NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 149 



the same species. "A. tritici is certainly the most variable of our 

 Noctuse in size, markings, and colour ; na}^ even the antennae seem 

 not to be quite the same in all examples. We had an opportunity 

 of assuring ourselves on this point very completely. The devasta- 

 tion caused in vineyards on the frontiers of Moravia, recorded by 

 Treitschke, in vol. x., pt. 2, p. 19, of Ochsenheimer's work, have 

 been repeated in our neighbourhood, at Ockelheim, near Bingen, 

 in the years 1871 and 1872, to such an extent that many indivi- 

 duals had their vineyards destroyed." * * * * " The larvae lived 

 exactly like earth-worms, — by day under ground, and by night 

 only on the surface, in order to feed. Salad, and such-like 

 succulent plants, are much more relished by them than the 

 tenderest shoots of the vine. Dr. Pagenstecher reared a large 

 number of the larvae with the same results as myself. * * * * 

 Among the large number of examples reared in the course of 

 these broods, there were those figured by Hiibner, — as fumosa, 

 fig. 153; aquilina, 135; ohelisca, 123; fictilis, 479 and 710; 

 unicolor, 544 ; erata, 623 ; carhonea, 700 ; praticola, 567 ; vitta 

 and aquilina, 533-35; riiris, 416; besides the following figured 

 by Herrich-S chaffer, — adumhrata, 121 ; rustica, 495 ; fumosa, 526 ; 

 tritici, 527 and 552; ohelisca, 529 and 553. All were plentifully 

 represented, and it could not but be that all belonged to one and 

 the same species, united as they were by numerous intermediate 

 forms." Like Mr. Tutt, I have seen all kinds of varieties on the 

 sand-hills here. Moreover, I am sure the genus Agi'otis is not 

 the only genus in our Lepidoptera which wants careful revision ; 

 and, in my opinion, especially the genus Zygcena, F., of which the 

 identity of some of the species will in time be proved, many of 

 the species in our Catalogues now being extremely doubtful, and 

 requiring a thoroughly scientific investigation. — C. G. Hall ; 

 7, Beaconsfield Road, Deal, April 6, 1885. 



On the Identity of certain Agrotid^. — This is by no 

 means a new question, for in January, 1842 (Entom. vol. i. p. 254), 

 under the title of " Observations on Species and Varieties," 

 Mr. W. Bentley discusses it at considerable length, and after 

 describing the points of difi"erence between Agrotis nigricans, 

 fumosa, 7'iiris, duhia, and ohelisca, says, " The vast numbers of 

 specimens I have examined, varying from dingy black to light 

 red, with all intermediate grades of character, have convinced me 

 that they all constitute but one inconstant species." In the same 



