26-4 [April, 1881. 



emerging through September, October, and November. According to 

 my experience, the larvae collected in July and early in August the 

 moths from which emerge in September, produce a far larger proportion 

 of singular and beautiful varieties of the perfect insect than those 

 collected later. The moths from the May brood are small, and still 

 less variable. Treitschke says that the larva feeds on Salix caprea, 

 aurita and acuminata, Andromeda and Yaccinium. It seems probable 

 that the larvae on the two last-named plants may belong to other 

 species, possibly maccana. 



Peronea variegana, Schiff. — Larva rather sluggish, cylindrical, 

 but slightly flattened anteriorly, with deeply divided segments. Pale 

 yellowish or pale green, with distinctly pulsating dark green or reddish- 

 brown internal dorsal vessel. Spots not visible, hairs minute, head 

 shining yellowish-brown, plates yellowish or green. On hawthorn, 

 joining two leaves together with very white silk, often joining a dead 

 leaf to a living one. It, however, deserts this habitation to spin up. 

 Feeds through July, and the moth emerges in August or September. 

 It also feeds on blackthorn and other trees. Treitschke says on fruit 

 trees, Cori/lus, Cotoneaster and Carpinus, Wilkinson rose and bramble. 



I am well aware of the extreme difficulty of establishing a new 

 species in such a genus as Peronea, but I find that the species of the 

 genus are exceedingly constant in one respect, that of the form of their 

 fore-wings. Therefore, I have for years been puzzled by specimens 

 which did not agree in this respect with any recognised species. My 

 first specimens were taken in a "car" at Eanworth fen, and I placed 

 them provisionally with logiana, but, after rearing that species in large 

 numbers, and becoming intimately acquainted with its shape and its 

 phases of variation, I saw that the Eanworth specimens must be 

 removed. They were then placed with Schalleriana, but when I found 

 the species in some numbers here in Pembrokeshire, and collected it 

 along with Schalleriana, comparana, and the varieties of variegana, and 

 saw its distinct shape — even more evident in living specimens, — I had 

 no resource but to look upon it as a species distinct from all of them ; 

 and, further, that the separation of this form rendered the allied species 

 much more natural and recognisable, I find that my own difficulty 

 has been shared by several friends — close and careful students of this 

 group, — and they cordially agree in my view of the distinctness of the 

 species. Dark specimens sent to Professor Zeller, several years ago, 

 were not known to him. 



