62 VARIETIES OP NOCTTLZB 



considering it distinct, I think it very probable that this is so. If 

 lucens and paludis are really only extreme forms of nictitans, the three 

 offer an almost exceptionally unique condition of three easily dis- 

 tinguishable forms, all going through parallel ranges of variation, and 

 yet distinct in all. From my point of view, in considering their 

 varieties, it appears advisable for me to treat lucens and paludis as 

 distinct sub-species, and leave it for further enquiry to determine their 

 real specific identity or otherwise. Lucens is treated as a distinct 

 species by Freyer and Herrich-Schaffer, but by Guenee, as a variety 

 of nictitans. In this he is followed by Newman (' British Moths,' p. 

 281), and Staudinger, in his ' Catalogue,' adopts the same view. Dr. 

 Staudinger says of it (comparing it with nictitans) : " major, mac. 

 renif. alba aut rufa." 



The type of lucens is figured by Freyer, pi. 468, figs. 3-4, both of 

 which are females, of which, I presume, fig. 3, must be looked upon 

 as the type. I have made the following notes of Freyer's figures : 

 " Fig. 3. . . Anterior wings reddish ochreous, with two red stigmata ; 

 a dark shade passing from the costa, between the stigmata, to the 

 inner margin ; a double abbreviated black line at the base, followed by 

 three very fine black lines before the orbicular ; two fine black lines just 

 beyond the reriiform, with a slaty grey band at some distance from, but 

 parallel to, the hind margin." "Fig. 4. .. Strongly red specimen, 

 with white reniform." Herrich-Schaffer's figs. 285-288 (by error 85- 

 88), are very strongly- marked specimens, with a large amount of vari- 

 ability in the colour of the reniform, and very strongly reticulated, 

 and therefore showing up all the main characteristics of lucens as 

 exhibited in our British specimens. By far the finest specimens that 

 have as yet come under my notice, are those captured by Messrs. Collins 

 and Tunstall on Rixton Moss ; I also have specimens from Shoeburyness, 

 Deal, and Lostock (Bolton), Freshwater (Isle of Wight) and the east 

 coast of Ireland, but only very few specimens, except from Rixton 

 Moss, where all the so-called nictitans appear to be lucens. The princi- 

 pal sub-varieties, so far as my series exhibits the variation, run 

 somewhat parallel to those of nictitans, although some specimens are 

 very strange in appearance. . These are : 



a. var. pallida, mihi. Of a pale greyish coloration with a faint 

 suspicion of reddish in the ground colour, with white reniform (pallida- 

 albo). Sub-var. pallida-flavo, with yellow reniform. My specimens 

 have come from Rixton Moss. 



/3. var. grisea, mihi. Of a greyish-ochreous coloration, strongly 

 irrorated at the base, slightly reddish in central area, the reniform with 

 the inner line, and therefore broad as in nictitans, otherwise more like 

 paludis var. grisea ; the reniform white (grisea-albo). Subvar. with 

 reniform yellow grisea-flavo. My specimens came from Rixton Moss, 

 Lostock and Wicklow. 



y. var. rufa, mihi. Of a clear, bright red colour, reticulated as in 

 the former, with white reniform = rufa-albo ; with yellow reniform 

 rufa-flavo. I have no specimens of vars. pallida, grisea, or rufa, with 

 deep red reniform as in the type. My specimens have come from 

 Shoeburyness, Deal, and Freshwater (Isle of Wight). 



