IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 141 



are deep reddish-brown ; the extreme base (to the abbreviated, black 

 transverse line) paler ; the complete basal line dark red and wavy ; 

 the orbicular and reniform outlined in pale, the lower half of the 

 reniform dark ; a still darker red median shade runs from the costa to 

 the inner margin, between the stigmata ; the elbowed line indistinct, 

 the subterminal edged with paler. Hind wings grey, margin darker, 

 lun ale distinct " (' Sammlung europ. Schmet.,' fig. 165.) This dark, 

 red-brown form with a still darker median shade is fairly common. 

 My specimens of this and the following (instabilis, Esp.) have come 

 from Warrington, Pitcaple, Forres, Nottingham, Hereford, Darlington 

 and Germany. Of this variety Guenee writes: "We may consider 

 as the type, those specimens of a clear, . ferruginous-red, almost uni- 

 colorous, which form is represented very well by the excellent figure 

 of Hiibner " (' Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 350). 



i. var. instabilis, Esp. The dark unicolorous red-brown form 

 without a darker median shade is the instabilis of Esper. Of this he 

 writes : " The fore wings have less infused spots and the discoidals 

 are more distinct ; the subterminal only is pale, whilst the elbowed 

 line is bordered by streaks of black. Hind wings are dark grey with 

 a black central lunule. I have received these specimens from the 

 Tyrol." The figure referring to this description may be described 

 as : " Anterior wings dark red-brown, with the basal line black, and 

 in contact with an 8-shaped orbicular ; the reniform black, outline 

 paler ; subterminal line also paler, edged exteriorly with black " 

 (' Die Schmet. in Abbildungen ' &c., p. 496, pi. 151, fig. 3). 



K-. var. contacta, Esp. This is only a slight modification ,' of the 

 instabilis of Esper. The figure may be described as : " Anterior 

 wings dull red-brown, orbicular round, filled in with darker ; reniform 

 dark with a pale outline, the central median shade is developed in its 

 upper part, and has the appearance of a quadrate spot between the 

 orbicular and reniform, owing to the nervure, on which these stigmata 

 are placed, being pale where it joins their bases ; the subterminal line 

 pale, with black outer margin. Hind wings pale grey " (' Die Schmet. 

 in Abbildungen ' &c., pi. 151, fig. 2). Of this variety Guenee writes : 

 " It is an insignificant modification of the type (i.e., Hiibner's instabilis) t 

 in which the colour is still more uniform, and in which the ordinary 

 stigmata are well developed" ('Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 351). My 

 dullest red specimens have come from Hereford. 



A. var. angustus, Haw. The diagnosis of this variety is : " Alis 

 spadiceo fuscoque variis annulis duobus, strigaque postica fracta 

 pallidioribus obsoletisque." " Precedent! (fuscatus) nimis affinis, sed 

 alis omnino angustioribus et spadiceo magis notatis " (' Lepidoptera 

 Britannica,' p. 122). This dark reddish-black variety is not uncommon ; 

 I have a long series from different localities, including Darlington, 

 Winchfield, Morpeth, Nottingham, Hereford and Warrington. 



/z. var. fuscatus, Haw. Haworth's description is as follows : 

 " Alis nigricantibus, annulis duobus strigaque subundulata pallidis." 

 " Stigmata margine solo conspicua, anticum oblongum, posticum 

 reniforme. Alse pbsticse fuscescentes fimbria obscura saturatiore. Mas 

 magis obscurus quam femina " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 122). Of 

 this variety Guenee writes : " In this variety the ferruginous-red has 

 passed into blackish hepatic-brown, which absorbs all the markings, 

 often even the subterminal. The inferior wings are also darker, and 

 in the case of the female the lunule is sometimes absorbed." "It 



