6 VAUIET1ES OF NOCTILJE 



chestnut black colour and shining. Some specimens have nearly all 

 the markings obliterated, except the black patch in the outer stigma, 

 and a row of reddish lunulated spots, but very indistinct towards the 

 apical margin, as in our figure 7. Mr. Haworth's description and Mr. 

 Curtis's figure represent a strong variety in which the two basal strigse 

 are more distinct, the stigmata reddish, followed by a pale undulated 

 and much curved striga, several minute white dots on the costa, and a 

 pale ochre subapical bar with six or seven ferruginous spots. But the 

 character of the species appears to consist in the difference of the fore 

 wings which have the apex more produced and pointed. The hind 

 wings, are ochreous-brown with a darker fascia and the cilia ochre. 

 It is a comparatively rare species, which appears in the perfect state 

 later in the season than G. vaccinii " (' British Moths,' p. 149). 



8. var. spadicea, Haw. This is the most unicolorous form of the 

 species, being of a deep reddish- black with obsolete markings. 

 Haworth's description is : " Noctua abdomine depresso, alis f usco- 

 spadiceis vix nebulosis, stigmate postico basi fusco." " Subspadicea 

 alcB anticse fere unicolores, at paululum fusco subnebulosas, costa pos- 

 tice punctis paucis pallidioribus ut in plurimis " (' Lepidoptera 

 Britannica,' pp. 233-234). Staudinger renamed the variety subspadicea, 

 although I do not see his reason. He also extends the description 

 very much, and writes : " Eufa sive brunnea, sa3pius albido retieu- 

 lata "(' Catalog,' p. 119). This is also the polita of Duponchel, vol. 

 vi., p. 124. This variety has been much confused with 0. vaccinii ', 

 var. unicolor, and is so by Messrs. Humphrey and Westwood, who 

 figure the latter as the spadicea of Haworth, although they quite cor- 

 rectly refer their figure to vaccinii as a variety (ante, p. 2). 



Orrhodia, Hb. (Cerastis, Tr.), erythrocephala, Fab. 



This generally rare species in Britain, varies considerably on the 

 Continent, although the greater number of specimens are either of a 

 whitish-grey = var. pallida, reddish-ochreous = crythrocepliala (the 

 type) or purplish-brown and more mottled = var. ylabra. All the 

 different forms are recorded from the south coast of Britain. Fabricius' 

 description of the type is as follows : " Noctua cristata alis deflexis 

 ferrugineis cinereo fuscoque undatis : macula posteriori nigro punctata, 

 capite rufo." " Ala? rufescentes cinereo fuscoque undatas. Costa 

 baseos cinerea. In medio maculae ordinaria?, quarum posterior punctis 

 aliquot marginalibus atris. Posticaa fuscse margine ciliato cinereo. 

 Subtue anticae limbo cinereo, posticse cinerea3 puncto strigaque undata 

 fusca " (< Mantissa,' p. 176). 



a. var. pallida, mihi. The anterior wings are of a pale whitish- 

 grey, without the reddish or ochreous of the type, the transverse lines 

 and stigmata being indistinct, although the lower part of the reniform 

 is generally dark. This form appears to be as common as the type on 

 the Continent. 



ft. var. ylabra, Hb. Hiibner's figure of this variety may be 

 described thus : " Anterior wings of a dark purplish-brown, with two 

 pale double basal lines ; stigmata outlined in yellowish ; a pale shade 

 along the costa from complete basal line to reniform ; a transverse 

 ochreous line from the reniform to inner margin ; elbowed line 

 ochreous ; subterminal ochreous (almost band-like). Posterior wings 



