IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 39 



found it one of the most variable species in its genus. In my long 

 series, picked from a great number, I have four very distinct forms 

 besides the type. Summarised, these are : (1) A pale form, without 

 any dots or markings. (2) The type, with three dots on anterior 

 wings only. (3) A form with a transverse row of dots on anterior 

 wings and another on nervure of posterior wings, with a faint shade 

 under the median nervure. (4) A red form. (5) A form much 

 suffused with black scales. 



a. var. obsoleta, mihi. This variety has the anterior wings of 

 delicate wainscot or straw-colour, with the median nervure pure white, 

 below which is a faint trace of the basal part of a longitudinal dark 

 shade. The three dots on the anterior wings are entirely absent. 

 Posterior wings pure white, no markings or dots. The crest on the 

 thorax very distinct. I have'only oue specimen of this exceedingly 

 rare and extreme form. 



/?. var. intermedia, mihi. This variety most nearly approaches the 

 type. The wings are of the same pale straw or creamy- white colour, 

 with a central dot, and, like the type, have two of the dots, of those 

 which form the transverse row so characteristic of the following 

 varieties, very conspicuous, viz., the one above and that below the 

 median nervure ; but, in addition, the others which form the series are 

 more or less developed. A longitudinal ochreous dash, darker than 

 the ground colour, extends under the base of the median nervure ; a 

 few ochreous scales scattered over the spaces between the nervures. 

 Posterior wings pearly- white, with a faintly marked row of dots on 

 the nervures parallel to the hind margin. This form, therefore, con- 

 stitutes a link between the type and the following varieties. 



y. var. rufolinea, mihi. Anterior wings bright reddish ochreous, 

 all the wing-rays pale, so that the anterior wings appear to be made up 

 of alternate fine lines of red and white ; the central dot distinct, a 

 complete row of black dots parallel to the hind margin ; a well-deve- 

 loped dark reddish shade under the basal part of the central nervure. 

 Posterior wings white, much shaded with grey (more so in males than 

 in females), with a row of black dots on the nervures. Many speci- 

 mens of this red variety have the anterior wings much suffused with 

 black scales, as in var nigrostriata, but the latter never has a red ground 

 colour. 



8. var. nigrostriata, mihi. The anterior wings pale wainscot- 

 brown, so thickly suffused with black scales as to obscure the ground 

 colour ; the wing-rays very pale, sometimes white, so that the wing 

 has the appearance of being crossed with alternate striations of black 

 and white lines ; a very dark, almost black, shade runs under the 

 median nervure, the central dot and row of dots present, as in the 

 variety rufolinea, but more inconspicuous, owing to the suffusion. Pos- 

 terior wings much irrorated with dark atoms, giving them a very dark 

 appearance. Females of this variety are comparatively rare. My series 

 of this form are chiefly males. 



Leucania, Och., impura, Hb. 



The type of this species is represented by Hiibner's fig. 396. 

 The species was previously figured by Albin, plate xxx. : g, upper 



