194 THE entomologist's record. 



result that the apex is less sharply angled. There is no trace of an 

 oblong deep black blotch below the orbicular stigma which is always 

 so distinctive a character of liinujera, even in the darkest males. The 

 colour of the female, fig. 724, is somewhat that of Xoctna oleracea, a 

 tone I have never seen even suggested by any specimen of lnni(jera, 

 however aberrant. As a general remark on the figures I would say 

 that they are poor in execution, probably owing to the painter's failing 

 powers, as he died the following year. 



Duponchel, in the year 1826 (?), in Hist. Xat. des Lep., vol. vi., 

 p. 18, pit. 72, figs. 5 and 6, S and 5 , describes and figures a Noctuid 

 as lenticnlosa, which on the continent is generally taken as a form of 

 the At/rotis tyu.r of Hiibner. If one compares the figures, this 

 assumption is pure rubbish, and Duponchel's figure cannot in any 

 respect be confused with either lunujera or tni.c of Hiibner. There is 

 not a character in either fore- or hindwings which is comparable. 

 Duponchel, however, in his text, says that some entomologists take 

 it for the insect named by Och-enheimer as infecta, but as M. Godart 

 had already finished the plates on which it was figured and named, he 

 would not adopt the prior name. He further sa^'s that it should be 

 placed near macia and corticea, a remark which, coupled with the 

 figure, suggests an absolutely distinct species from either trux, Hiib., 

 or liiniijera, Stph. 



[I have since, at the kind suggestion of Mr. J. H. Durrant, 

 referred to the volumes* containing the original figures executed by 

 M. Dumeril, etc., for the plates of this, work, and must acknowledge 

 that the strictures written above do not hold good for these. The 

 execution in the whole of the original figures is excellent, even 

 beyond Hiibner, and will bear minute examination. The artist 

 employed to execute the published plates must have been badly colour- 

 blind. It is grievous to compare these caricatures with the delightful 

 original paintings.] 



In 1829 Stephens, in his Illtts., vol. ii., p. 113, describes, and on 

 plate 20, fig. 3, figures a species which he names Af/rotis Innhjera, 

 a name which we still continue to use in this country, applying it to 

 a very beautiful Agrotid which may or may not be the species 

 intended by Stephens. He had only seen three specimens, which all 

 came from near Cork. 



His description is as follows : — 



" Alis anticis fuscis, fiavescente variegatis, strigis duabus geminatis 

 nigricantibus, stigma anticii interne fiavescente ; posticis luteo-albis." 



He continues : — 



•" Head deep fuscous; thorax the same, varied with yellowish, with 

 a large spot of the latter colour on each side at the base of the wing ; 

 anterior wings rich fuscous, varied with yellowish, with an angulated 

 black streak at the base, united to an abbreviated pale striga ; behind 

 this, at a distance from the anterior stigma, is a transverse yellowish- 

 waved stigma, bordered on each side with dusky, and very much 

 angulated towards the inner margin ; a similar striga arises from the 

 costa, opposite to the posterior stigma, and, bending outwards, turns 

 rather suddenly towards the inner edge, the space between the arch 

 and the stigma being yellowish, or dull ochraceous brown ; near the 



* In the Walsingham Library at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). 



