THE CONFUSED. 27 1 



The Large Nutmeg {Hama sordida). 



The fore wings of this moth (Plate 131, Figs, i, 2) are 

 pale ochreous brown, much marbled with darker brown, and 

 sometimes slightly tinged with reddish ; the pale stigmata and 

 SLibmarginal line are the most distinct of the usual markings. 

 The caterpillar is said to be very like that of Apamea basilinea. 

 The moth flies in June, and is not uncommon in most parts of 

 Southern England. It occurs in Lancashire and Cheshire, but 

 is more frequent in Yorkshire and Durham ; also found in 

 South Wales, and although it has been obtained in the Shet- 

 lands, it seems to be very local and infrequent in Scotland. 

 Only twice recorded from Ireland, ©ne specimen on the Dublin 

 coast, i860, and one at Howth (Kane). 



The Confused {Hama furvd). 



This darker mottled greyish brown moth (Plate 131, Figs. 3, 

 4) is very similar to the typical form of A. gcinina (Fig. 7) ; 

 the fore wings, however, are distinctly broader at the base, 

 the W-like angles of the submarginal line are less noticeable, 

 and this line is comparatively straighten The reddish tinge 

 so usual in A. gemina is absent in the present species. 



The caterpillar is ochreous tinged with pinkish, except on the 

 first three rings and the under surface ; central line dusky ; 

 usual dots reddish brown, as also are the head and plates on 

 first and last rings. On grasses, September to June, feeding 

 chiefly on the shoots near the roots (condensed from Buckler). 

 The moth occurs from July to September, and may be obtained 

 at flowers of ragwort, scabious, etc., and freely at sugar, in 

 rocky places from Lancashire northwards through Scotland to 

 the Shetlands. It also occurs in Wales, and suitable places in 

 Gloucester, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and has also been 

 recorded from Sussex. In Ireland found on several parts of 



