4 VAkiE'fltis oft 



lata nigra" ('Die Schmet.' &c., p. 269). In the general variation of 

 this species there is little to record, but I would call attention to the 

 peculiar way in which the strangely-marked reniform has its lower 

 border frequently continued along the median nervure towards the 

 base. There is also frequently a trace of the oblique pale mark, so 

 characteristic in the centre of the wing of certain species of the genus 

 Hadena, e.g., atriplicis, which suggests its affinity to certain moths in 

 that mixed-up genus. As a matter of fact, Staudinger only separates 

 this species from atriplicis by the latest addition to our imported 

 species, Prodenia littoralis. It is interesting to note the peculiar way 

 in which the nn-Hke mark, generally incomplete, is formed in this 

 species. In the species of Apamea &c. where it occurs, it is a 

 development of the claviform. In Cleoceris mminalis it starts on the 

 elbowed line and reaches back to the central shade. In this species both 

 marks are developed and unite to form the complete HH-like mark. I 

 would only add that the empyrea of Hiibner is a very differently coloured 

 insect to ours which = the flammea of Esper. His figure 63 is of a 

 pale ochreous-brown, with the basal and central areas, as far as the 

 elbowed line, except a narrow edge on the inner margin, blackish ; 

 outline of orbicular and whole of reniform, ochreous ; a blue mark 

 under the reniform and some blue scales along the inner margin. 

 Whether varieties of this species occur, I do not know ; I have never 

 seen one. 



Euplexia, St., lucipara, Linn. 



This is another invariable species, of which I have never seen the 

 semblance of a variety, and Guenee says : " I see scarcely any differ- 

 ence between European and exotic specimens " (' Noctuelles,' vol. vi., 

 p. 69). The central triangular patch, much less often than in P. meti- 

 culosa, has its sides meet on the inner margin, the two lines generally 

 reaching the margin at some distance apart. I have only one speci- 

 men out of a long series which absolutely does so. The space beyond 

 the outer line which bounds the dark central patch, is sometimes a 

 little lighter, sometimes darker, but there is no constancy. The reni- 

 form, too, varies slightly, sometimes being entirely pale, sometimes 

 with a dark central shade. The Linneean description of the type is as 

 follows : <4 Noctua spirilinguis cristata : alis purpurascentibus : fascia 

 nigra macula postica flava " (' Sy sterna Naturae,' xth., p. 518). 



Aplecta, Gn. 



Guenee says of the species in this genus : " They are remarkable 

 for the size of the stigmata and for the generally oblong form of their 

 wings. The greater number of them have the abdomen crested, but 

 this character, generally a very good generic one, is useless in this 

 genus, for the most closely allied species are alternately with or with- 

 out. They have the ordinary manners of the Hadenidce and present 

 few varieties " (' Noctuelles,' vol. vi., p. 74). The genus would not have 

 presented many varieties to us a few years ago, but we now know its 

 species to be fairly variable. One of the most interesting particulars 

 is, that purely melanic specimens occur in two species, nebulosa and 

 occultdy out of our five British ones in the genus, whilst prasina cer- 

 tainly attempts to follow in a similar direction. The development of 

 a glaucous coloration in advena and tincta is very remarkable, and in 





