112 VARIETIES OF NOCTtlJE 



stand three transverse series of dark dots, the central one being clearer. 

 The hind wings have a dark brown margin and a dark hmule " ( Natur- 

 geschichte ' &c., pp. 515-5 16). In this species the quadrate spot between 

 the stigmata is usually joined to the spot beyond the orbicular, although 

 frequently they are not thus joined. Guende writes : " Jtis nearer to 

 c-nigrum than to triangulum and rhomboidea. Its distinctive characters 

 are the same as for triangulum, except the following differences : 

 " Superior wings narrower, of a dark violet-brown ; subterminal line 

 almost absent ; reniform spot normal, having in its centre a grey C ; 

 inferior wings ochreous, with a darker lunule and outer border " 

 (< Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 329). 



Noctua, Linn., stigmatica, Hb. 



This species, which is generally known in Britain by Treitschke's 

 name rhomboidea. has two very distinct forms. The first is red- brown 

 = the type, the second is dark purple-brown = tristigma, Stephens. 

 Hiibner's figures may be described as : " $ . Anterior wings of a 

 bright red-brown colour, with a dark quadrate spot between the stig- 

 mata." " . Anterior wings brownish-ochreous, with two dark 

 spots, one, between the stigmata, the other, beyond the orbicular ; an 

 oval black spot under the orbicular. Posterior wings, alike in both 

 sexes, of an ochreous-brown colour " (' Sammlung europ. Schmet.' &c., 

 figs. 470-47 1J. The rhomboidea of Treitschke is also the typical form. 

 His diagnosis is : " Noctua alis anticis rubro-brunneis, macula rhom- 

 boidea alterave triangulari fusco nigris" (' Die Schmet.' &c., vol. v., 1st 

 part, p. 231). Of this species Guenee writes: "The distinctive 

 characters of this species are : ' Wings violet-brown, the abbreviated 

 basal line without an adherent black spot ; the orbicular rounded at 

 the bottom; the elbowed line ill-developed ; subterminal line ochreous, 

 indistinct, very wavy, preceded by a brown shade ; equally developed 

 throughout and without apical spots. Inferior wings of a very dark 

 brown ' " (< Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 330). 



a. var. tristigma, St. This variety is thus treated in Humphrey and 

 Westwood's ' British Moths,' p. 129: "It has much of the character 

 and appearance of Graphiphora brunnea, the fore wings and body being 

 of a dark rich purplish-brown colour varied with strigse as in that 

 species ; close to the base of the wing is a black spot of variable form 

 and size, another black patch is placed immediately before the basal 

 stigma and extends backwards, and there is a third rhomboidal spot of 

 the same colour between the stigmata, both of which are of a brown 

 colour, thus differing from G. brunnea ; beyond the second stigma is a 

 narrow and much curved pale striga, followed by a broader, irregular 

 dark one, the succeeding space being of the ground colour of the wings, 

 minutely speckled with ochre colour. The hind wings are pale grey- 

 brown with the hind margin darker; the cilia of all the wings are 

 rosy-brown. Mr. Humphrey has observed that the anterior tarsi are 

 annulated with black and white, whereas they are light brown in 

 Qr&pkipkora bruunea, with the last joint black." This rich, dark 

 purplish-brown variety is the form that has been captured during the 

 last few years by Mr. Holland at Beading. 



Noctua, Linn., brunnea, Fab. 



This is a beautiful and variable species, but the variation is diffi- 

 cult to deal with. There are a bright red form and a dark purplish-brown 



