserving and Mounting Larvae, complete, with
instructions for use, Post free in Great Britain, 5/6. Plain ring net with
stick, 1/6, 1/9, 2/.. Folding net, 3/9. Umbrella net (self acting), 5/6 and 7/6.
Pocket boxes, 6d., 9d., and 1/-. Zinc, pocket, or relaxing boxes, 1/-, 1/6, 2/-.
Nested chip boxes, 1/10 gross. Pins black or white, at makers' prices (sample
card on receipt of stamp). Sugaring lanterns, 2/- to 10/6. Sugaring tin with
brush, 1/6. Store boxes, 2/6, 4/-, 5/-, 6/-. Setting boards, 1 in. 6d., l^in. 8d., 2 in.
lOd., 2i in. 1/-, 3 in. 1/2, 3^ in. 1/4, 4 in. 1/6, 5 in. 1/8. Setting Houses, 9/6,
11/6, 14/-. Zinc Larvae boxes, 1/6 set of 3. Plain tin boxes for sending Larvae
through Post, or for pocket use when collecting, 3 sizes nested, 3/6 per dozen
nests. Breeding cages, 2/6, 4/-, 5/-. Insect cases, glazed, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6, 5/6, 6/6,
8/6. Cement for mending, 6d. and 1/- per bottle. Nickel forceps, 2/- pair.
Cabinet cork, 7 by 3^, 1/4 dozen sheets. Glass top and. bottom boxes, from 1/6
dozen. Glass killing bottle, ready for use, 1/6 and 2/.. Pupae digger in sheath,
2/.. Postal boxes, 6d., 9d., 1/-, 1/6. Mite destroyer, 1/. the oz. Taxidermists'
tools and instruments at low rates for best make. Oologists' forceps, 6d. pair.
Egg drills, 3d., 6d. and 1/-. Glass blowpipes, 2d. and 3d. White or pink
wadding (patent), 6d. per sheet. The " Etonian " self acting Egg Blowing
Apparatus, for blowing eggs, one hole, without blowing or sucking with the
mouth (not a toy), complete with full instructions for use, 1/2. Fresh duplicate
imagines are offered each season to clear at less than half catalogue prices.

Label list of British Macro Lepidoptera, Latin and English, 1/6.

Label list of British Birds' Eggs, Latin and English, 3d. each.

LIVING OVA, LAME & PUPJl, a Speciality

(NO LARGER STOCK IN EUROPE).

BREEDING GROUNDS :-Kmg's Road (adjoining Long Walk,

Windsor Great Park) ; and also at " The Nursery," Osborne Road,

Windsor.

Price Lists are issued on 1st and 15th of each month, and include only those
species actually on the premises at the time of issuing List. On receipt of 1/.
in postal order or stamps, every List issued for one year will be sent free.

I have now every convenience for breeding Lepidoptera on the living tree
or plant (Land or Water) ; and as my Grounds are each within five minutes of
Business Premises, visitors may at all times inspect them.

Entomologists are invited to send me a list of their desiderata. Being in
direct communication with native collectors in all parts of the world, but more
especially in Europe, I can, as a rule, supply desired species, and, if ordered in
advance, at any European dealer's prices.

Exchange : I am always pleased to take desired species of Ova, Larvae, and
Pupae in exchange, at 2/3rd8 my list prices.

31, PAEK STEEET, WINDSOE (5 doors from Great Park Gates).

No connection with any other Firm in Britain.

The entomologists RECORD

AND

JOURNAL OF VARIATION.

Edited by J. W. TUTT, F.E.S.

VOL. I. (with three Chromo-Litho. Plates, one Litho. Plate & Woodcuts).

The following is a short Synopsis of some of the Contents of the Volume :

Notes on Collecting: —

" Assembling- " with Slauropus fagi and Amphidasys prodromaria.
Collecting" Agrotis lunigera in the Isle of Wig"ht.
Spring Beetles at hawthorn blossom. Heliophobus hispidus at Portland.
Notes on Lepidoptera in the Channel Islands. Attractiveness of

Flowers.
Callimorpha hera in South Devon. Sallow working" round Hereford.
Freshwater Cliffs (by water) for Se^ma irrorella.
Destructiveness of Zeuzera cesculi in North London.

Records of Captures in 1890: —

Notodonia carmelita, LyccBna anon, Eulepia crihrum.

Caradrina a?nbigua, Lithosia molybdeola, Dasycampa ruhiginea,
Plusia moneta, Lithosia caniola, DianthcEcia cccsia,

Leucania vitellinay Deilephila galiiy Polia nigrocincta.

