32 <=' VARIETIES OF NOCTtUE 



pale grey, without the reddish colour of the type ; the posterior wings 

 paler than the type, with a row of black dots on the nervures, these 

 dots being continuous with those on the anterior wings. This variety 

 is described by Dr. Staudinger as : " Alee anteriores pallidiores, alee 

 posteriores punctorum linea exteriore." Staudinger gives as localities 

 Sicily, France, Syria, and Dalmatia. This is undoubtedly the var. A of 

 Guenee's ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 75. His description is, " Of a greyish 

 tint. Inferior wings whitish, with a row of dots more or less visible 

 on the disc." Mr. Dobree writes me, " It is almost a light wainscot, 

 and our English specimens are never so light coloured." I have a 

 specimen, however, of this variety most extreme in its coloration, 

 captured by Mr. Young at Rotherham. It is without a trace of red. 



ft. var. pallida, mihi. Closely allied to var. argyritis, of a delicate 

 wainscot colour, with the slightest suspicion of a pinkish tinge ; the 

 characteristic markings not very strongly developed. I have speci- 

 mens of this beautiful variety from Howth, Farnboro' (Kent), and 

 Deal. 



y. var. ferrago, Fab. This is our ordinary reddish type, with the 

 anterior wings of a deep ferruginous-red colour, with more or less 

 traces of one (or two) basal transverse lines between the reniform and 

 base of the wings, and a row of dots parallel to the hind margin, a 

 dark lunular mark sometimes being just within the base of the row of 

 dots. The posterior wings of a dark grey, occasionally with traces of 

 a row of dots on the disc. This is the female of Haworth's grisea, of 

 which he says, "Alis femina3 runs." The description of Fabricius is: 

 " Noctua cristata alis deflexis f urrugineis : macula media fusca ; 

 lunula alba." " Alae anticae ferrugineae, in medio macula fusca et in hac 

 lunula alba. Pone fasciam strigse punctis vix conspicuis, nigris. 

 Posticae fuscse" ( " Entomologia Systematical &c., p. 76, No. 217). A 

 very large proportion of our specimens are deep red ; the finest speci- 

 mens perhaps of this form that I have seen are some received from 

 Mr. Lawson, of Perth. 



8. var. extralinea, mihi. The anterior wings of a ferruginous-red 

 or a greyish-red colour with all the ordinary markings, and in addi- 

 tion, a complete transverse line between the reniform and the row of 

 dots parallel to the hind margin. This line is the complete develop- 

 ment of the lunular mark mentioned above (vide var. ferrago). I have 

 specimens from Perth and Strood. 



e. var. fulvescens, mihi. A fine deep ochreous-brown, or rather 

 fulvous variety, with scarcely a tinge of red in its coloration. The 

 markings generally more or less obsolete. The type of this fine variety 

 came from Perth, but I have specimens from Forres and Chattenden 

 (Kent). 



. var. marginata, mihi. In the ' Entomologist's Record and 

 Journal of Variation,' vol. 1., p. 242, Mr. J. Collins, of Warrington, 

 writes : " I have bred a very strange specimen of L. lithargyria, the 

 variation being connected with the hind wings. These are silvery 

 grey in colour, bordered on the outer margin, by a broad, dark band. 

 The specimen has an altogether " under wing " look about it. The 

 larva was obtained in the Delamere district." 



