7S LEPIDOPTERA. 



found on the hills; and the same may be said of the few 

 available Norwegian specimens. Staudinger says that it is 

 abundant in Iceland, that it may sometimes be found in the 

 daytime on the blossoms of thyme and other plants, that it 

 flies strongly in the evening, and that it is variable in size — 

 down to one inch expanse in the female — and more than in 

 Silesia in colour, some specimens being even greenish-yellow, 

 and one female nearly black. Of this form, as found in the 

 original Silesian locality, Speyer says that it is now recognised 

 as merely a small race of N. f estiva, and this statement is con- 

 firmed by Drs. Staudfiiss. Wocke, and Rossler. With their 

 view one cannot but concur. On the other hand, Zetterstedt's 

 description of the variety hor calls, from Lapland, strongly 

 suggests the presence in that country of the Shetland form. 

 The race, in spite of its own considerable variation, is so well 

 marked that a varietal name is perhaps desirable and con- 

 venient. If so, horeMis, Zett. is suitable. In its various 

 forms — festiva, conjltia, borealis, and many more (but less 

 necessary) names, this species is found throughout Northern 

 and Central Europe, North Italy, Livonia, the Ural Mountain 

 district. Western Siberia, Labrador, and Canada, and probably 

 in the more northern poi'tions of the United States, since the 

 type of Agrotis perconfiua, Grote, in the British Museum, 

 appears to be a variety of the present species with a stronger 

 purple tinge than usual. 



For unwearied assistance in working out the localities and 

 history of the forms of this species, I am deeply indebted to 

 Mr. W. F. Kirby ; and indeed this gives me an opportunity 

 of acknowledging his unvarying kindness, and that of other 

 officers of the British Museum— Dr. A. G. Butler, Sir 6. F. 

 Hampson, and Mr. Charles Waterhouse. 



13. N. SObrina, Gn. — Expanse l\ to \h inch. Fore 

 wings short, rather broad, with truncate hind margin ; uni- 

 colorous, deep purple-brown, with a faint hoary bloom ; hind 

 wings brownish-grey. 



