108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
broad and distinct from the costa to inner margin; the coloration 
also is subject to much variation, being in some examples almost 
uniformly blackish and the central band hardly darker, while in 
others it is silvery grey with the blackish margins of the central 
band showing in strong contrast. Larentia cesiata, L. flavicinctata, 
and Lobophora lobulata, all show a similar phase of variation in 
regard to the colour of central band and ground of wing. Larentia 
salicata is less striking in this respect, and Lobophora halterata 
(hexapterata) is the zonata form, in which the median area is pale. 
Emmelesia minorata (ericetata) also has the central band severed 
in some individuals, but more frequently complete, and in other 
respects is fairly constant. Hupithecie captured in the imago 
state are seldom satisfactory, and beyond a few H. satyrata var. 
callunaria, EL. nanata, and EL. indigata, there is little to be said 
for representatives of the genus in this collection, nor does 
Ematurga atomaria or Thera simulata call for any special mention ; 
on the other hand, 7’. juniperata, of which a long series was bred, 
varies very considerably. As compared with south English 
examples these are smaller, and give the general impression of a 
brighter insect, as is the case with so many of the Scotch species ; 
the brightness in this case is due chiefly to the more pronounced 
white margins of. the central fascia; this marking is also subject 
to considerable modification, being sometimes represented by a 
costal patch extending beyond the middle of the wing; in other 
specimens there is also a well-defined dark spot on the inner 
margin, indicating the termination of the fascia, while more 
frequently it forms a complete band; the apical streak is also 
strongly produced in some individuals, but in others it is hardly 
discernible. . 
Melanthia bicolorata (rubiginata) furnishes a good example of 
geographical variation. The form most frequent in the South of 
England may be roughly described as :—white ; basal patch smoky 
brown ; an irregular patch of the same colour on the centre of 
the costa, enclosing the discoidal spot and extending hardly to 
the middle of the wing; between it and the inner margin one or 
more indistinct bluish grey spots; hind margin clouded with 
brownish grey. Inthe Rannoch series, and indeed in Scotch speci- 
mens generally, the costal patch is continued to the inner margin 
and forms a broad fascia, frequently divided beyond the middle; the 
dark clouding of the hind margin, also, in many specimens, 
extends over the whole of the wing. Curtis (Guide, Gen. 928 ; 
Brit. Entom. Lep. II. pl. 648, pub., 1837) described this form 
under the name of Zerene plumbata in the following words :— 
“White; head and thorax brown and grey; superior wings 
inclining to cream colour, with a patch at the base, and a fascia 
across the middle, generally broadest at the costa; brown varie- 
gated with grey and darker brown lines; the margins are sinuated, 
and there is a black dot on the disc; posterior margin lead- 
