1874.. 133 



me, this species is found commonly on chn, and M. Jourdhcuille says 

 "larva under bark of large poplars and elms." But, as far as can be 

 ascertained, all the specimens obtained in this country have been from 

 the fens of lluntingdonf^hirc and Cambridgeshire, where they must 

 surely find some other food. 



Argyrolepia MusseJiIiana, Tr. — This species is very closely allied 

 to Eupcecilia Geyeriana and vectiscma, and may possibly be found in 

 collections under the latter of these names or that of griseana. I 

 have an old specimen which was sent me many years ago under one 

 of tliese names, and three more exist in Mr. Douglas's Collection, 

 but their localities cannot now be traced. Besides Mr. Doubleday's 

 two specimens taken by Weaver in Devonshire, these are the only 

 British examples that have come under my notice. 



Dr. AVocke sinks vectisana, "Wilk., into a synonym of these species, 

 l)ut the two species, although allied, are certainly distinct. Mussehliana 

 seems out of place in the genus AvgyroJepia^ and should be included 

 in EupoeciUa with its allies ; but German authors ignore both genera, 

 placing the whole of their species, with those contained in Chrosis, 

 Lozopei'a, Xanthosetia, Dapsilia, and Argyridia, in the genus Cochylis, 

 Tr. ; and in Wocke's List these genera do not even form separate 

 sections of that genus, but are mixed together in a wonderful manner. 

 In the case of very rare insects like this and the preceding, it is ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to obtain a satisfactory knowledge of their habits 

 and food. Professor Zeller tells me that Mussehliana flies in fields 

 where Liniim cntharticum abounds, and he evidently thinks the insect 

 attached to that plant, which is found only in dry pastures ; but M. 

 Eagonot assures me that he has taken the moth in France, in marshy 

 meadows. INI. Jourdhcuille relates that the larva feeds in stems of 

 Alisma, but I feel no doubt that this is an error for udana, Gn. The 

 habits of the whole of this group are still involved in great obscurity. 



Argyrolepia Baumanniana, Schiff. — Changed by Dr. Wocke to 

 Hart manni ana, Clerck (Linn.), a much earlier name. 



Argyrolepia sullaumanniana, "Wilk. — Not noticed in Staudinger 

 and Wocke's Catalogue, nor till lately in Mr. Doubleday's List. I 

 have found it commonly in old chalk pits near Norwich, and am tho- 

 roughly convinced that it is distinct from the preceding species, with 

 which I have also been familiar in the damp woods of the south of 

 England. To this, Mr. Doubleday and Professor Zeller, neither of 

 whom was previously acquainted with the species, now agree. AVilk- 

 inson's description and distinctive characters are excellent, but many 

 of the Norfolk specimens arc far smaller than his measurement, some 

 not exceeding five lines in expanse. 



