NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. SE 
Variation of the discoidal markings.—Occupying the discoidal 
cell, the space between the subcostal and median nervures closed 
by the reniform, isa black wedge-shaped dash, generally ex- 
tending from the inner edge of the reniform to inner transverse 
line, and its continuity broken by the orbicular. In some of the 
specimens in each series this is represented by a quadrate spot, 
very little darker than the ground colour, between the stigmata, 
and there is no trace of it before the orbicular. 
Variation of the transverse markings.—The basal and inner 
lines are sometimes very indistinct, and in a specimen from 
N. Devon the submarginal pale band is not clearly defined ; the 
outer line is invariably present, but in a few instances its dupli- 
cate character is not apparent. In one specimen from N. Devon 
the inner line is less oblique than usual, and the space between 
it and the basal is filled in with dark brown, thus forming a 
basal band from costa to inner margin; two of the Aberdeen 
specimens also have this band, but, as their general tone of 
colour is darker, the aberration is less striking. 
Variation of the costal markings. —'Vhe yellowish spots, 
although sometimes very minute, are almost always to be traced, 
but in a few specimens one or more of the dark spots are absent 
or obscured. In a few specimens from each locality the edge of 
the costa is yellowish from outer line to the base, interrupted by 
the dark spots, and a dark dash before the basal line. Hubner’s 
figure 121 represents a specimen with a yellowish streak along 
the apical portion of costa, and I have a N. Devon specimen 
marked in this way, but it does not agree in other respects with 
the figure. 
Except that they are larger, some of the pale specimens from 
N. Devon are exceedingly like some English N. festiva. There 
is, however, a difference between the two species, which is at 
once perceived by anyone acquainted with the various forms of 
brunnea and festiva, but this is not easily expressed in a few 
words. Fortunately it is unnecessary to go into minute points 
of difference, as we have a valuable differential character in the 
submarginal band, which is wavy in brunnea, but only indented 
below costa and towards inner margin in festiva. 
Some examples of N. brunnea bear a strong superficial 
resemblance to N. dahliit. In the latter species the submarginal 
band is somewhat similar to that of N. festiva, but the area 
beyond this band is always as dark as the darkest colour on 
the rest of the wing. In brunnea the marginal area is invariably 
of the same tint as the palest colour on the other portion of the 
wing. 
Noctua FESTIVA. 
Fore wings ochreous, ornamented with brown of various 
shades; orbicular usually of the ground colour; reniform usually 
only outlined in ochreous, but sometimes filled up with the same 
