THE IDENTITY OF THE BRITISH NONAGRIA NEURICA. 57 



arundineta, Schmidt, but no longer get dissoluta ; shortly, he makes 

 neurica, Hb., the type, with dissoluta and arundineta as vars. 



Buckler, under neurica, describes and figures (Larvae, dr., iv., 

 pt. 1, pp. 40-41, and pi. lxi) the larva of arundineta. 



In 1895, Meyrick calls (Handbook, etc., p. 110) the species dissoluta, 

 Tr., and gives arundineta, Schmidt, and neurica, Dup., as synonyms. 



In 1899, Barrett calls (Brit. Lep., v., p. 90, pi. 196, fig. 1, la, lb, 

 and larva lc) the species neurica, and describes arundineta, giving 

 British localities, and then says : "Abroad it is found in many parts 

 of northern, central, and western Germany, and probably in suitable 

 places in Holland, Switzerland, and Russia, but this is not very clear, 

 since there seems to be a probability that its localities are sometimes 

 confused with those of A 7 , arundineta, Schmidt, and dissoluta, Tr." 

 Then, after giving Buckler's description of the larva, he says : "It is 

 of importance to note this (the description), as the description by 

 Wilde, quoted by Dr. Hofmann, does not agree very closely." Nor 

 does it, as Wilde was describing the larva of neurica, and Buckler 

 larva? of arundineta; but, if Barrett had referred to Wilde he would no 

 doubt have called the insect he was describing var. arundineta. 



In 1901, Staudinger and Bebel (Catalog, 3rd ed., no. 1896), 

 make neurica, a species, describe it as " species gracilior, subtus immacu- 

 lata," and give Britain as a locality. In no. 1897, they make dissoluta 

 a species, describe it as "alis anticis obscurus : ab.," and give Germany 

 only as its locality. While in no. 1897A, they make arundineta a var. of 

 dissoluta, describe it as " alis anticis pallidis, stramineo griseis," giving 

 Britain as a locality among others. There is no doubt that Staudinger 

 and Rebel are right except for their British references. Their synonymy 

 reads : — 



Neurica, Hb., 381; Schmidt, " Stett. Ent, Ztg.," 1858, p. 367 ; ?Tr., v., 2, 

 p. 319 {pro parte) ; Tutt, " Brit. Noct.," i., 49 ; Barr., " Brit. Lep.," v., t. 196, fig. 1 

 (species gracilior, subtus immaculata). Germany s. et c. oc, Angl., Sweden, 

 ? Austria, Transsylvania. 



Dissoluta, Tr., v, 2, 319 (1825); Gn, i., 100; Stgr., "Stett. Ent. Ztg.," 1869, 

 88. Neurica, Hb., G59-61 (non 381). Hessii, Bdv., " Gen.," p. 134 (1840) (alis 

 anticis obscuris : ab.). Germany m. oc. (olim.). 



var. arundineta, Schmidt, " Stett. Ent. Zeit.," 1858, 309 ; Knaggs, " Ent. Ann.," 

 1805, p. 99 ; tusurica, Dup., yii., 100, 2 ; H.-S., 347-8 ; Gn., i., 106 ; Tr., v., 2, 319 

 (pro parte) (alis anticis pallidis, stramineo griseis). Germany s. et m. oc, Helv. 

 Holland, England, Denmark, Russia m. or., Persia, Transcaspia. 



Now we see from all this that neurica, Hb., is one species, and 

 dissoluta and its var. arundineta another, and then comes the important 

 question — Do we get neurica, Hb., in Britain ? Mr. Tutt said we did, 

 but I cannot help thinking that he was unable to get true X. neurica, 

 Hb., from the continent to compare with his Cambridge specimens, or 

 he would not have said that Hiibner's fig. 381 = our insect. Then 

 again the larva of the insect we get in England from Cambridgeshire, 

 Norfolk, Kent, etc., is of the dirty white colour, with a reddish tinge 

 on the back, as described by Wilde and Buckler, and does not agree 

 with Wilde's description of the larva of neurica, which is of dull 

 bluish-grey, and has three stripes on the back ; and the pupa of our 

 insect agrees with Wilde's figure of arundineta. So the answer, in my 

 opinion, is that we do not get N. neurica, Hb., in Britain at all, but 

 only A', dissoluta, Tr., and its variety arundineta, Schmidt. Now as 

 regards the synonymy of our insect it should, in my opinion, read : — 



