72 VARIETIES OF 



only the Hadenidce followed the Apamidce. Guenee writes of the 

 genus : " The imagines differ, as one might well suppose, in so 

 numerous a genus. The greater part are distinguishable at a glance 

 by the subterminal line broken into a W or M, and a spot, paler than 

 the ground colour, which is placed under the reniform and divided 

 inferiorly into two sharp teeth." Guenee then gives a short resume 

 of the six groups into which he sub-divides the genus, and adds : 

 " All the species of this genus have the same habits. They are 

 most frequently found on trees, in woods or by road-sides. Their 

 larvae inhabit our gardens, but it is very rarely that they increase 

 sufficiently to cause much damage. Even oleracea, in spite of its name, 

 is not usually very abundant, and dcntina, the next most common 

 species, usually only destroys useless plants" (* Noctuelles,' vol. vi., 

 p. 83). Protea is placed by Continental lepidopterists in the genus 

 Dryobota, atriplicis in Trachea and rectilinea in Hyppa. I do not my- 

 self consider that the latter has any very close affinities with those 

 species with which it is grouped, in spite of its superficial resemblance 

 to genista. Perhaps one of the most remarkable facts in connection 

 with this group, is the extensive variation in the larva? compared 

 with the comparative absence of variation in the imagines. The pecu- 

 liar glaucous tendency in northern specimens, which was especially 

 noted in Agrotis subrosea, A. Jiyperborea and Pachnobia rubricosa, is 

 exhibited in this genus in pisi and probably in oleracea, whilst Hyppa 

 rectilinea shows our local tendency to a darker coloration in a marked 

 degree, the type being practically entirely slaty-grey, without the 

 dark reddish band so characteristic of our British specimens. It is 

 perhaps worthy of notice that trifolii, which is with us, such a com- 

 paratively constant species, should have received in America several 

 names for the different racial forms it appears to develop there. 



Hadena, Och., porpliyrea, Esp. 



This very beautiful and rare British species is not at all uncommon 

 on the Continent, and I have recently compared a considerable number 

 of specimens without noticing any striking points of variation. The 

 type is thus described : " Alis superioribus rufo-f uliginosis, inaculis, 

 stigmatibus, fasciaque postica dilutioribus, nigro inductis ; inferi- 

 oribus nigricantibus, atro - fasciatis, subtus puncto atro " (* Die 

 Schmet. in Abbild.' p. 465). The figure to which this refers 

 is of a rich reddish colour, but with none of the purplish tinge, 

 which is so characteristic in all the Continental and also in the 

 few British specimens I have seen. I am quite unable to state 

 whether there are tv\ forms of this species, one without the purplish 

 tinge = porphyrea, Esp., the other with such a tinge = satura, 

 Hb., but Hiibner's fig. 75 has the purplish coloration. Of the early 

 occurrence of this species in Britain, Mr. Stainton writes : " A 

 specimen of Hadena satura is in the collection of the Rev. Mr. Bird, 

 who attracted it by light in Oxfordshire; Mr. Doubleday has a 

 specimen from Cambridgeshire. It is nearly half as large again 

 as adufita, dark varieties of which are continually being taken from 

 satura" (< Ent. Ann.,' 1855, pp. 12-13). The species has since been 

 recorded from Newcastle-on-Tyne, Kent (twice), Cambridge " Fens " 

 (twice), Aberdeen &c, 



