PSYCHID/E. 361 



In hot, still, sunny weather the male flies actively at from 

 6 to 7.30 P.M. and doubtless also in the morning sunshine. 

 From its close similarity to the preceding species its distri- 

 bution is not readily ascertained, but it appears to be almost 

 equally wide. I have specimens before me from various 

 parts of the South of England ; some from Leatherhead, 

 Surrey, sent by Mr. C. A. Briggs, being large and unusually 

 dark, while those obtained at Portland by Mr. E. K. Bankes 

 are rather small. Others have been found in Buckingham- 

 shire, and at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, and Mr. W. H. B. 

 Fletcher has specimens brought from Glengariff, in the South 

 of Ireland. Doubtless intermediate localities are numerous. 

 Abroad its range is equally doubtful ; Bruand merely records 

 it in France. 



I do not feel profoundly convinced of the distinctness 

 from each other of the last three species. We possess forms 

 which correspond well with Bruand's descriptions ; and these 

 I have accepted rather in deference to his great care in 

 determining species, and minute knowledge of their charac- 

 teristics, and to the considerable faith in the separate species 

 on the part of entomologists here, than to any strong belief 

 of my own It would have been very easy and convenient 

 to follow Stainton in retaining all three under the name 

 of F. nitichlla. This last name has not been added as 

 a synonym, or used for either, from the impossibility of 

 determining to which it may belong. Certainly Hiibner's 

 figure of nitidella indicates a species with fore wings more 

 pointed than is the case in either of these three, as also does 

 that of Godart. Bruand went very carefully into this 

 question, and I think his conclusion, that the name nitidella 

 should be dropped, is incontestable. By an unfortunate 

 combination of circumstances I have been prevented from 

 consulting the papers of Dr. Heylaerts of Breda. 



4. F. betulina, Z., anicanella, Bruaiid (?) — Expanse ^ 



