124 VARIETIES OF NOCTILS! 



four transverse lines and the two discoidal spots mapped out, or, at least, 

 indicated in pale brown, grey or white." Guenee, in his l Noctuelles,' 

 vol. v., p. 179, describes the variegated form under the name of cytherea, 

 as also does Fabricius in his ' Entomologia Systematical &c., p. 57, 

 No. 157, where he writes : " Noctua cristata alis incumbentibus 

 variegatis, striga alba ; posticis flavis, margine fusco." Hiibner figures 

 a striking form in his ' Schmetterlinge,' &c., under the name of con- 

 nexa, with the red colour greatly predominating, while Esper's texta 

 (pi. 108, fig. 5) represents the most obscure forms of this species. 

 Guenee, in his ' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 179, also remarks : " One must 

 breed this species if one wishes to have fine specimens, for so fleeting 

 is the colour, that, even on emergence, it appears as if faded." Taking, 

 therefore, the variegated form as the type, I think it advisable to 

 refer simply to the two forms named by Hiibner and Esper. 



a. connexa, Hb. Anterior wings with the base reddish brown to 

 the first transverse basal line ; between the first and second basal lines 

 a broad black line from the costa to the inner margin. A pale grey 

 line beyond the reniform, beyond which to the hind margin the 

 colour is blackish grey ; a wavy, red transverse line runs from 

 costa to inner margin. Hind wings pale yellow, with brown margin 

 and distinct nervures (Hiibner's ' Schmetterlinge,' &c., fig. 548). 



P. texta, Esp. Esper, ' Die Schmet. in Abbildungen,' &c., pi. 108, 

 fig. 5, figures a variety of matura under this name, of which the fol- 

 lowing is the description : " Male. Anterior wings almost unicolorous, 

 dull purplish brown, with a dark streak parallel to the costa from base 

 to reniform, and two dull basal lines; no orbicular, but distinct 

 reniform ; a dull wavy line parallel to hind margin. Hind wings 

 yellowish, with a dull purplish grey hind margin." Although this 

 description would scarcely apply to any of our specimens of matura, 

 there is no doubt that Esper had before him an obscurely marked 

 specimen of this species. I think this name should therefore, stand 

 for all specimens of the obscure form. 



Neuronia, Hb., popularis, Fab. 



This species was described more than once by Fabricius. His 

 description, taken from the < Entomologia Systematica emendata et 

 aucta,' &c., p. 484, No. 240, is as follows : " Bombyx* alis incumben- 

 tibus fuscis albo venosis posticis albidis. Statura prsecedentis 

 (graminis). Antenna? pectinate, f usca3. Alee anticse fuscas venis albis. 

 In medio maculae ordinariaB pupilla obscuriore. Versus apicem striga. 

 e maculis parvis, sagittatis, atris. Posticae albida? margine obscuriore 

 subtusque puncto central i, fusco." Haworth, in the ' Lepidoptera 

 Britannica,' p. 117, describes the species under the name of popularius ; 

 whilst Hiibner figures a form tinged with pink under the name of 

 graminis. The variation of this species appears to be confined within 

 very narrow limits. In some specimens the orbicular is large, and 

 formed of a dark centre surrounded by white or ochreous, in others 

 it is a pale spot, while in others it is almost obsolete ; the reniform 

 also varies in colour and size. The transverse lines are sometimes 

 white, sometimes ochreous, sometimes tinged with pink, as in Hiibner's 



It must .be borne in mind that the early lepidopterists classed all our 

 with pectinated antennae as BOMBYCES. 



