138 VARIETIES OF NOCTTLB 



' British Moths,' p. 297, is only an extreme variety of this species. 

 Haworth's three varieties are all based on the character of the mark, 

 which joins the transverse lines, and which is situated directly under 

 the stigmata. The form in which this mark is absent he calls lunato- 

 strigata, from the lunar mark in connection with the outer striga being 

 the principal character ; the form in which this mark is a simple hook he 

 calls unca, and that in which it forms an x-like mark, he calls x- noia ^ a ' 

 A pale silvery-grey form with distinct undulating transverse lines, 

 but without any of the characteristic longitudinal marks and dashes, 

 was captured at S. Anne's-on-Sea. It differs from the var. gueneei, in 

 not having the longitudinal marks and dashes of that var., and from 

 most of the other vars. in the absence of the central band, > -like mark 

 under the stigmata, and in colour. The Continental nickerlii, Freyer, 

 H.-S., which it was supposed to resemble is a somewhat ochreous 

 species with a fairly dark central area. The hind wings of testacea 

 vary from pure white to grey, those of the $ 's generally being darker. 

 The dots on the extreme hind margin also vary, and are frequently 

 absent. The following is an attempt to tabulate the named varieties : 

 1. Pale greyish- white, with no darker markings whatever = var. 



obsoleta. 

 2. Pale greyish- white, some of the markings indistinct = var. 



gueneei. 



3. Ashy-grey, with distinct markings = var. cinerea. 

 4. Blackish-grey, with indistinct markings = var. nigrescens. 

 5. Brownish or brownish grey, with well-developed central band 



the type. 

 6. Greyish, tinged with reddish, or brown ; striga beyond reniform 



composed of lunules, but no mark under stigmata = var. lunato- 



strigata. 

 7. Greyish, tinged with red or brown ; longitudinal hook-shaped 



mark under stigmata = var. unca. 

 8. Like unca, but the longitudinal mark ^-shaped = var. \-notata. 



a. var. obsoleta, mihi. Of a pale ochreous-grey colour, with all 

 the lines, markings and stigmata still paler. This is an extreme pale 

 unicolorous form, and seems excessively rare. I have specimens taken 

 in Deal, and Mr. Percy Russ has sent it to me from Sligo ; I have also 

 a specimen closely resembling this obsolete form from Mr. Kobson, at 

 Hartlepool ; and Mr. Porritt, writing to me some time since, states : 

 " A pale yellowish form occurs near Huddersfield " (in litt.). 



(3. var. gueneei, Dbdy. There does not seem to be the slightest 

 doubt that this is anything but a variety of testacea of an extremely 

 pale ground colour, as in var. obsoleta, but differing from that variety 

 in having most of the characteristic markings of testacea rather more 

 distinctly marked, owing to the paler ground colour ; otherwise there 

 appears to be no difference certainly no specific difference between 

 the variety and testacea. The original description of Mr. Doubleday 

 is transcribed verbatim into Newman's ' British Moths,' (p. 297), 

 together with notes on its occurrence. Mr. Doubleday writes that 

 Guenee stated it to be his var. A (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 182). If 

 properly worked, I believe testacea would in many districts furnish a 

 fair proportion of gueneei. Staudinger, in his ' Catalog ' says of it : 

 " Al. ant. unicolor, nigro alboque irroratis." Mr. Vine of Brighton, 