And Notes of all New Species that have been added to the British Lists.

Popular Articles:—

On Killing* Lepidoptera. How to keep Pupae through the Winter.
Collectors and Collections. " Setting " Lepidoptera.
" Sugaring." Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1890.

Collecting Notes from all parts of the British Islands.

Practical Hints to Collectors, by —

C. Fenn, F.E.S. W. G. Sheldon. J. W. Tutt, F.E.S.

J.Mason. W. H.Tugwell, M.Ph.S. etc. etc.

Bibliography.
Scientific Notes.
Special Notes on breeding
Lepidoptera from larvae ; —

Catocala fraxini,

Epunda lichenea,

Heliophobus hispidus y etc.

Current Notes by the Editor.
Reports of the principal Societies.
Variation : —

The origin and distribution of

Argynnis paphia var. valesina.
Unique varieties of Smerinthus

tilioe (with chromo-litho plate).

Serial Papers :—

The Genus Acronycta and its Allies (with chromo plates), by
Melanism and Melanochroism, by the Editor. [T. A. Chapman, M.D.

List of Plates.
Unique varieties of Smerinthus tilicB (chromo-litho).
Young larvae (from living specimens) of the Genus Acronycta
Pupae of the (jenus Acronycta (chromo-litho.) [(chromo-litho.)

(litho).
Woodcuts of undersides of Cidaria russata and C. immanata.

Price 7s. 6d.

To be oMained from Mr. A. J. HODGES, 2, Highbury Place, London, N.

Special Index to Vol. I. of " Entoiologist's Record."

A " Special Index," containing all the references in Vol. I. of the Entomologis
ecord, arranged under families in the order of specific names, may be obtained fro

Mp. a. J. Hodges, 2, Highbury Place, N. Price Is.

The Entomologist's Reoord and Journal of Variation^

SUBSCRIPTION FOR VOL. II. 6/-, POST FREE.

Volume II. commenced April 15, 1891, and will be completed in Twelve
Nos. by the end of 1891, to commence Vol. III. in January, 1892, for the
convenience of Subscribers. The three extra Nos. will be issued June 1st,
Sept. 1st., and Oct. 1st., thus affording, through the Exchange Column,
additional facilities for the interchange of duplicate specimens during the
season.

The series of papers by Dr. T. A. Chapman, on " The G-enus Acronyda and
its Allies," will be continued, and will be further illustrated with three
Chromo-litho. plates, from living larvae of that Genus.

The paper on " Melanism and Melanochroism," by the Editor, will be
finished in this Volume.

No effort will be spared to maintain the high position achieved during the
past twelve months, and we have every confidence in bringing our Second
Volume before Entomologists.

The Subscription for Volume II. is 6s,, post free, but owing to the demand
for Volume I., we cannot supply the same under 7s. fid., and it is recommended
that early application be made by those desirous of securing same.

Lord Walsingham, M.A., F.R.S., in his Presid'>ntial Address to the Fellows of
the Entomological Society, says : — "Already we have to welcome a new publication

The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation, edited by Mr. J. W. Tutt

an especially interesting line of enquiry, as connected with the use and value
of colour in insects, is that which has been followed up in Mr. Tutt's series of
papers in The Entomologist's Record."

NOTICES OF THE PRESS.

" A special feature is to be the prominence given to papers and Notes on ' Variation,' the
interest in which has so much increased of late years ; the impetus being due, in great measure,
to the writings of the Editor of the Journal under notice. Other good features are the ' Scientific
Notes,' the ' Current Notes,' the ' Notes on Collecting,' the ' Practical Hints,' etc. The Journal
is well worthy of support, and we heartily wish it every success."— T/ie Naturalist.

" The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation is, we are pleased to learn, progress-
ing very favourably. It is edited by Mr. J. W. Tutt, F.E.S., whose name, a household word
throughout the entomological world, is a certain guarantee of the excellence and quality of the
contents, which will, we have no doubt, be found of interest by all our entomological readers."—

The Naturalists' Gazette.

" For entomologists, who are able to read English, this new magazine is invaluable in the
highest degree." — Societas entomologica (Zurich-Hottingen).

" I heartily recommend The Entomologist's Record tolall collectors of insects."—

The North Cumberland Reformer.

