The Scottish Naturalist, 159 



the line which forms the base of the basal patch is straighter and 

 more oblique. The central space is almost always black, and forms 

 a projecting angle in the cellule. The little band which follows 

 that is more oblique. The hind wing has always a dark band 

 above, preceded below by two equidistant and pretty paraljel lines. 



Var. A. Autwmiaria Dbd. {non Bdv.) Notably larger (39 mm.) 

 Front wings lighter, though always of a slatey-grey tone. Central 

 space lighter in the middle where the nervures are entirely white ; 

 hind margin paler. Hind wings white with a single blackish line, 

 toothed and disappearing behind. 5 '^^'^'^ the whole of the upper 

 wings traversed by fine lines, the central space filled in with black. 



Autumjiaria looks certainly different from. Ji I igramniaria^ though 

 "I have not found any important character by which to separate 

 them." 



As regards the time of appearance M. Guenee gives October and 

 November for diluiata^ November for autumnata^ and, on the 

 authority of Mr Doubleday, the beginning of September for 

 filigraviinaria and its variety. He also states that autiimnata 

 occurs in central France, and that the caterpillar, which is velvety- 

 green and unmarked, feeds exclusively upon birch. 



From the description and figure given by M. Guenee, it seems 

 clear that the atttuimtaria of our lists, and which I have described at 

 p. 114, is not his species 1334, but the one he describes as a variety 

 oi filigratnmaria under the name autuuuiaria Dbd. No. 1334 

 autumnata Bdv. Gn. appears to be a good species, and may occur 

 in the south of England, but is scarcely likely, perhaps, to be found 

 in Scotland. On the other hand, autiivmaria Dbd. Gn. seems 

 equally a good species, distinct from filigi'avnnaria (as I have 

 attempted to show at pp. 114 and 115), not only in the shape and 

 size of the wings, but in the relative sizes of the sexes and in the 

 armature, &c. As, however, there cannot be in the same genus, 

 without great risk of confusion,"^ two such similar names as 

 " autumnata " and " autumnaria^'' I propose to substitute " addeji- 

 daria " for the latter name. 



The synonymy of the species as copied on p. 112 from 

 Staudinger's Catalogue should thus be amended as follows : — 



I. DiLUTATA (S.V. p. 109, n. Cat.) Bkh., &c., &;c. Gn. No. 1333; 

 Staudinger, No. 2642. 

 a. ab. Obscurata Stdgr., I.e. 



* For example, at p. 265 M. Guenee has used ^^ autumnaria " when he 

 plearly means ^^ autt^mnata.^^ 



