IN THE BfclTlSH ISLANDS. 63 



B. Ground colour fuscous. 



a. var. obsoleta-fusca, mihi. This is the clearest or most obsolete 

 variety, with the ground colour of the anterior wings of a smoky-grey 

 colour. The basal, angulated and subterminal transverse lines more 

 or less obsolete, but the stigmata distinct, the ground colour not irro- 

 rated with black scales. I have this and the following varieties from 

 many localities in England, also from the east coast of Scotland. 



/?. var. irrorata-fusca, mihi. This has the ground colour of the 

 anterior wings as in the last variety, but the whole area of the wing 

 irrorated with blackish-scales, the costal area being particularly so, 

 the basal, angulated and subterminal transverse lines distinctly 

 developed, as also are the stigmata. 



y. var. subfuscus, Haw. Haworth's description is as follows : 

 " Bombyx. Thorace cinereo atroque vario, alis f usco-griseis, stigmati- 

 bus ordinariis atris, alis posticis fuscis." " Praacedenti (clavigerus) 

 valde affinis. Alae anticae fuscae tinctura grisea, strigis fere obliteratis, 

 stigma teliforme seu tertium fusco griseum cincto atro. Stigma reni- 

 forme ad strigam posticam attingens ut in prascedente. Alas posticas 

 fuscaa lunula media saturatiore " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 114). 

 This is closely allied to the preceding, but the fuscous scales here are 

 so numerous as almost to conceal the ground colour, and the stigmata, 

 though still distinct, do not stand out conspicuously as in the paler 

 varieties. 



C. Ground colour reddish -brown. 



a. var. brunnea, mihi. The anterior wings with the ground colour 

 reddish-brown, generally more or less irrorated with fuscous scales, 

 with the transverse lines and stigmata distinct. This is very close to 

 the type, which has a pale brown ground colour, the costal area being 

 of a dark reddish-brown, giving it almost the appearance of a costal 

 streak. The sordida of Hiibner would appear to be a sub-variety of 

 var. brunnea. Hiibner's figure may be described as : " Anterior wings 

 uniform brown ; two double basal lines, darker on outside ; three 

 stigmata also outlined in darker ; elbowed line fuscous ; space outside 

 subterminal line dark grey. Hind wings dark grey, base paler " 

 (' Sammlung europaischer Schmet.,' fig. 154). It will be seen that 

 this only differs from brunnea in its dull colour and dark outer 

 margin. 



P. var. sujfusa-brunnea, mihi. This also has the ground colour of 

 a reddish-brown, but suffused with black scales, so that the 

 transverse lines and stigmata are very indistinct, owing to the' 

 suffusion. 



y. var. obscura, Freyer. This is a var. of corticea, figured and 

 described by Freyer who writes : " The ground colour is dark brown 

 with a central band." His Plate 628, figs. 1 and 2, also represent 

 this variety. Fig. 1 is a male, with " the anterior wings dark brown, 

 with an abbreviated, followed by a complete basal line, the central 

 area (including the stigmata) crossed by a blackish-brown band, ex- 

 tending from the complete basal line to the elbowed line and from the 

 costa to the inner margin ; transverse black line parallel to the hind 

 margin ; hind wings grey, paler at base, with darker nervures and 

 lunule. Fig. 2 is a female, like fig. I ( $ ), but ground colour darker, 

 with ordinary transverse lines somewhat paler " (' Neuere Beitrage ' &c., 

 p. 51, Plate 628, figs. 1-2). This variety is parallel with var. nigra- 



