190 [August, 



Arcturus sparshalli, Curtis.— This is perhaps the most intei'esting insect in the 

 Collection. It unquestionably is a light-coloured (J of a well-known Australian 

 Eupterotid Moth, described by F.Walker as Trichetra mesomeJas (Cat. Lep. Het., 

 IV, 1855, p. 845), of which I have examined a long series in the Victorian Museum 

 Collection and in that of Mr. G. Lyell, junr., of Q-isborne, Victoria, as well as others 

 at Sydney and elsewhere.* Curtis's specimen is still in excellent condition, and the 

 figure (Plate 336, Brit. Ent.) is very good, except that the conspicuous vitta of the 

 dark scales along the centre of the thorax is scarcely, if at all, indicated. This 

 Plate (with description) is dated Dec. 1st, 1830, thus having priority of twenty-five 

 years over Walker's description. In Curtis's register is the following note : — "Arc- 

 turus sparshalli, 7th August, 1829, in a lane at Horning on the trunk of an elm 

 tree, and then in a boat crushed, Wighara." It is a mystery how this South 

 Australian insect could have found its way to the Norfolk Broads, but the data of 

 its capture there seem satisfactory, at any rate to me. 



Laelia cxiiosa, Hiibn. — Five bred specimens (2 (J , 3 $ ) ; figured on Plate 68, 

 Brit. Ent. 



Spilosoma menthastri, Esp. — The type specimen (very good) of ab. tvalkeri, 

 Curt., is figured on Plate 92, Brit. Ent. S. lubricipeda, Esp. — Three specimens, 

 not very good, of ab. zatima, Cr. 



Arctia villica, L. — Two very good ^ varieties, one with the cream-coloured 

 markings on fore-wings much enlai'ged and the basal spots confluent into long 

 streaks, the other with the apex of fore- wings entirely cream-colour. A caja, L. — 

 A pair ( c? ? ) exceedingly dark and suffused. 



Nemeophila plantaginis, L. —One i of ab. hospita, Schiff. 



Odonestis pint, L. — A rather worn $ ; figured on Plate 92, Brit. Ent. 



Penthophora nigricans. Curt. — The type specimen is a much shattered (J ; there 

 are also two ? , one $ and two $ pupae, and two cases ; figured on Plate 218, 

 Brit. Ent, 



Psyche fusca. Haw. — Two $ in poor order, and what seems to be the 

 remains of a ^ , mounted on card. P. radiella. Curt. — Five <? ; figured on Plate 

 332, Brit. Ent. P. plumella, Hiibn. {pectinea. Haw.). — Three <?> and one 9> 

 very similar to the preceding, and perhaps identical with it. P. pectinella, Hiibn. 

 {pliimea, Kaw. , pulla, Steph.). — A small, narrow-winged grey insect, of which there 

 are two <? , one ? , and one case with $ pupa. P. nitidella, Hiibn. — Three (J 

 and one $ on card ; one case with (J pupa ; and one J , one $ , one larva, one cJ 

 pupa, and case with $ pupa, also on cards. 



Agrotis monostiffina, Cavt. — Apparently a pale J A. segetum, SchiK. A.annexa, 

 Och. ? {subterranea. Haw.). — A $ , in poor order ; a very puzzling moth, somewhat 

 like a dark A. saucia, but more shining and with pearly-white hind-wings ; its 

 resemblance to the figure of A. annexa in Stephens's lUustr. Haust. (PI. 22, fig. 2) 

 is by no means close. A. subgothica, Haw. — A poor specimen, set in a very droop- 

 ing style. It agrees vei-y well with fig. 3, PI. 22 of Stephens's Illustr. Haust., and 

 was no doubt derived from the same source as other specimens of this North 

 American insect in old British collections. 



* Since the above was written, I have examined Walker's type of Trichetra mesomelas (from 

 Tasmania) in the National Collection, and am fully convinced of its identity with Curtis's 

 Arcturus sparihalli. 



