The Scottish Naturalist. 107 



Xylophasia polyodon. — Abundant at sugar, at light, and at 

 blossom. Varies considerably in size and colour, many speci- 

 mens approaching to black, some rosy brown, and others pale- 

 mouse colour. 



Hdiop]iobus popidaris. — Locally common. I have taken it 

 occasionally at ragwort blossom, and it comes commonly to 

 light in my study. The female is less frequent than the 

 male. I have not seen it above 200 feet, and never took it at 

 sugar. 



Z. ccspitis. — Common, particularly at light in my 

 study ; also partial to ragwort blossom, and occasionally at 

 sugar. 



Mamestra aticeps. — Rare. I have one specimen found 

 roosting in an old rug, which hung on a fence near my 

 keeper's house. 



M. fiirva. — Rare. I have one specimen which came to 

 sugar in my garden in 187 1. 



Apamea gemina. — Some seasons this moth is very common 

 at sugar, but appears to be rather locally distributed. In some 

 specimens the two black dashes from the base, which Mr. 

 Stainton gives as one of the characteristics by which this insect 

 may be distinguished, are totally absent. We have dark, pale, 

 and intermediate varieties. 



A. unajiimis. — Rare. Mr. Herd has taken this insect. I 

 liave specimens which might be this species, but they are 

 doubtful. I see that in Newman's "Natural History of British 

 Moths," he describes it as larger than the preceding species — 

 A. gemina. Is this ever the case ? 



Miana strigilis. — Not uncommon, particularly on ragwort, 

 and I have seen no varieties. 



M. fasciuncida. — Common some seasons, at sugar and rag- 

 wort blossom. We have a variety here which puzzles me 

 much, in which the ground is of a yellow-clay colour. It is 

 curious that this variety is constant, at an altitude of a little 

 over 600 feet, in which locality I seldom, if ever, meet with 

 the red variety, which occurs principally at an altitude of about 

 200 feet, and is much more scarce. I have always doubted 

 the two varieties being the same species. One of my specimens 

 has a decided indication of a light-coloured line, following the 

 ■shape of the hind margin across the centre of the posterior 

 wings, as in Herrich Schaeffer's Fig. 179, of " Airae." The 

 general appearance of the insect being somewhat the same, 



