8 VARIETIES OF NOCTTLE 



3. Family: Anthophilidce, Bdv. 



Of this family Guene'e writes : " The imagines of this family are 

 all of the smallest size, and in this family a species of the average size of 

 a NOCTUA of our country would appear gigantic. Their bodies are 

 generally slender in proportion to their wings, so that the old authors 

 have mistaken them for Pyrales or for Geometers ; but the number and 

 the form of their palpi, the thickness of their wings, their markings and 

 appearance, the strength and shortness of their fore legs etc., quite prove 

 them true Noctuelles. They fly in broad daylight, sometimes amongst 

 the plants in marshy districts, but more often on dry hillsides exposed 

 to the sun. Instead of extending their wings in the manner of other 

 species which have, like them, a slender body, they carry them, on the 

 contrary, inclined roof wise." " The old authors knew only a small 

 number of the Anthophilidoe however, and some may still be found 

 among their Phalenidse and Tortrices, where we have found many. 

 The greater part has been recently discovered. They inhabit almost 

 all the countries in the world, and their number must necessarily be 

 augmented considerably, as their small size has caused them as yet to 

 be neglected " (' Noctuelles,' vi., pp. 233-234). In Britain, we know- 

 very little of the species in this family, only Hydrelia uncula being 

 at all common. The remaining species are most rare in Britain. 



Hydrelia, Gn., uncula, Cl. 



In the ground colour, some specimens of this species are rather 

 redder than others, but it is in the hook or unca, which takes the 

 place of the renif orm, that the greatest variation exists. This varies in 

 shape, size, and slightly in direction. In one specimen I have, it 

 almost, but not quite, reaches the pale subterminal line. The orbicular 

 exists as a longitudinal dilatation on the lower part of the pale costal 

 mark, and a striking form of variation occurs when the central 

 nervure becomes pale and joins this pale orbicular dilatation with the 

 reniform unca-mark, thus cutting off, as it were, a triangular portion 

 of the dark central area. The inner margin is generally clouded, the 

 darker central area merging into it, but I have some specimens in 

 which the pale area is continued broadly and distinctly all round the 

 fore wing. The description I made of Clerck's type was : " Anterior 

 wings dark fuscous-brown, with a white longitudinal line parallel 

 to the costa, continued from the base to the subterminal line, and 

 containing a white prolongation in the place of the reniform ; the 

 subterminal also white ; a white line along the median nervure almost 

 joins the lower part of the costal longitudinal line with the white 

 reniform mark. Posterior wings fuscous " (' Icones ' &c., PI. iii., 

 fig. 7). 



Thalpochares, Ld., ostrina, Hb. 



I have two old specimens of this species taken very many years 

 a g by Mr. Tyrer in Kent, and which he sent to me not long since as 

 vars. of Mianafuruncula (bicoloria) with actual specimens of that species. 

 One has the ground colour pale ochreous but is slightly darker between 

 the subterminal and augulated lines which become visible owing to 

 this darker tint ; the costal area between these lines is represented by a 

 pale lunule ; the second specimen is much darker, has a distinct longi- 



