IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 25 



identical with myricce, Gn., but is less dark in colour, and has the 

 markings more obscure. It is, therefore, somewhat intermediate 

 between myricce and the type. The specimens of mouticaga I have 

 received from the Alps appear exactly intermediate between the pale 

 type and Kannoch myricce. It is, however, rather surprising that 

 Guenee should describe two varieties so closely allied, as belonging to 

 distinct species. Herr Hoffmann also informs me that the markings of 

 montivaga from the Engadine are less distinct than those of myricce 

 from Kannoch, otherwise the forms are almost identical." Hiibner's 

 fig. 12 (euphorbice) is without doubt a large female montivaga. Dr. 

 Staudinger writes of montwaga comparing it with euphorbice, " major, 

 obscurior." 



a. var. montivaga, Gn. Guenee describes a variety of euphorbice, 

 under the name of montwaga, as follows : " The anterior wings of a 

 deep slaty grey, with a slight tinge of bluish white, the markings 

 almost absorbed in the ground colour ; thorax grey. The inferior 

 wings of the male a little powdered with black on the outer edge, the 

 nervures and a distinct cellular lunule, darker ; those of the female of 

 a darker grey with the fringes white. The anterior wings of the 

 female not differing from those of the male. The variety is constant ; 

 perhaps it is due to the influence of the mountains. Locality, 

 Chamouni " (' Noctuelles/ vol. v., pp. 57, 58). 



/3. var. myricce, Gn. The type of this species (euphorbice} does not 

 occur in Britain. The Continental specimens are very much paler and 

 generally somewhat smaller than our specimens. Myricce was long con- 

 sidered a distinct species, and was described as such by Guenee, but 

 there is no doubt that it is only one of those highly specialised melanic 

 forms for which the northern part of Britain and the western coast of 

 Ireland are so remarkable. It is useless to redescribe a species which 

 is in all our collections and has been so often described. It is abun- 

 dant in many parts of Scotland ; and was captured by Mr. Birchall in 

 Killarney. Mr. Kane has also taken it at Galley Head in Ireland. It 

 may be advisable, however, to draw attention to the extreme sexual 

 dimorphism exhibited by this variety. The females are sometimes 

 almost entirely black. 



Acronycta, Och. (Viminia, Chapman), rumicis, L. 



Before dealing with the varieties of A. rumicis, it is necessary to 

 enter at some length on the consideration of associating the var. salicis 

 of Curtis with this species or with A. menyanthidis. I have gone care- 

 fully through all the literature which I can find on the subject, the 

 following being the summary : Mr. Stainton, in the ' Manual,' vol. i., 

 p. 183, treats it as a distinct species, and says that it closely resembles 

 rumicis, but is smaller and darker. Newman figures it as a variety of 

 rumicis, ' British Moths,' p. 255. Dr. Staudinger quotes it as an aber- 

 ration of menyanthidis, with the following synonymy and description : 

 " ab. salicis, Curt., Gn ? euphorbice, Wood, obscurior, alis anterioribus 

 fere unicoloribus ; locality Anglia." In Humphrey & Westwood's 

 ' British Moths,' p. 197, we find : " Varieties of menyanthidis occur in 

 which the ordinary strigge are much more distinct and brown, forming 

 broad patches on the wings, the inner margin at the base of the third 



