VARIETIES OF NOCIU/E IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 137 



both forms occur in both sexes. The typical Continental 

 Uthargyria is an intermediate pale greyish-red form, which is 

 figm-ed by Hiibner (fig. 225). This form is Haworth's (jiisea. 

 Our palest form (without red) is, in its most extreme form, var. 

 argyritis of the Eambur Catalogue : our reddest forms are the 

 ferrago of Fabricius (217). The transverse markings, too, vary 

 a great deal. Some specimens have only a row of dots parallel 

 to the hind margin, with no other marks. Haworth says, 

 " Alse fere unicolores." Some have a transverse basal line, and 

 some even two or indications of them, between the reniform and 

 base of the wings ; whilst others have, in addition, a transverse 

 line between the reniform and the row of dots, but this latter 

 form is very rarely met with. Mr. Lawson, of Perth, sent me 

 some with all these lines indicated, but the only specimen I have 

 with a distinct and complete basal line and a distinct and 

 complete line between the reniform and the row of dots was 

 captured by Mr. Ovenden near Strood. Mr. Dobree writes me : — 

 *' In some of the specimens taken here (Beverley, E. Yorkshire) 

 the tendency to a darker shade on the hind margin of the upper 

 wings is very pronounced." 



a. var. argyritis, Rbr. Cat. — The anterior wings of this variety 

 are pale grey, without the reddish colour of the type ; the 

 posterior wings paler than the type, with a row of black dots on 

 the nervures, these dots being continuous with those on the 

 anterior wings. This variety is described by Dr. Staudinger as 

 "Alae anteriores pallidiores, alse posteriores punctorum linea 

 exteriore." Staudinger gives as localities Sicily, France, Syria, 

 and Dalmatia. This is undoubtedly the var. a of Guenee's 

 ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 75. His description is, "Of a greyish 

 tint. Inferior wings whitish, with a row of dots more or less 

 visible on the disc." Mr. Dobree writes me, '*It is almost 

 light wainscot, and our English specimens are never so light 

 coloured." 



ft. \a,Y. ferrago, Fab. — This is our ordinary reddish type, with 

 the anterior wings of a deep ferruginous-red colour, with more or 

 less traces of one (or two) basal transverse lines between the 

 reniform and the base of the wings, and a row of dots parallel 

 to the hind margin, a dark lunular mark sometimes being just 

 within the base of the row of dots. The posterior wings of a 

 dark grey, occasionally with traces of a row of dots on the disc. 



ENTOM. — MAY, iHHH. N 



