IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 53 



/3. var. cnneigera, St. This variety is described as follows: 

 " Anterior wings of a reddish-brown colour, with the three stigmata 

 distinct, but with the transverse strigre rather obscure, and a row of 

 acutely wedge-shaped brown spots within the apical margin. There 

 is also a brown triangular-shaped spot before, and another, square in 

 shape, between the stigmata. The hind wings are white, with the 

 margin and veins dusky. The $ is more griseous in colour, without 

 the brown spots before and between the stigmata, the hind wings are 

 more dusky, the stigmata are extremely variable in shape, the anterior 

 one varying from triangular to circular " (Humphrey and Westwood's 

 1 British Moths,' p. 120). This is very closely allied to the former, 

 but the markings are less distinct ; like it, however, it has no pale 

 costal streak. It is also well distributed. 



y. var. albilinea, Haw. Haworth's diagnosis is as follows : "Alis 

 rufescentibus stigmatibus tribus strigaque postica cuneorurn nigrorum, 

 lineaque alba longitudinali." " Praecedenti (var. valligera) nimis 

 affinis. Differt in coloribus saturatioribus, et praecipue in linea rec- 

 tissima tenuissima alba, a basi alae per basin stigmatum aliaque 

 albida crassior etiam a basi alae per apices stigmatum. Macula 

 cuneata atra pone, alteraque tetragona inter stigmata albida medio 

 cinerea. Stigma teliforme margine atro conspicuum " (' Lepidoptera 

 Britannica,' p. 223). This is a very abundant variety of trttici in. some 

 localities, more especially on the coast near Sligo, where the bright 

 red forms have been obtained by Mr. Percy Euss in very considerable 

 numbers. The specimens, however, are generally small from this 

 locality. A fair percentage of the specimens obtained by Mr. Baxter at 

 St. Anne's-on-Sea (Lancashire) are also of this form. I have a long 

 series of large, well-coloured specimens from Deal. This is undoubt- 

 edly Hiibner's aquilina (< Sammlung europaischer Schmet.', fig. 536), 

 which has : " The anterior wings dark red-brown, with costa white 

 from base to the renif orm, median nervure also white ; stigmata pale ; 

 two dark dashes on the costa are the commencement of the basal 

 streak ; claviform nearly black. Hind wings white with a darker 

 outer margin." I have also had this variety sent me for aquilina by 

 Continental lepidopterists. 



8. var. lineolata, Haw. Haworth's diagnosis of this variety is as 

 follows : u Alis rufescente subfuscis stigmatibus tribus, strigaque 

 postica lineolarum nigrarum." " Praecedenti (albilinea) simillima, at 

 satis differt longitudine stigmatis teliformis, et potissimum, in striga 

 postica nee cuneorum circiter septem, sed lineolarum nigrarum con- 

 fertarum, circiter duodecim " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 223). 

 Bentley writes of this variety : " Anterior wings reddish-brown with 

 a white streak upon the costa extending from the base beyond the 

 middle ; the central nervure of the wings is white, between the stig- 

 mata is a 'quadrate black spot, the teliform stigma small and black ; 

 near it is a pale transverse striga ; on the posterior margin is a row of 

 wedge-shaped spots and a white waved striga. Posterior wings cine- 

 reous with dusky markings " (' Entom.,' vol. i.). This is so close to 

 the last that it really cannot be considered as a distinct variety. 

 Haworth points out above, only two minor and unstable characters by 

 which it may be distinguished. 



