62 VARIETIES OF NOCTU^J 



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

 albido cinerascentibus : anticis subnebulosis, posticis nigro bimaculatis " 

 (' Sy sterna Naturae,' xiith, 856). It is essentially a south and central 

 European species occurring in " Germany (except the north) ; 

 Hungary ; Kussia (south and central) ; Gaul (south and central) ; 

 Italy (north) and England (south)," according to Dr. Staudinger 

 (' Catalog,' p. 98). Humphrey and Westwood write of this species : 

 " This fine species measures two inches in the expanse of the fore 

 wings, which are of a pale buff-coloured grey, minutely speckled ; 

 the fore margin, with about ten dark oblique dashes, an oblong, oval 

 chestnut-coloured patch towards the base, resting upon a dentate striga, 

 preceding the stigmata, which are large and pale coloured, a very large 

 supplemental one being placed behind the anterior one ; beyond the 

 stigmata, is a curved and crenated striga of a brown colour, edged 

 with pale tint, and followed by a few dark dots on the veins, and 

 a waved interrupted submarginal striga. The hind wings are also 

 pale, with two large dark patches, one in the middle and one near the 

 anal angle. I believe this insect still remains unique in the British 

 Museum, the specimen having been taken near Bristol. Boisduval 

 gives August as the time of its appearance in the perfect state. The 

 caterpillar, as figured by Hiibner, is grey, with longitudinal dusky and 

 whitish lines, each segment with two oval patches, each bearing a 

 spiracle ; the hind part of the body with two conical protuberances : 

 it feeds on elm " (< British Moths,' p. 186 ; PI. xxxix., fig. 10). It is 

 also figured by Curtis (' British Ent.,' pi. 177) and Wood (<Ind. Ent.,' 

 pi. xiii., fig. 291). 



Dichonia, Hb. (Agriopis, Bdv.), aprilina, Linn. 



Guene'e says : " There has been extreme confusion between this 

 species and DiphtJiera (Momd) orion, owing to the fact that the 

 Linnaaan description applies to both. Authors have been about 

 equally divided in opinion, but the insect which still remains in the 

 Linnasan cabinet dispels all doubt. Sepp's figures are veritable 

 masterpieces in drawing and colouring " (< Noctuelles,' vol. vi., p. 59). 

 I only know of one variety, that in which the central space between 

 the complete basal and the subterminal lines forms a black band, 

 broken only on the costa and a small space between the orbicular and 

 claviform. There is considerable variation in the amount of black 

 and in the depth of the green, but so-called white and yellow varieties 

 of this species appear generally to be due to exposure or to the action 

 of ammonia or cyanide of potassium. The Linnasan description is : 

 " Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alis deflexis : superioribus virentibus, 

 fascia maculisque atris : postice punctis trigonis " (' Systema Natures,' 

 xth., 514). Newman says: "The fore wings are pale green, 

 ornamented with black and white markings, and black markings often 

 forming something like a median band ; the discoidal spots are 

 distinct, and always white, with green centres, bounded with black " 

 (< British Moths,' pp. 402-403). 



a. var. virgata, mini. I first became acquainted with this 

 beautiful variety through the kindness of Dr. Chapman, who gave me 

 a Hereford specimen. Since then I have seen specimens captured by 

 Mr. Mason of Clevedon, and Mr. Hodges informs me of specimens 



