446 Mr. J. H. Leech on Lepidoptera Heterocera 



certainly more decided than in any European specimen of 

 grossulariata that I have seen, but the pattern is only a com- 

 plete development of markings seen more or less clearly 

 indicated in the majority of European grossulariata. Neither 

 of the Japanese forms of this species diverge so widely from 

 the type as do certain varieties of the species known to British 

 entomologists. 



I have received a nice series from Chang-yang, taken in 

 July. In these specimens the markings on primaries are 

 somewhat similar to those of A. picaria, Moore, but the 

 markings on secondaries are much the same as in typical 

 A. grossulariata^ though not so pronounced fuscous instead of 

 black on all the wings. The yellow markings are in all 

 cases less distinct, and in several specimens entirely obsolete. 

 1 propose the name sinicaria for this form. 



Distribution. Europe; Siberia; Amur; Japan; Central 

 China. 



Abraxas picaria. 

 Abraxas picaria, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1867, p. 652. 



Appears to be a common species in Western China, occur- 

 ring in July and August. 



Specimens of the typical form exhibit considerable modifi- 

 cation in the amount of black on primaries ; in some examples 

 this colour largely predominates. In addition to what may 

 be regarded as ordinary aberration, there are three forms of 

 the species from Western China, each of which appears to be 

 worthy of a distinctive name. 



Var. tortuosaridj nov. 



In this form the only prominent markings on the primaries 

 are the costal portions of subbasal line, the discal spot, the 

 sinuous and deeply angled transverse line beyond the middle, 

 and a series of spots on outer margin ; the secondaries are 

 only sparsely dotted with fuscous on basal area, but the other 

 markings are much as in the type. 



Ta-chien-lu, Omei-shan, Moupin : July. 



Var. grisearia, nov. 



Primaries whitish, heavily clouded and spotted with grey ; 

 the base is yellow, edged with black ; discal spot black, with 

 a black cloud-like spot before it on the costa, from the last 

 there is sometimes a blackish shade extending to inner 

 margin ; submarginal band blackish, mixed with yellow, 

 elbowed just above the middle. Secondaries whitish, spotted 



