1865.] 131 



From A. straminata it is at once separated (1) by the paler ground 

 colour of its wings, (2) by the absence of the conspicuous central 

 dots, (3) by the marginal dots being so much smaller, (4) by the 

 appearance of the transverse lines (in straminata these partake more 

 of the character of shades), and (5) by a glance at the under-surface, 

 which presents an abundance of striking characters ; of these, two or 

 three, being amply sufficient to dispel any doubts, will be enough for 

 me here to mention. In straminata the central dots are strongly 

 marked (in Mancuniata either faintly or not at all). In straminata the 

 sub-terminal lines are crooked and strongly denticulated, so much so, 

 as to give the appearance of their being formed of a chain of little 

 dots (in Mancuniata they are uninterrupted and gently curved, not 

 crooked). In stramniata the marginal border is very distinctly dotted 

 (in Mancuniata the marginal border is rather indistinctly marked with an 

 interrupted line, composed of dashes running at right angles to the 

 insertion of the cilia), &c., &c. 



The examples from which I have taken the above description 

 consist of six bred specimens. These were sent up, together with 

 other insects, to London by Mr. Batty, of South Street, Park, Sheffield, 

 and were shown to me as A. subsericeata, when I at once saw that 

 they were distinct both from that species and from A. straminata. 

 How this neat little wave could have been passed over as the former I 

 know not ; certainly the resemblance is but slight. I have subse- 

 quently satisfied myself that it is abundantly distinct from any 

 described species. 



On the 16th October Mr. Doubleday, in answer to my request for 

 his assistance in the matter (on which occasion I forwarded three 

 examples each of A. subsericeata, straminata, and the insect under 

 consideration, respectively), writes, " The first three are certainly 

 subsericeata ; the next three straminata=marginepunctata of Dale ; the 

 three on the other side of the box appear to be distinct from either of 

 the others, although closely allied to subsericeata. I have a single 

 continental specimen which appears to belong to the same species, but, 

 unfortunately, it is not named ; from the ticket on the pin, ' No. 4,' I 

 should think it came from the late Mr. Q-utch's collection, of which I 

 purchased two or three drawers in Stevens' Eooms." * * * "I 

 have two ^ and one $ , A. byssinata, from Herr Lederer ; they are 

 quite distinct from either of your insects. Herrich-SchoefFer has 

 figured a great many Acidalia, and perhaps you might find yoiu* species 

 amongst them." 



