1867.] 129 



with the point directed towards the apex of the wing towards the hind 

 margin, and dark spots before the cilia, which are intersected by a 

 darker line, whilst the median nervure shows at its end a nearly black 

 spot. The palpi, abdomen, and under-side, with the legs, are similar in 

 both species. 



The principal and best character to distinguish the two species is the 

 neuration of the posterior wings. For instance, in nervosa,YeinB 2,3,and 4 

 not only always start from one point at the inner marginal angle of the 

 median cell, but veins 2 and 3 are always distinctly united on one stalk 

 for a shorter or longer distance, and often all the three veins are on 

 one stalk. In ultimella, on the contrary, veins 2, 3, and 4 also spring 

 from the inner marginal angle of the median cell, but only 2 and 3 come 

 from the same point, and in none of my eight specimens have they a 

 common stalk, and vein 4 is at its origin distinctly separated from 2 

 and 3. By this difference in the neuration more or less wasted speci- 

 mens of the two species may be readily separated. 



Moreover there is an evident difference in the size. My eight 

 specimens of nervosa have an expanse of 21.5 to 23 millimetres. Eight 

 specimens of ultimella have an expanse only of 19.5 to 20.5 m.m. ; 

 then the colour of the anterior wings in nervosa (as Stainton also 

 observes), is much less, and not so frequently, mingled with red ; and, 

 finally, in ultimella the head and thorax is very perceptibly paler than 

 the anterior wings, which is either not at all the case in nervosa or 

 only to an inconsiderable degree. 



This last point of distinction, however conspicuous in setting and in 

 unexpanded specimens of both species, is less distinct in pinned speci- 

 mens, and is easily altogether lost when the specimens become greasy. 



Moreover I ought to mention that the anterior wings of ultimella, 

 by a thicker though shorter black streak and more abundant pale scales 

 thereabouts, have a more variegated appearance than in nervosa, and 

 the pale streak not so sharply angulated runs more distinctly along the 

 inner margin than in the last-named species. That the black streak in 

 nervosa on the median nervure before the middle, and the black beyond 

 the middle, should be ringed with white, as stated by Stainton in his 

 diagnosis, I have not only been unable to confirm, but almost observed 

 the contrary, as above related. 



By the discovery of the larva of Depressaria ultimella near Rotter- 

 dam, a new locality in our country is added for this species, the ^ 

 moth having hitherto only been observed in the dune district and in 

 North Brabant (see Bouwstoffen voor eine Fauna van Nederland, Vol. 

 iii., p. 242, under No. 96). 



Rotterdam, October \2th, 1866. 