'• This new Magazine is intended to collect curious and interesting entomological facts, and
above all to serve as a central organ for all records relative to the variation of insects. We can
do nothing but applaud the design of its founders. Natural and spontaneous variation is of
vital importance in connection with the Darwinian theories, or even to evolutionists in general.
One knows of it, one knows that it exists, that it has been discussed ; but it will nev^r be too
much studied— never, above all, will it be too much measured and understood. It is only by
the accumulation of little facts that one is able to arrive at or form an idea of its importance,
of its limits, and also of the conditions which favour its production. The Entomologist's Record
contains original articles on particularly interesting genera and species; short notes on the
manners and habitat of insects, practical hints for seeking them. Lastly, under the head of
variation, all facts relative to divergence from the normal type, difference of colour, of form, of
size, &c., are grouped. We do not doubt that this Magazine, from which we shall print extracts
from time to time, will be exceedingly well received by the public ; to whom it recommends^ it-
self at the same time by the care with which it is produced, and by the modesty of its price,"—

Revue Scientifique.

THE N ATU RALISTj

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF NATURAL HLSTORY FOR THE NORTH

OF ENGLAND.
Edited by W. DENISON ROEBUCK, F.L.S.

(LovELL, Reeve & Co., 5, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, E.G.)

Published on the 1j/ of every month, price 6d., or Annual Subscription ^s., to

Mr. W. DENISON ROEBUCK, Sunny Bank, Leeds.

NATURALIST REPRINTS.

No. I.— LIST OF LAND & FRESH WATER MOLLUSCA OF LANCASHIRE

By Robert Standen.
No. 2.— BIRD-NOTES FROM HELIGOLAND, FOR THE YEAR 1886, by

Heinrich Gatke, CM.ZS.
No. 3.— HELIGOLAND, by John Cordeaux, M.B.O.U. (with autotype plate of

views of Mr. Gatke's Garden).

(The above 9d. each, Post Free).
No. 4.— LIST OF YORKSHIRE LEPIDOPTERA, by G. T. Porritt, F.L.S.

Price 6/-
From Mr. W. DENISON ROEBUCK, Sunny Banks, Leeds.

MONOGRAPH OF THE

BRITISH PTEROPHORINA.

By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S.

THIS contains a full description of the type form, variation, pupa, larva,
life-history (as far as known), habitat, time of appearance, and general notes
of every species of the " Plume " Moths found in Britain.
The most complete work on this subject ever published.
To be obtained in 6d. parts of IVIr. J. E. ROBSON, Hartlepool.

WATKINS & DONCASTER,

flaturalists,

36, STK.j^ISriD, "V^.O.

(^Five doors from Charing Cross).

EVERY description of Apparatus and Cabinets of the best make for Entomologists,
Oologists, &c.

Wire or Cane Ring Net and Stick. 1/8, 2/-, 2/3. Umbrella Net (self-acting), 7/6.
Pocket Folding Net (wire or cane), 3/9 and 4/6. Corked Pocket Boxes, 6d., gd.,
l/-, and 1/6. Zinc Relaxing Boxes, Qd., i/-, 1/6, and 2/- Chip Boxes, nested, 4 doz.
8d. Entomological Pins, mixed, I /- per oz. Pocket Lantern, 2/6 to 5/-. Sugaring Tin
(with brush), 1/6 and 2/- Napthaline, 1/6 per lb. Best Killing Bottles, 1/6. Store
Boxes, 2/6, 4/-, 5/-, and 6/-. Setting Boards, from 6d. ; complete set of 14 boards,
10/6. Setting Houses, 9/6 to 14/-. Larva Boxes, 9d. and i/-. Breeding Cages,
2/6 to 7/6.

A very fine Stock of British and Foreign Butterflies, Beetles, Birds' Eggs, &c.

Throughout the whole autumn, winter, and early spring, a large selection of
Chrysalides of British and Foreign Butterflies and Moths, including the gigantic
Atlas and other Exotic Moths.

Collections of Natural- History objects, carefully named and arranged.

New and Second-hand Works on Entomology.

Label Lists of every description. The complete Label List of British Lepidoptera
(Latin and English names), 1/6, post free.

One each of all the British Butterflies in a Case, 25/-.

A magnificent assortment of Preserved Caterpillars always in Stock.

Birds and Animals stuffed and mounted in the best style by skilled workmen.
A full Catalogue sent post free on application.

THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW

RENEWED BOOKS ARE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE
RECALL

LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

Book Slip-50m-8,'69(N83]s8)458-A-31/6

N9 683136

QL555
Tutt, J.W. G7

The British Noctuae T78
and their varieties. v.l

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

DAVIS

^'»Vi