8 VARIETIES OF NOCTUJE 



type is described by Linnaeus as having a white reniform. There are 

 two other forms, one with yellow (flavo), and one with red (rufo), 

 which terms might be prefixed to the Linnasan name for distinction. 

 This grey type form is comparatively rare in Britain, our forms being 

 reddish. Guenee describes the species as " reddish-yellow." Taking 

 therefore the dark greyish fuscous forms as the type, I would call 

 our redder form var. rufescens. 



a. var. rufescens, inihi. This is the ordinary British form, with 

 the anterior wings of a red ground colour. There are (3) sub- varieties, 

 cdbo, flavo and rufo in which the reniform is white, yellow and red 

 respectively. I would prefix these terms to the varietal names. Sub- 

 \ar.jlavo-rufescens would be Guene'e's var. A of which he writes: 

 " The reniform stigma of a saffron-yellow colour " (' Noctuelles,' vol. 

 v., p. 386). 



/3. var. brunnea, Lampa. Lampa simply describes his variety 

 as : "Framv. grundfarg rodbrun" ('Entom. Tidskrift,' 1885, p. 76). 

 This probably refers to the darkest of our red forms, whilst my var. 

 rufescens inclines to the distinctly red or reddish-ochreous forms. 



Hoporina, Bdv., croceago, Fab. 



This beautiful species is very constant in its tints and markings, 

 a variety being most unusual among our British specimens, although 

 a darker form occasionally occurs in some localities. A pale straw 

 coloured form is also recorded from the Tyrol, Corsica, Andalusia &c. 

 Fabricius' description of the type is as follows : " Noctua cristata, alis 

 deflexis ferrugineis strigis fuscis, costa albo punctata." " Alas anticaa 

 ferrugineaa strigis tribus obscuris. Costa punctis duobus baseos 

 quatuorque in medio niveis. Posticae albidas puncto strigaque undata 

 sanguineis " (' Mantissa,' p. 159). 



a. var. Corsica, Mab. Of this variety M. P. Mabelle writes: 

 " This species (croceago} which never varies on the Continent, at least 

 so far as can be judged from different authors and from what I have 

 observed myself, has presented to me a remarkable variation which 

 merits being described." M. Mabelle then describes it as follows : 

 " Varietas alis superioribus pallide flavescentibus fere subroseis ad 

 margines nigro-pulverosis ; lineis nigris nitide scriptis ; pagina in- 

 feriore albescente cum pedibus vix flavo extrorsum tinctis." " The 

 superior wings are of a whitish-yellow, slightly reddish and sprinkled 

 with brown atoms. The markings are the same as in the varieties, 

 with orange wings, but more strongly marked. The undersides are 

 white &c. Otherwise the var. is like the individuals we get in France. 

 I have met with a specimen each year " ( f Ann. Soc. France,' 1867, p. 

 641). I have not seen a British specimen of this var., although I dare 

 say such exist, for Humphrey and Westwood write: " Varieties 

 occur in the intensity of the ground colour of the fore wings, and in 

 the depth and extent of their markings," and again " the fore wings 

 are of an orange or yellowish red colour " (' British Moths,' p. 211). 



ft. var. fiilvago, Hb. This is a darker form than the type. 

 Hiibner writes: "Resembles oo in size and shape, as well as in 

 markings. The back of the thorax and the upper surface of the fore 

 wings are pale tile colour ; the central area of the wings suffused pale 

 brown, and marked with divers brownish-red rings, wavy lines arid 



