74 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the slightest variation nor any approach to any of the known forms 

 of svffumata. The general pattern and position of the wing- 

 markings correspond closely to those of suffiLmata, but the dark 

 markings are much reduced, especially on the outer third of the 

 ■wing, and are very delicately outlined with silvery white. The 

 small size, the shining, silvery, ground-colour, and the shape of 

 the forewings, which are full and well-rounded (very unlike those 

 of suffumata), serve to separate it at a glance. The hind-wings 

 are devoid of markings, shining whitish-grey. Seen in a series 

 the general appearance is most striking, and somewhat suggests 

 a cross between suffumata and silaceata. 



^\n\si siiffumata, so far as we know, is only single-brooded, the 

 new species is, at any rate, partially double-brooded. Without 

 especially looking for it in the autumn, I have taken one or two 

 specimens of this brood on the wing, and Mr. A. W. Mera has 

 succeeded in rearing an autumn brood from eggs with which I 

 supplied him. Barrett, indeed, figures what he supposed to be a 

 specimen of the second brood of suffumata, but the figure, except 

 for the shape of wings, would be a very fair representation of the 

 new species, an example of which it seems to me he not 

 improbably had before him. The new species Hies in company 

 with suffumata, but does not appear until quite three weeks after 

 the latter is well out. This has been my experience over several 

 years in both North and East Devon, and I find that it is not of 

 much use to look for it until well towards the middle of May. 



Our knowledge of the food-plant is so far negative. It refuses 

 to eat Galium aparine, the food plant of suffumata. Mr. Mera 

 persuaded it to take G. sexatile, but very unwillingly, and I think 

 it will eventually be found to feed on one of the marsh Galiums, 

 G. palustre or G. uliginosum. Mr. Newman suggests Aspernla 

 odorata. The localities where I have found it are exactly similar — 

 the wettest and darkest parts of dense woods. Here, in East 

 Devon, the spot is so swampy that if one slips off a grass 

 tussock one will, as likely as not, go in up to the thighs in mud 

 and water. It flies late, and hardly a specimen will be seen 

 until well after dark. 



To sum up the grounds for separating the new species from 

 suffumata we have the following differences — size, shape of the 

 wings and general facies, number of broods, time of appearance, 

 food-plant, form of the genitalia, and, though flying in company 

 with suffumata, an entire absence of any intermediate form. 



I hope, with the help of Mr. Newman, to be in a position 

 later on to give a full description of the insect in all its stages, 

 and meanwhile tentatively propose for it the name Cidaria 

 otregiata, after the ancient name of this place (Otregia), where it 

 finds one of its few homes. 



Ottery St. Mary, 



March, 1917. 



