266 LEPIDOPTERA. 



of a series of crescents having long points upon the nervures ; 

 orbicular stigma indistinct, ringed with black, and containing 

 a central black dot ; reniform stigma still more obscure, but 

 connected with the costa by a black line ; outside the second 

 line is a series of ill-defined white spots near the hind margin, 

 and a far more distinct pair of white spots or lunules 

 precedes the anal angle ; hind margin whitish regularly 

 spotted with black, the black colour extending into the 

 whitish cilia. Hind wings pale yellowish brown, lightest in 

 colour in the middle ; nervures rather darker ; an ill-defined 

 dark grey-brown band lies along the hind margin ; cilia 

 whitish. Female a little larger and with stouter body, other- 

 wise quite similar. 



Underside of fore wings pale-grey with darker nervures ; 

 costal region paler but spotted with blackish ; a small blackish 

 cloud lies near the costa in the middle ; cilia grey, spotted 

 with black. Hind wings whitish, dusted with ashy-grey ; 

 cilia whitish, faintly spotted with brown ; body whitish-brown; 

 legs with greyish- white tufts but barred in front with black. 



A rather variable species in the depth and extent of the 

 black marbling, which in our northern and western districts 

 is frequently so much extended and intensified as to obliterate 

 the pale grey ground colour and change the whole to blackish- 

 grey with still deeper black markings, though the twin white 

 spots before the anal angle, and the white dots outside the 

 second line are usually constant and often conspicuous. This 

 variety is known by the name of salicis, and was named and 

 figured by Curtis as a distinct species. His figure is very 

 accurate, yet is quoted by Staudinger as a variety of ^. mciiyan- 

 thedis, to which species it appears to bear no resemblance. 

 This error doubtless arises from Curtis's figure of the larva, 

 which is erroneous. This variety is found even so far south 

 as Salop, and is said by Mr. T. C. Woodforde to be common 

 near Market Drayton. In the mosses of Lancashire it is 

 sometimes found having, in addition, a deeper black, broad 

 central band ; sometimes also one of the white twin spots is 



