1877.J 221 



Peronea Schalhriaim. — More variable than usual. Along with 

 typical specimens are others suffused with greyish-brown, in various 

 proportions, and two o£ my specimens are entirely purplish-black, 

 only recognizable as this species by the form of the fore-wings, and 

 by the line of raised scales, which indicates the position of the costal 

 blotch. The discal tuft of raised scales, or " button," is, however, 

 brown, and more than usually distinct. 



Per'onea comparana seems to be less common, and not nearly so 

 variable. 



Peronea variegana frequently occurs suffused with purplish-black. 



Spilonota incarnatana. — Found in plenty higher up the sand-hills 

 than where I searched in vain for it last year. This is a peculiarly 

 interesting discovery since the form found here is precisely what was 

 wanting, to link together the small varieties which so abound on the 

 Lancashire, Cheshire, and Dublin coasts, with the large rosy form 

 which is found sparingly in Epping Forest and other inland localities. 

 I have before recorded that many years ago I found among the rocks 

 of the Hill of Howth small specimens with dark brow'n markings ; and, 

 on the neighbouring sands of Malahide, specimens also small, but wdth 

 ochreous-brown markings, rather suffused. This last form also swarms 

 on the Cheshire coast. On the other hand, those from Epping Forest, 

 where it is scarce, are half as large again at least, with blackish-brow^n 

 markings, and the ground colour clearer, and much more rosy. Now, 

 these Pembrokeshire specimens, taken on high, firm sand-hills, vary in 

 size, from that of the smallest Irish or Cheshire specimens, to fully 

 that of the largest from Epping Forest, these large ones having tlie 

 ground colour clear and rosy, while some of the small ones are rather 

 suffused. The markings in all are black-brown, sometimes with a 

 purple tinge. 



Sciaphila perterana. — Plentiful last season, the larvje feeding com- 

 monlv in flowers of Apargia hispida and Hypochaeris radicata, as well 

 as in the ox-eye and common daisies. One larva was found in blossoms 

 of common buttercup, having departed from the usual liabit of its 

 species by fastening two flowers together. It fed upon them, and 

 produced a lovely ? . I have seldom met with any larva more abso- 

 lutely determined to escape from confinement. Life was utterly 

 unimportant in comparison to liberty. Many crushed themselves flat 

 and died in the attempt, but those which managed to get out, were 

 then perfectly satisfied, and would spin up in the first bit of leno that 

 thev came to. The variations of the female in colour are very striking. 



