VARIETIES OF NOCTU^ IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 135 



does not appear to be so invariable, in the ground colour at least, 

 on the Continent. Hiibner, under the name of typica, figures a 

 rich purple-brown variety; while Guenee says of the French 

 specimens, " The two median lines geminated, tinted with rose- 

 colour" ('Noctuelles,' vol. v. p. 167). Probably these brightly- 

 coloured forms exist in collections in Britain. Mr. N. F. Dobree 

 writes : — "iV. reticulata is so scarce in this part of the E. Riding 

 (Beverley) that I have never taken more than two ; but these 

 still retain a decided vinous tinge, though taken five years ago " 

 {in litt.). Our ordinary British form was described by Haworth, 

 under the name of marginosa (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 195, 

 No. 101). 



a., var. typica, Hh. — Hiibner figures (58) the type of this variety, of which 

 I made the following description: — "Anterior wings of a rich purplish 

 brown, with the longitudinal nervures nearly absent, otherwise much like 

 our own specimens ; the three pale transverse lines and stigmata outlined 

 in pinkish grey. Hind wings grey, hind margin darker, with three white 

 dots in centre of extreme outer margin ; a distinct transverse line 

 and lunule." 



(3. var. unicolor, Stdgr. — This variety is mentioned by Staudinger in 

 his trade list, and in answer to a query Mr. Dubree has written : — " The 

 var. unicolor derives its name from being a uniform brown-grey, the 

 nervures and markings being pricked out in a lighter shade of the ground 

 colour. My specimens are from Kaschgar, in Russian Turkestan " 

 [in litt.). 



Neuronia, Hb., popularis, Fab. 



This species was described more than once by Fabricius. 

 His description, taken from the ' Entomologia systematica 

 emendata et aucta,' &c., p. 484, No. 240, is as follows : — 

 " Bombyx* alis incumbentibus fuscis albo venosis posticis 

 albidis. Statura praecedentis [graminis). Antennae pectinatse, 

 fuscse. Alse anticse fuscee venis albis. In medio maculae 

 ordinance pupilla obscuriore. Versus apicem striga e maculis 

 parvis, sagittatis, atris. Posticae albidae margine obscuriore 

 subtusque puncto centrali, fusco." Haworth, in the 'Lepidoptera 

 Britannica,' p. 117, describes the species under the name of 

 populnrius ; whilst Hiibner figures a form tinged with pink under 

 the name of graminis. 



The variation of this species appears to be confined within 

 very narrow limits. In some specimens the orbicular is large, 

 and formed of a dark centre surrounded by white or ochreous, 

 in others it is a pale spot, while in others it is almost obsolete ; 

 the reniform also varies in colour and size. The transverse lines 

 are sometimes white, sometimes ochreous, sometimes tinged with 

 pink, as in Hiibner's graminis. There is also a considerable 



* It must be borne in mind that the early lepidopterists classed all our Noctuce 

 with pectinated antennae as Bombyces. 



