148 ERNEST HILL AND L. G. HAYDON. 



apical spot, too, is absent from fig. 26, p. 129, representing 

 palndis. The remaining point is that in paludis the whole 

 of the second tarsus is white, but in mauritianus there is a 

 small black basal band. This apj^ears to be a refinement. 



One or other, or both, is, or are, largely represented in our 

 collection, and thirty-seven females have been carefully 

 examined and the results tabulated. The wings of some are 

 sooty black, of others of a deep sepia. There is much variation 

 in the length of the detached wing, the smallest 3"4 mm., the 

 longest 5"0 mm. (Pi. XXV, /t, h, I). In all save five there is a 

 spot at the apex, in some quite small, in others very broad ; 

 in three there is no spot at all on the costa near the apex j in 

 other two it is very minute, in eight the costal spot one 

 third of the length from the apex is absent, and in these and 

 further twenty-six there are no white scales on the first longi- 

 tudinal vein at this point. The proportion of the second hind 

 tarsus, which is white, varies from one sixth to seven eighths, 

 or almost all. Differences are set forth in the table, in which 

 it is not possible to represent the marked difference of size of 

 spots, which is very noteworthy. 



The variations, as shoAvn in the table, are characteristic of 

 this species in Natal, of which w^e have examined several 

 score of specimens. They are quite as great as between 

 Theobald's paludis and his mauritianus, and between 

 specimens with any one spot and those deficient in it there is 

 a continuovTS gradation. Seeing that we have been able to 

 detect no difference in dozens of larvEe examined, we are 

 forced to the conclusion that our collection represents one 

 species only. Whether that species is paludis or mauri- 

 tianus we are quite at a loss to determine, and have, there- 

 fore, retained the earlier designation of Theobald. 



The species is very common and widely distributed, falling 

 little, if at all, short of funesta in this respect. It is not 

 infrequently found in houses with onset of cold weather. 



The Larva (PI. XXII). — Deteimiined on over twenty speci- 

 mens, drawn from comparison of ten of different sizes. 



General aspect. — A large larva with small head, which. 



