IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 5 



and apparently better developed in some specimens than others. Some 

 specimens also appear to show a development of cuneiform streaks 

 parallel to the hind margin ; three seem to be the greatest number of 

 spots developed, but most specimens are without them. The description 

 I made of Hiibner's type figure is : " The anterior wings slaty-grey 

 marbled with darker, with a distinct white apical mark, at the end of 

 which a longitudinal red line runs to the base, the dark patch on the 

 inner margin is distinct, the outer margin also darker with a pale 

 subterminal running through it " (' Sammlung europ. Schmet.,' fig. 

 294). The arrangement of the markings in Hiibner's figure is as in 

 Newman's figure, p. 445, but the colour is not rosy as in our British 

 specimens. Of the early occurrences of this species in Britain, Mr. 

 Stainton writes : " The following notices of the capture of this insect 

 have appeared. ' Though professedly a micro-lepidopterist, I do not 

 hesitate to take any rarity that falls in my way ; therefore, being at 

 Loughton on the 16th June, and falling in with a few specimens of 

 Erastria venustula, I thought it no sin to box them. One of them, a 

 male specimen, is a perfect gem, being clouded about the base of the 

 wing with the most delicate pink imaginable. Like other Noctuidce, 

 it flies for a short time before dark, and has a habit of dropping when 

 alarmed. One of my specimens served me thus, and, getting amongst 

 the short herbage, defied all my attempts to discover it. However, I 

 carefully noted the spot where it disappeared, and, lighting my pipe, 

 ' blew a cloud ' into the grass &c., and in a minute had the satisfaction 

 of observing it issue from its retreat in the very place where I had 

 been searching' (C. Miller, 'Int.' viii., p. 99). ' Having visited 

 Loughton in search of this insect, I was so fortunate as to capture a 

 few ' (Thomas Eedle, ' Int.' viii., p. 99). ' On the 14th June, I had 

 the pleasure of capturing a female of this species ; it has fortunately 

 laid me some eggs, which have since hatched. Since then I have 

 taken several more ' (J. Bryant, ' Int.' viii., p. 107). ' Then at half- 

 past eight, venustula made its appearance, flying in pairs, one after the 

 other ' (' Int.' viii., p. 143). ' This beautiful little ToRTRix-like NOCTUA 

 has again appeared in Epping Forest. At first, either damaged or 

 retarded by excessive wet, it occurred only sparingly, but the numbers 

 gradually increased until the 24th June, when they appear to have 

 reached their zenith, one collector alone having taken about a 

 hundred ' (Edward Newman, < Zoologist,' 7108) " (< Ent. Ann.,' 1861, 

 pp. 98-99). 



Erastria, Och., fasciana, Linn. 



I fail to trace anything in the way of actual variation in a long 

 series of this species although some specimens look blacker than others. 

 The characteristic white spot at the anal angle is much more restricted 

 in some specimens, owing to a dark grey shade following the inner 

 edge of the white subterminal to the anal angle, and thus suffusing 

 the outer and lower portion. In some, this white spot absorbs the 

 subterminal and ends well-up on the outer margin towards the apex. 

 The Linna3an description of the type is : " T 'or trix fasciana alis fusco 

 cinerascentibus : fascia alba. Media. Alee superiores obscure cineras- 

 centes margine exteriore albo nigroque maculato ; fascia lata, albida, 

 recurvata. Inferiores alse nigricantes ; margine ciliari albido " (' Fauna 

 Suecica?,' p. 342). 



