1907.] 154 



SOME NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTERa. 



OF THE "DALE COLLECTION" OF BEITISH INSECTS, NOW IN THE 



OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM. 



BT JAMES J. WALKER, M.A., E.N., F.L.8. 



(^Continued from page 134). 



II.— HETEEOCEKA. 



The British moths in the Dale collections are contained in five 

 cabinets and part of a sixth, and occupy 120 full-sized drawers. 

 Almost every species on our list is more or less fully represented, in 

 most instances by extensive series, and as in the case of the Rhopalo- 

 cera already dealt with in the preceding pages of this volume, the 

 number of fine and remarkable aberrations, and of specimens of 

 historical interest, is very large. The rare Sphinges in particular are 

 exceptionally well represented, and among these are what are without 

 doubt the first authentically recorded British examples of Choerocampa 



nerii and C. celerio. 



Sphingina. 



Zygsena ewvlans, Hoch. — A fine series from Braemar. Z. meliloti, Esp. — Also 

 well represented, and including a fine confluent form. 



Z. lonicerse, Esp. — One example of the var. eboraci, Prest, from Castle Eden ; 

 three fine varieties with the crimson spots on fore-wings confluent into a large 

 blotch, one of them labelled " Warwick, from H. D., /58 " (J. C. D.). 



Z. trifolii, Esp. — One fine yellow aberration (labelled lutescens, Tutt), " Mr. 

 Christy, Emsworth, Hants, 1895 " (C. W. D.) ; several very fine examples with con- 

 fluent spots, and one, labelled at side " orohi, Hubn.," with the central crimson spots 

 of fore-wings much reduced in size, " W. Head, Scarborough, 1906 " (C. W. D.). 



Z.JlUpendulse, L. — Of this abundant species there is a large and varied series 

 including two fine yellow forms {cerinns, Eobson) from " Winchester, C. Qoddard, 

 1875 " ; two fine confluent aberrations with the basal and central crimson spots 

 fused into a large blotch, the finest from " W. Head, Scarborough, 1904 " 

 (C. W. D.) ; and another with the same data, in which the crimson colour is 

 replaced by pale orange-red. A magnificent melanic form (var. chrysanthemi, Esp.), 

 obtained by C. W. Dale at the sale of Dr. Mason's collection in 1905, and bearing 

 a type-written label " Bewdley, T. Nqwees " {recte " Nowers "). In this beautiful 

 aberration the whole of the usual crimson colour is replaced by very dark madder - 

 brown, the spots distinctly visible on the lustrous blackish-green ground colour of 

 the fore-wings. An even more remarkable aberration is of full size and well 

 developed, but the whole of the dai'k-green scales of the fore-wings are absent, 

 these wings being transparent horn-colour with narrow blackish costal margin ; the 

 usual dark border of hind-wings, and all the fringes are pale grey ; all the crimson 

 markings, and the body, being normal, and the under-side being modified nearly as 

 above. This specimen was taken by Dr. R. C. R. Jordan, and is labelled " Cliffs, 

 Teignmo., June 12/44," presumably in his handwriting. 



