I874.J .31 



Sericoris Iicrbana, Gn. — lucidi'iitallj noticed by Wilkinson (p. 

 275), but not dcfii'i'ibcd. Introduced ])y Mr. Uoubleday into bis List 

 from specimens named for him by M. Gueuee. One of these speci- 

 mens, by Mr. Doubleday's kindness, I have had an opportunity of 

 examining, and am convinced that it is merely a variety of lacunana. 

 Guenee says " It appears at first sight allied to, or simply a variety of, 

 *■ cespifana ; certainly more nearly allied to lacunana, and particularly 

 " distinguished from it by the pale colour of the under-side of the 

 " hinder part of the ^\ings. The hinder wings are white beneath, 

 " sprinkled with dark colour at the apex. 



" Taken in grassy places on the coast of Brittany." 



Now, this whitish colour of the under-side of the wings is utterly 

 unreliable as a specific character, but is i*ather a peculiar form of 

 variation in this genus, seeing that it occurs frequently in typical 

 Iacuna)ia, as well as in rivulana, urticana, and micana. 



It would be pi-esumptuous to Bay, without further information, 

 that M. Gueuce has not discovered a species in France distinct from 

 lacunana, to which he has given this name, but I do not think that 

 we have it in this country. 



Sericoris rupestrana, Dup. ? — Recorded as British, but hardly 

 described, in the Ent. xlnn., 18G0, p. 1G5. Said to be common on moors 

 in the north of England. This species has, however, been introduced 

 into our lists in error, and for this error, my friend Prof. Zcller seems 

 to be primarily responsible, since he sent, some years ago, a specimen 

 agreeing precisely with our insect, under that name. He has since, 

 however, received the true rupestrana from A^ienna, and has sent me 

 a specimen. It is a very pretty species allied to rivulana (conchann), 

 but with narrower fore-wings and very neat markings. Its only 

 known locality is ISoutheni (Germany. 



I am decidedly of opinion that the insects which have been placed 

 in our collections under this name arc only dwarfed lacunana, but I 

 give this opinion subject to correction, since Mr. Doul^leday is not 

 yet fully satisfied aljcnit either this sijccies or hrrhana, and is incliiieJ 

 to think that even another species is separable from lacunana in thiu 

 country. Further investigation is therefore desirable. At any rate, 

 it is certain that so far from being constant, as AVilkinson says, la- 

 cunana is most varial)le in colour ;iiid in the (lislii)ctness of its 

 markings. 



Sericoris urticana, Iliibn. 



{To tjc cunliniied). 



