44 VARIETIES OF NOCTUJE 



and three distinct stigmata, but, in addition, with a pale costa and 

 nervures. This latter character (pale longitudinal markings) gives a 

 very decided appearance, and the extreme varieties of " the pale-costa 

 group " and " the non-pale-costa group " appear so distinct, that it 

 seems almost incredible to believe that they are of the same species. 

 In each of the two above-mentioned groups, there is a great deal of 

 difference in the intensity of the markings. Some specimens are 

 without the transverse strigse, and others have the stigmata very 

 indistinct. I have some specimens, so devoid of distinct markings, 

 that they may be looked upon as practically obsolete ; the stigmata, 

 however, are less liable to suppression than the transverse strigas, in 

 both forms. Besides the above markings, there exists, normally, a 

 series (variable in number) of small wedge-shaped spots, situated on 

 the third transverse striga (counting from the base) and pointing 

 towards the base of the wing. These also are sometimes entirely 

 suppressed, but sometimes abnormally developed, thus giving a peculiar 

 lineolated appearance to the outer area of the wing. The reniform is 

 extremely variable in shape, size, and intensity of colour ; as also are 

 the reniform and claviform stigmata, but this is common to almost all 

 the Agrotidce. Eeturning now to the ground colour, the variation 

 deserves more than a passing notice. Two shades I have never seen 

 in any specimens except among those taken at Deal. These are the 

 whitish-grey and the slate or dove-coloured forms, although lilac- 

 coloured obelisca (probably tritici) were referred to (ante p. 22). The 

 palest of the white, and the most strongly dove-coloured forms are 

 magnificent specimens, and some of our leading lepidopterists, both 

 British and Continental, had never seen these beautiful forms until I 

 sent examples to them. The dove-colour, combined with red- 

 dish-brown, makes a purplish-red form which is very interesting, 

 but which is fairly widely distributed, on the Continent. There are 

 also specimens better described as purplish-grey than either of the other 

 ground colours. The fuscous or greyish-fuscous specimens are 

 probably the most common in Britain and these are often more or 

 less cinereous in appearance. These forms are also common on the 

 Continent. The ochreous-brown and red-brown groups comprise the 

 aquilina group, which, in Britain, has died a hard death as a distinct 

 species. Brown or red-brown is the prevailing colour of the Irish 

 specimens, while black or brownish-black appears to be the prevailing 

 colour in Scotland. With regard to the hind wings, there is a 

 considerable amount of variation. I have males with the hind wings 

 almost pure white, but the normal colour is pale grey, with a darker 

 hind margin, those of the females being much darker than those of 

 the males. Many of the varieties have been described by Haworth, 

 Hiibner and Stephens as distinct species. With regard to the naming 

 of these different forms as distinct species by our early authors, 

 Mr. Bentley, who, half-a-century ago, was one of the best authorities 

 on the variable species of our British Noctuce writes very sensibly in 

 the ' Entomologist,' vol. i., p. 265, where he says : " It must be 

 acknowledged that when the varieties in this genus were first named 

 by the author of ' Lepidoptera Britannica,' many of them were com- 

 paratively rare, and in some cases only unique specimens were known. 

 With such limited information it is not in the least surprising that 

 they should have been considered distinct species. The case is now 



