A FEW NOTES ON HELIOTHIS SCUTOSA. 35 



Barrett admits sufficient evidence has been brought for- 

 ward to convince him of the authenticity of Scutosa having 

 been taken in Carlisle. 



Another example is recorded in the Ento. Mo. Mng.^ vol. 

 15, p. 137, by W. H. Campbell, who captured it August 

 19th, 1878, in the north of Co. Donegal, Ireland. It was 

 hovering over the bloom of heather at 3.30 in the afternoon. 

 I have heard of no recent captures. 



On the Continent this species is very widely distributed, 

 and is said to be double-brooded. It has been taken on 

 the wing from May to September ; and Professor Hering 

 says : " Very uncertain in its appearance ; rare in some 

 years, whilst in others common." Thus the double-brooded 

 theory has probably arisen from the uncertainty of its 

 appearance in varied localities. It is well known that 

 other species in the same genera are of most uncertain 

 habits. For instance, I have taken Heliothis Armiger in 

 July, flying in the hot sun, and another in September, flying 

 round a gas lamp. 



Mr. Thornthwaite's two specimens were taken by light, 

 and Mr. Campbell's was flying in the hot sunshine. 



This species is figured by Curtis and Wood, included in 

 Stephen's Museum Catalogue of British Lepidoptera, and 

 described in Stainton's Manual ; Doubleday places it amongst 

 the reputed British species ; Newman omits it entirely. 



Kirby describes it as having the fore wings dark olive- 

 grey, varied with white in the central area, and with 

 whitish nervures ; the three stigmata very large, dark 

 brown, the subterminal line whitish, hind wing dirty white 

 with a large brown central spot and border, the latter 

 intersected by a pale line near the inside, in addition to 

 the pale spot towards the anal angle. The palpi are rather 

 conspicuously porrected, the antennse are simple in both 



