TSfi fiRfTlSJi ISLAtffcg. 91 



The following is an attempt to classify some of the forms of this 

 species : 



1. Pale grey, with a reddish-tinge, markings distinct = var. pallida. 



2. Bright red (sometimes strongly tinged with ochreous), markings 



distinct = sub-var. distincta-rufa. 

 2a. Bright red, markings obsolete except subterminal = var. rufa. 



3. Red-brown, mottled with grey, markings distinct = pisi, Linn. 

 3a. Eed-brown, almost unicolorous except subterminal = splendems, 



St. 



4. Purplish-red or -brown, markings distinct = sub-var. distincta- 



scotica. 



4a. Purplish-red or -brown, markings obsolete except subterminal = 

 var. scotica, St. 



5. Suffused blackish var. sujfusa. 



a. var. pallida, mihi. This is the palest form of pisi with which I 

 am acquainted. The ground colour is of a pale grey with a reddish 

 tinge, the transverse markings distinct, the subterminal pale, and show- 

 ing a tendency to blend with the ground colour. I have a strange speci- 

 men of this pale form in which a dark fascia replaces the complete 

 basal line, and with the other markings obsolete except the pale sub- 

 terminal. The form is very rare, I believe, in Britain. It would 

 appear to be the var. B of Guenee of which he writes : " All the 

 markings are present, but they are very pale, and the ground colour 

 itself is of a whitish-ochreous with the subterminal line white. The 

 inferior wings also very pale " (' Noctuelles,' vi., p. 102). Guenee 

 adds that his specimen of this variety came from New York. 



p. var. rufa, mihi. This, with sub-var. distincta-rufa, is the most 

 common form in the South of England. Var. rufa has the anterior 

 wings of a bright red coloration (sometimes tinted strongly with 

 ochreous) the stigmata, central shade &c., more or less obsolete, the 

 whole insect being almost unicolorous except the pale and distinct sub- 

 terminal line. Sub-var. distincta-rufa. This sub-variety is of the 

 same ground colour as rufa, but it has a distinct central shade, paler 

 basal lines and angulated line, and well-marked stigmata, as well as 

 the characteristic pale subterminal, so that it has altogether a very 

 mottled appearance. The most northerly part of England whence I 

 have seen this bright red variety is Warrington, but it is very rare 

 there. 



y. var. splendens, St. This is the more unicolorous form with a 

 reddish-brown ground colour like the type. Stephens' type came from 

 Cumberland and is described as : " Alis anticis rufo-fuscis, strigis 

 tribus saturatioribus, externa albo terminata, stigmatibus pallidioribus." 

 He also adds : " Kather less than pisi which it resembles. Anterior 

 wings reddish-brown with three darker transverse strigaB, the exterior 

 (subterminal) terminated by an interrupted white line ; the stigmata 

 rather small, pale reddish-ash, the anterior immaculate, the posterior 

 with dusky clouds. Posterior wings ochreous-ash, with the margin, 

 an interrupted transverse striga, central lunule and nervures dusky " 

 ('Illus. Haust.' p. 192). It is most closely allied to Linnaeus' pisi, but 

 is without the paler marblings. It is Haworth's var. /3 of which he 

 writes : " Alis anticis fuscis striga postica interrupta alba ; posticis 



