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JOURNAL of VARIATION. 



Vol. XIX. No. 1. January 15th, 1907. 



The Identity of the British Nonagria neurica (irith plate). 



By H. M. EDELSTEN, F.E.S. 



Hiibner figured (Sammlung Europdischer Schmetterlinge, plates 82 

 and 114) two insects, viz.: — Plate 82, fig. 381 (upperside only), under 

 the name neurica, and Plate 114, figs. 659-661 (S , $ , and underside of 

 a dark reddish-brown insect, showing the central spot beneath), which 

 he also called neurica. 



in 1816, Ochsenheimer, in his " Systema Glossatorum Europte " 

 catalogues (Die Schmett., iv., p. 82) N. neurica, Hb., and, as 

 quoted by Treitschke,* considers neurica, Hb.f = the reed-coloured 

 form Avithout marks on the underside. In his collection he has a true 

 neurica, Hb., designated as such by a label written with his own hand; 

 beneath tins specimen is a typical arundineta, Schmidt, which has a 

 label, on which is written, in Ochsenheimer's handwriting, "An eadem 

 cum pnecedente ? sub nomine Noctua dissoluta." 



In 1825, Treitschke, after Ochsenheimer's death, received (Die 

 Schmett., v., pt. 2, p. 319) darker insects marked beneath, viz., X. disso- 

 luta. j He thinks Hiibner meant to have so called his figs. 659-60. He 

 adds that further con signments proved conclusively that Hiibner was right 

 to call neurica all the forms marked above (light or dark) and underneath 

 (black-marked or unmarked), but, he continues, that all the ranges of 

 colour are neurica, and describes the underside as being unmarked, or 

 with central spots. He confuses the two as one species, and must mean 

 that dissoluta should be the varietal name for neurica, Hb., figs. 

 659-60; and hcendsin describing a larva, which was subsequently proved 

 to be that of var. arundineta, Schmidt. In Treitschke's collection 

 there are, under the label neurica, five specimens. The first is a 

 neurica, lib., fig. 381 ; the second, third, and fourth are arundineta, 

 Schmidt ; and the fifth is the dark neurica, I lb., figs. 659-661. 



Treitschke says (Die Schmetterlinge von Europa, v., pt. 2, p. 319): 

 " Nonagna alis anticis liavo vel fusco ferrugineis, vena maculaque medio 

 albicantibus, serie punctorum nigrorum ad marginem externum. 

 Ochsenheimer has referred to Hiibner's neurica on p. 82 of his 

 Entivurf., and understood by it the reed-coloured form without marks 



* I presume Ochsenheimer had said something to Treitschke about this 

 matter.— f I. M.K. 



t Probably Mazzola had worked this out. — H.M.E. 



Mazzola had called these A". <lis.^iliitn, but had not published his ob- 

 servations. — H.M.E. 



