NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 99 
my promise, and to meet any objection that he either did or might 
raise. This will satisfy Mr. Cockerell, I hope; and I am glad to 
see that he admits my discussion of his non-existent objection to 
be of service. 
Finally, I may add that the varieties which Mr. Cockerell 
mentions of Sphinx and Tortrix are of the very greatest interest 
to me, since they are exact fulfilments of the predictions which I 
made whilst in ignorance that such varieties existed. 
December 22, 1891. 
NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 
By RicHarp Sour. 
Unper the above title I propose to make a few remarks on 
the variation of certain species of Lepidoptera occurring in 
Britain. At the same time the most trustworthy points of 
distinction between closely-allied species will be mentioned, and, 
in some instances, the perplexing matter of synonymy referred 
to. The subjects of the present paper are Noctua brunnea and 
N. festiva. The next will deal with a Geometrid genus. 
Noctua BRUNNEA. 
In 1886 and 1887 I obtained large numbers of larve of this 
species from North Devon. They were found feeding on bilberry 
(Vaccinium myrtillus), and a species of wood-rush (Luzula), both 
plants growing in luxuriant masses in the small woody glen 
where the larve were collected. 
Although there was considerable variation as regards the 
coloration of the larve, the markings were not subject to any 
material modification, except so far as concerns the transverse 
line or patch on the dorsal area of the 12th segment. This was 
always some shade of yellow, but sometimes so pale as to appear 
almost white ; the width, too, of this marking was also variable, 
often broad and conspicuous, but in some few individuals repre- 
sented by an exceedingly thin and very short line. 
From the specimens bred | selected an extensive and most 
variable series, and it is to these that my remarks will more 
especially apply ; but I shall also have occasion to refer to series 
of the species from Aberdeen, Perth, and Rotherham, kindly 
sent to me by Messrs. Reid, Ellison, and Young. 
The following is a general description of Noctua brunnea :— 
Fore wings brown, with a glossy purplish reflection, traversed by 
three usually distinct, double, wavy, darker brown lines; the 
first of these (basal) is straight and extends only to the median 
nervure, the second (inner) is slightly oblique, and the third (outer) 
curves to the first median nervule, and from thence descends 
straight to the inner margin ; the pale, narrow, wavy, submarginal 
