CHAP. XVI THE BRITISH ISLES 347 



published many new British species have been discovered, 

 while some of the supposed peculiar species have been found 

 on the continent. Information as to these has been kindly 

 furnished by Mr. W. Warren, Mr. C. G. Barrett, Lord 

 Walsingham, and other students of British Lepidoptera, 

 and the first-named gentleman has also looked over the 

 proofs. 



Mr. McLachlan has kindly furnished me with some 

 valuable information on certain species of Triclioptera or 

 Caddis flies which seem to be peculiar to our islands ; and 

 this completes the list .of orders which have been studied 

 with sufficient care to afford materials for such a com- 

 parison. We will now give the list of peculiar British 

 Insects, beginning with the Lepidoj)tera and adding such 

 notes as have been sup^Dlied by the gentlemen already 

 referred to. 



List of the Species or Varieties of Leindopterct ivhicli, so far as at 2oresent 

 knoivn, arc confinecl to the British Islands. {The figures shoio the dates 

 when the sjjecies loas first descrihcd. Species added since the first edAtion 

 are marked xoith an asterisk.) 



DiUIlNI. 



1. PoLYOMMATUS DisPAE. " The large copper. " This fine inseci, once 



common in the fens, but now extinct owing to extensive drainage, 

 is generally admitted to be peculiar to our island, at all events as a 

 variety or local form. Its continental ally differs constantly in being 

 smaller and in having smaller spots ; but the difference, though 

 constant, is so slight that it is now classed as a variety under the 

 name of rutilus. Our insect may therefore be stated to be a well- 

 marked local form of a continental species, 



2. Lycffina astrarche, var. a]itaxerxes. This very distinct form is con- 



fined to Scotland and the north of England. The species of which 

 it is considered a variety (more generally known to English entomo- 

 logists as P. agestis) is found in the southern half of England, and 

 almost everywhere on the continent. 



BOMBYCES. 



3. Lithosia com plana, var. sericea. North of England (1S61). 



'1. Hepialus humuli, var. hethlandica. Shetland Islands (1865). A 

 remarkable form, in which the male is usually yellow and buff 

 instead of pure white, as in the common form, but exceedingly 

 variable in tint and markings. 



5. Epichxopteryx reticella. Sheerness, Gravesend, and other locali- 



ties along the Thames (1847) ; Hayling Island, Sussex. 



6. E. pulla, var. radiella. Near London, rare (1830?) ; the species in 



Central and Southern Europe. (Doubtfully peculiar in Mr. 

 Stainton's opinion. ) 



