THE TEPHROSIA TANGLK, 81 



tefore dflaiiien'usis, B. -White (1877), or is at least only a slight sub- 

 variety of it. 



I have not discussed in this article the question of the specific 

 identity or distinctness of these puzzling insects. Our great authority 

 on differentiation by the genitalia, Mr. F. N. Pierce, finds no distinc- 

 tion whatever.'-"' While my investigations were in progress, I heard 

 from Mv. W. Hewett, of York, that he was trying to get together 

 all the information available on this point ; and he and I have 

 arranged to give it what study we can during the present season. I 

 append the full synonymic talnilation, based on the assiimption made 

 throughout, that there are two separate species (or, at least, sub- 

 species, Avorthy of careful differentiation). 



No. 1. BisTOETATA, Goetze, I'hit. IJcitr., iii., 3, 438 (1781) ; Be 

 Geer, Memoin's, ii., pt. 1, pi. 8, fig. 16 (1771). Hiundnlata, Vill., Linn. 

 Knt., ii., 337 (1789). JUundularia, Bork., v. 65 (1794), Esp., pi. 40, 

 fig. 4. Crrpuxcularia, Dup., vii., pi. 158, fig. 3 (1829). Gn., i, 264 

 (1H57). J>bhl. Cat., ed. ii. (1859). ? Similaria, Hfn., linl. Ma>/., iv., 

 512 (1769). '? Fnu-iinaria, Fb., Knt. S>/st., No. 66 (1794). 



Var, Gen. 1. Abictaria, Haw., Lep. Brit., p. 276 (1810), Stph., iii., 

 191, Wd., 517 = lariraria, Dbld., List, 15 (1848) = crrpn^ndaria, 

 var. A., ahietaria, Gn., i., 264. Warmer, more ochreous brown than 

 the Continental type. 



Var. Gen. 2. (/ Cirpmcidaria, Haw., Tjcp. ]>rit. = ) cansonaria, 

 Haw., Li'p. Brit., p. 277 ; Stph., iii, 192 ; Wd., 518. Strit/idaria, 

 Stph., iii., 192. AVd., 519. (N.B. — As aberrations, consonaria, Stph., 

 and strijudaria, Stph., may be separated, representing slightly different 

 forms). 



Ab. juusHii, Thierry-Mieg, Lc Xaf., viii., 236 (1886). Blackish 

 brown. 



No. 2. Crepuscularta, Hb., 168, {dr., 1797). BinndHlario,'Es])., 

 pi. 40, fig. 3, 1ICC. 4 ((•/;■. 1797), nee. Vill. Crcpuscularia, Steph., iii., 

 191 (1829), Wd. 517. .' Crqmscularia, Frr., 246. 



Ab. dcfesaaria, Frr., 510.1 (1847). Almost unicolorous grey, with 

 whitish subterminal. 



Ab. dflamernms, B. White, Knt., x., 128 (1877). Smoky blackish. 



Ab. niiira, Thierry-Mieg, Lc Xat., viii., 237 (1886). Entirely black, 

 except the slender white sub-terminal. (N.B. — For purposes of merely 

 rough classification, these three forms may be united, as they are only 

 gradations along the same line). 



* The examination was naade on specimens determined by Mr. Prout. — Ed. 



A sign of the times. The over=collecting of British Butterflies. 



Nothing shows more the advance of scientific opinions among 

 lepidopterists than the remarkable discussion which took place at the 

 meeting of the Entomological Society of London, on May 6th. There 

 can be no doubt that, in the opinion of many lepidopterists, the man 

 who simply collects is rapidly becoming a public nuisance, and it is 

 pretty well understood that his exterminating processes act distinctly 

 as a check to the scientific aspirations of entomologists. 



The discussion showed that it was well recognised that collecting 

 was necessary to obtain material for study ; further, that large numbers 



