THE BRITISH NOCTU^E AND THEIR 

 VARIETIES. 



Class : NOCTU^E, Linn. 



II. Sub-Class : GENUINE, Gn. 



5. Family : Orthosidce, Gn. 



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Orrhodia, Hb. (Glcea, St.). 



I HE first two species in this genus offer an almost parallel instance 

 to Cmpidia psi and tridens in the difficulty with which they 

 are distinguished, but like those species, the larvae show certain points 

 of distinction, which have been worked out by Dr. Chapman (' Entom. 

 Mo. Mag.,' xxvi., p. 86). The essential superficial differences between 

 vaccmii and ligula (spadicea), consist in the broader wings of the former, 

 the more pointed apex, the more concave outer margin, the generally 

 darker ground colour, and the more or less developed pale subterminal 

 band in the latter. There are, nevertheless, certain specimens, pre- 

 sumably of the former species, which present in different examples, 

 and sometimes in the same example, the different points which charac- 

 terise the latter, and small unicolorous specimens of vaccmii may easily 

 be confounded with ligula (spadicea) even by the most careful observers. 

 Of this genus Guenee writes: "The species in the genus Cerastis 

 (= Orrhodia, Hb.), have many varieties strongly different from the 

 type, whilst on the other hand, the species are very nearly allied to 

 each other. This genus requires, therefore, a deep study, a knowledge 

 of the earlier stages being absolutely indispensable. Without this 

 one may easily take, for distinct species (as many authors have done), 

 certain varieties of vaccinii or of erythrocephala, whilst he may not dis- 

 tinguish spadicea from the former species or veronicce from the 

 second " (< Noctuelles,' vol. v., p. 378). 



Orrhodia, Hb., vaccinii, Linn. 



This is a very variable species, the ground colour being in some 

 specimens almost yellow, in others, bright red, whilst in others, it is 

 of a dark red. There is also considerable difference in the intensity 

 of the dark transverse markings on the wing, and this produces a great 

 deal of variety in the superficial markings or marblings present. In 

 some species, too, the central area of the wing is strongly marked with 

 blackish, whilst another character is noticeable in the nervures being 

 sometimes excessively pale. On the other hand, the wings are fre- 

 quently of a distinct .unicolorous hue with no defined markings. 

 Guenee says of this species : " Superior wings of a dull yellow, tinged 

 with reddish at the base, on the costa and in the terminal space, and 

 spotted with the same colour on the disc, with the nervures and the 

 subterminal space of the ground colour. Median lines distinct, waved 

 and toothed, pale, lined with darker, parallel except the lower part 



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