180 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



parallel to the costa from base to reniforra, and two dull basal lines ; 

 no orbicular, but distinct reniform ; a dull wavy line parallel to hind 

 margin. Hind wings yellowish, with a dull purplish grey hind margin." 

 Although this description would scarcely apply to any of our specimens of 

 tnatura, there is no doubt that Esper had before him an obscurely-marked 

 specimen of this species. I think this name should, therefore, stand for all 

 specimens of the obscure form. 



Luperina, Bdv., luteago, Hb. 

 The type of this species does not occur in Britain, but a 

 melanic form from the Irish coast was described as a distinct 

 species by Mr. Doubleday, under the name of harrettii, and has 

 been generally placed in the genus Dianthecia. Hiibner's fig. 184 

 represents the type of this species, and may be described as : — 

 " Anterior wings of a pale yellowish colour, median nervures 

 reddish, a reddish transverse basal line with another just within 

 the orbicular ; the stigmata very pale ; a double transverse line 

 just beyond the reniform, and a wavy reddish line parallel to the 

 hind margin ; a dark reddish blotch between the second and third 

 transverse lines (under the stigmata), continued up narrowly 

 outside the reniform, and making anotlier blotch on the costa 

 just outside the reniform; hind margin dotted. Hind wings very 

 pale grey, slightly darker on the hind margin." Hiibner's 

 argillacea is, according to Dr. Staudinger, a var. of this species, 

 whilst Guenee refers Hb.-G-eyer's olbiena to this species, and 

 Esper figures another form under the name of " bninneago." Of 

 the general variation Guenee writes ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 181) : — 

 *' It varies in colour from a more or less pure and more or less 

 intense yellow to greyish in some specimens." Of the varieties 

 the British harrettii is by far the most striking, and this peculiar 

 form is, I believe, unknown on the Continent. Barrettii seems 

 first to have been referred to this species by the late Mr. Buckler, 

 who ('Ent. Mo. Mag.,' vol. xvi., p. 55) writes : — " I am constrained 

 to believe barrettii to be an isolated and melanic variety of 

 luteago." On the same page Mr. M'Lachlan, in a footnote, 

 writes: — "When last in London, Dr. Staudinger stated to me 

 that, in his opinion, D. bari'ettii is a form of D. luteago," and 

 Mr. Dobree writes : — " My continental specimens of the full-fed 

 larvae of luteago correspond exactly with Mr. Buckler's descrip- 

 tion of barrettii {' Ent. Mo. Mag.,' August, lH79), and anyone who 

 has seen them will recognise that this species has been quite 

 misplaced among the Dianthoecm" (in litt.). " D. luteago occurs 

 very rarely in Mecklenburgh, Pomerania, and elsewhere in 

 Central Europe, in Sardinia, Corsica, and is one of the rarest 

 French moths " (' Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy,' 

 1884, p. 107). 



a. var. harrettii, Dbdy. — This variety was first described by Mr. 

 Doubleday, at p. 184 of the ' Entomologist's Annual ' for 1864. It is also 



