122 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



distinct from that represented by fig. 102, and treats them in his 

 list as two distinct definite species, fig. 100 being his dilutaria, 

 fig. 102, ossearia, being a synonym of Hufnagel's humiliata. If, 

 therefore, the two figures of Hiibner represent distinct species, 

 and I feel satisfied they do, the question is, To which is our 

 species to be referred ? I think I am right in believing it to be 

 ossearia. Hiibner's figure is characteristic of many bred and fine 

 English specimens, the dark shade perhaps a little overdone, but 

 otherwise the rounded character of the wings is clearly developed, 

 and also the characteristic fine wavy lines. I once reared this 

 species (about 18T5), on knotgrass I believe, — but I am speaking 

 from memory, and have no notes, — some with fine dark costse, 

 but some without, and I have frequently captured such specimens 

 at Strood, Deal, and many other localities. Only those in the 

 finest condition are thus marked, and not always then, for bred 

 specimens are frequently without any special development of this 

 shade ; but I believe every one who has had a long and close 

 acquaintance with the species would support me in this view. 



With regard to the position of the black central dot in the 

 anterior wings of our species, I may say that I have specimens 

 in which it varies from being on the second streak to midway 

 between the second and third streaks, others being intermediate 

 between the two extremes, so that this is really no definite 

 character at all. 



As there seems very little doubt that our species is not the 

 continental dilutaria at all, nor the dilutaria of Hiibner, but that 

 it is the ossearia of Hiibner, which Dr. Staudiiiger is perfectly 

 convinced is only a synonym of Hufnagel's humiliata (Hufn. Berl. 

 M. iv. 614, date 1769) ; all our English-used names should drop 

 out, and humiliata, Hufn., be substituted in its place, thus 

 bringing us into unison with continental nomenclature. 



The species should stand in our lists as — 

 Acidalia, Tr. 



humiliata, Hufn. 



osseata, Schiff. (S. V. p. 33, n. Cat.), Tr. (vi. 2, 32), Gn. (i. 467), 



Mill. (Ic. 64-7), Dup. viii., Hb. 102. 

 interjectaria, B. (gen. p. 224). dilutaria, Hb. 100 ?. 



In the distribution of humiliata, Hufn. = ossearia, Hb., 

 Staudinger gives Europe, except reg. bor., Sicily, Sardinia, Cor- 

 sica, and Greece, — thus including England ; while in the distri- 

 bution of dilutaria he gives Central Europe, except Germany, 

 S. Belgium, and England, — thus expressly excluding England. 



If any entomologists should still consider that Hiibner's 

 figs. 100 and 102 {dilutaria and ossearia) really represent two 

 forms of our species, both the names must sink as synonyms of 

 Hufnagel's humiliata, for if one falls, the other — being of the 

 same date — must sink with it. 



