252 l^vnh 



On a peculiar form of variation in Tortrices. — The sight of a beautiful variety 

 of one of our very common Tortrices, sent for examination by Mr. W. Prest, of 

 York, and taken near that city, induces me to make a few observations upon a 

 peculiar phase of variation which seems to be confined to the Tortrices — and, perhaps, 

 to certain families in the gi'oup, — and not to any single species or genus. 



It consists in the total obliteration of the usual markings of the species, which 

 are replaced by cloudy markings of different form and position on a white or cream 

 coloured ground. Tliis phase of variation (or albiuoism) appears to be most frequent 

 in Penthina cynoshalella, L. {variegana, H.), and forms the variety, nubiferana, 

 Haw., Steph., but described by them as a distinct species. Stephens (simply trans- 

 lating Haworth) describes it : — " Anterior- wings bone-white with an in-egular black 

 streak from the base to the middle, extending along the costa ; in the middle of the 

 disc are two rounded deep black spots ; on the middle of the inner margin is another 

 dark streak, and one near the apex also towards the inner margin." Wilkinson, 

 however, describes nubiferana : — " Anterior-wings dirty white with indistinct and 

 undefined dusky clouds from the base to beyond the middle ; the costa destitute of 

 markings ; at two-thirds from the base and one-third from the dorsal margin is a 

 largish cloudy fuscous spot." And he asks whether it slioidd not be restored to the 

 rank of a species. 



These two descriptions do not appear to agree very well, but this arises from the 

 fact that in this variety there is variation. Of two specimens in my collection, one, 

 taken near Pembroke in 1875, agrees accurately vdth Haworth's description, the 

 other, taken some years ago in Surrey, is more cloudy, and comes very near to the 

 form described by Wilkinson. That both are varieties of Penthina cynosbatella, L., 

 admits, I think, of no doubt. When, therefore, Mr. Prest sent me a moth similar in 

 size and colour to one of these, I returned it without hesitation as cynosbatella, var., 

 but when he sent it again with another moth in the company of wliich it was taken 

 — this other being obviously one of the pale ordinary forms of Halonota Brunni- 

 chiana, — and I was thereby induced to examine it more carefully, I found from the 

 shape of the fore- and hind-wings, and the very dai-k colour of the hind-wings, that 

 it was actually a variety of S. Brunnichiana, corresponding in a wonderful manner 

 to the variety nubiferana of cynosbatella. There is no trace of the ordinary 

 JBrunnichiana markings on the fore-wings, which are bone-white, with the costal 

 portion, from the base to the middle clouded with grey, a cloudy grey elbowed line 

 towards the apex, and another cloudy line below it. 



This recalls similar instances to memory. Among my Sericoris littoralis, taken 

 near Dublin, sixteen years ago, are two specimens exhibiting similar characteristics. 

 The fore-wings are whitish, with cloudy indications of fasciae which are not placed in 

 the positions occupied by the ordinary markings of the insect. 



Some time ago, a specimen was sent me for identification, which, from tlie form 

 of its fore-wings, I believe to have been Phoxopteryx unguicella, but, from its being 

 an albino of the same character, with no indication of the position of the usual 

 markings, it was impossible to decide with any certainty on its species. 



Lastly, I took, some years ago, by the side of a country road near Haslemere, a 

 Tortrix which has never been named, and probably never will be. From the form 

 of the fore-wings, it may be a Phlceodes or Grapiolitha, but of what species I can- 



