VARIETIES OF NOCTU^ IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 305 



Co. Near Quericla, in Western or Central Custer Co., Conjnetes 

 coeruleus and Silj^ha lapponica, L., were noted on the homeward 

 journey. Several species remain unidentified yet, so that the 

 above account does not even include all the insects taken on this 

 expedition ; but it will, I hope, give some idea of the entomolo- 

 gical possibilities of an interesting and little-known district. 

 The British entomologist will recognize many familiar genera, 

 and a few familiar species, and I can only say, that it becomes 

 increasingly apparent to me, that the fauna of these mountains 

 is so nearly related to that of Europe, that an intelligent study 

 of the one without the other, from the point of view of 

 geographical distribution, is almost impossible. The origin, and 

 place of origin, of the various paltearctic genera and species, is 

 yet almost entirely wrapped in obscurity ; yet I feel confident 

 that when we come to know the fauna of the pal?earctic zone as a 

 whole, much will be cleared up, and the way will be opened for 

 many new investigations and theories. 



West Cliff, Custer Co., Colorado, October 12th, 1888. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS A LIST OF THE VARIETIES 

 OF NOCTU^ OCCURRING IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



By J. W. TuTT, F.E.S. 



(Continued from p. 272.) 



Hydroecia, Gn., micacea, Esp. 

 This is a most variable species, both in colour and size. The 

 ground colour varies from a pale whitish grey and yellowish red, 

 through bright red and purplish red, to deep brown with no trace 

 of the typical red colour. In size, some specimens are almost 

 twice the expanse of others. In the autumn of 1883 I bred 

 some four hundred specimens from roots of dock. Previous 

 to this, I had looked on this as a most constant species, and 

 its variation surprised me much. Guenee seems surprised 

 that Sepp figured two different varieties, one of which (figs. 6 

 and 7) he says is the ordinary French form, the other of " an 

 ashy green colour" (' Noctuelles,' vol. v-., p. 128). I have never 

 seen one with a green tint. This species has a peculiar shining 

 lustre, hence its name. The type is represented by Esper, PI. 



ENTOM. — DEC, 1888. 2 D 



