THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Vou. XIII.) MARCH, 1880. jNo. 202. 
NONAGRIA SPARGANII,; Esper. 
A Noctua NEw To THE BritisH Fauna. 
NoONAGRIA SPARGANII. 
To Mr. Sydney Webb, the discoverer of this handsome 
addition to the British fauna, I am indebted for the following 
particulars :— 
In January, 1879, Mr. Webb exhibited a small specimen 
of a Noctua at the usual meeting of the scientific committee 
of the Royal Horticultural Society. The larva from which 
the first known British example of this lepidopteron was 
bred was of a bright yellowish green colour, and was found 
feeding in the stems of Iris pseudo-acorus. In confinement 
this larva fed well upon Iris pumila, and, in fact, upon any of 
the other dwarf forms of Iris now so much cultivated in gardens. 
A hint was thrown out at the meeting by Mr. Webb that the 
larva, of whatever species it was, might become a serious trouble 
to horticulturits on account of its voracious appetite. 
He further stated that upon careful examination he believed 
the species to be Nonagria sparganii, but the example was so 
unlike any continental specimens that he deferred publishing 
an account of its advent until he had confirmed his opinion by 
H 
