iMi ] 101 



However, the subsequent breeding of a pretty long series of this 

 so-called inconspicuelJa, a species possessing a pallid larva, has shown 

 that it is in reality semipurpurella, and that the new species is the one 

 with the grey larva, which was erroneously referred in the paper to 

 semipurpurella. Under these circumstances the name of inconspicuella 

 will have to drop altogether, whilst one must be found for the insect 

 having the grey larva. Now I learn from Mr. Stainton that he pos- 

 sesses a series of a Micropteryx, bred some years ago by the late Mr. 

 Sang from birch, which appears to be identical with the insect I have 

 reared from these grey larvae, and it seems to me I cannot, therefore, 

 do better than call it Sangii, in memory of that good observer. 



The following is a description : — 



Exp. al., 5i — 5J lines. Head grey or grey-brown ; paler in the female. An- 

 tennae about half as long as the fore-wings. Fore-wings purple, flecked with pale 

 golden ; with a large, upright, pale golden spot, reaching from the anal angle fully 

 half way across the wing. 



Sangii is closely allied to semipurpurella, and is probably mixed 

 up with it in most collections, but may be distinguished by attention 

 to the following points. In semipurpurella the antennae are more than 

 half as long as the fore-wings, thus they are longer than in Sangii ; 

 the anal spot is small, usually inconspicuous, not reaching to the middle 

 of the wing, and less upright than in Sangii, frequently it is absent 

 altogether, only the fasciculus of pale hairs in the fringe being present. 

 Turning to the "Manual," the description thereof semipurpurella — 

 " With a large pale golden spot . . reaching half across the wing ; 

 antennae more than half as long as the fore-wings " — apparently par- 

 takes of the characters of both insects, and it would be a nice question 

 as to which has the best right to the name of se7nipurpurella, were it 

 not that the antennal differences being of higher import than those of 

 the wing spot settle the matter in favour of the species with the 

 longer antennae. 



Tarrington, Ledbury: 



March llth, 1891. 



ON THE ERRONEOUS INCLUSION OF 



CATOFTRIA (GB.APROLITIIA) DECOLORANA, FRR., IN THE 



BRITISH FAUNA. 



BY C. G. BARRETT, P.E.S. 



This paper might with almost equal force be denominated " a 

 discourse on the peculiar vitality of error." As a general rule, in this 

 country, the report of the capture of a species new to the British 



