IK tHE BRITISH . ISLANDS. 14:5 



Caradrina, Och. 



This genus contains but very few British species, yet their closely 

 allied character causes the determination of some of them to be trouble- 

 some. C. morpheus and C. quadripunctata are the most distinct. C. 

 alsines and C. ambigua are also fairly distinct, but specimens of C. ta- 

 raxaci run both these latter very closely. There is a bright ochreous 

 form of the latter species superficially resembling C. alsines, whilst a 

 form obtained at Deal, much dusted with grey scales closely resembles 

 ambigua. In fact, the coast form of taraxaci appears to have a different 

 facies from the inland form, some of the extreme specimens, which I 

 have been accustomed to call taraxaci, and which have white hind 

 wings like ambigua, differ so much from the normal form of both these 

 species that I feel satisfied they are the superstes of Treitschke. They 

 are hardly ochreous enough for taraxaci, and the hind wings although 

 white, are hardly so clear as those of ambigua. It is probable that the 

 Sligo specimens, although much darker, are also a local form of 

 superstes. Of these, I have two specimens captured by Mr. Euss 

 (at Sligo), which appear to be named with equal propriety ambigua 

 or taraxaci, including a very dark blackish-grey form from the same 

 locality which is a great puzzle. C. ambigua is in Britain a great rarity, and 

 several species closely allied to ours, common on the Continent, are un- 

 known with us. How hopelessly the two species alsines and taraxaci 

 were formerly muddled, the following note by Mr. Bentley, published 

 in vol. i. of the 'Entomologist,' will show: " Caradrina ambigua, redactd, 

 alsines, implexa, Icevis and sordida. These varieties are taken in woods, 

 about field-edges and gardens. Var. 1. Anterior wings fuscous, with 

 two stigmata, a transverse row of black dots behind the posterior 

 stigma, and a faint striga near the posterior margin ; posterior wings 

 ashy. Var. 2. Anterior wings deep fuscous, with one obsolete trans- 

 verse striga near the posterior margin, stigmata distinct, posterior wings 

 dusky. Var. 3, ambigua. Anterior wings ashy-brown, with three 

 darker transverse strigas, the first between the stigmata, the second 

 behind the posterior stigma composed of black dots, the third undu- 

 lated near the posterior margin ; stigmata distinct with slender pale 

 markings, posterior wings ashy with dusky margins. Var. 4, redacta. 

 Similar to the last in colour but smaller, stigmata and markings more 

 indistinct. Var. 5, alsines. Anterior wings fuscous with two trans- 

 verse striga3 ; posterior stigma large and distinctly margined with 

 white. Var. 6. Anterior wings of a rusty yellowish hue, with five 

 transverse fuscous strigas, two before the anterior stigma, the third 

 between the stigmata, the fourth composed of black dots, the fifth 

 undulated ; the posterior margin distinctly dotted with black ; posterior 

 wings ashy tinged with yellow. Var. 7. Similar to the last in colour, 

 with two large fuscous spots in place of stigmata, with a strong fuscous 

 line extending from the posterior spot to the inner margin. Var. 8, 

 implexa. Anterior wings rusty or yellowish, with four fuscous trans- 

 verse strigas, the posterior striga rather more undulated. This and 

 the two preceding varieties are in the collection of Geo. Eobertson, 

 Esq., who has kindly sent me a fine series of these insects for ex- 

 amination. Var. 9, Icevis. Similar to var 5, except in the stigma, 

 which is scarcely visible. Var. 10, sordida. Eusty or reddish, with 

 two transverse fuscous strigae, approximating towards the inner mar- 



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