14 VARIETIES OP NOOTILS2 



Brephos, Och., parthenias, Linn. 



The fore wings of this species exhibit some variation (to a great 

 extent sexual) in the amount of mottling which they undergo, and 

 the tint of the hind wings varies considerably, from orange with 

 the very slightest red tint in it, to a shade almost entirely red. The 

 Linmean description of the type is as follows : " Phalcena Noctua 

 parthenias spirilinguis, alis deflexis f usco alboque variis ; inferioribus 

 luteis punctis duobus nigris." " Media. Alse superiores supra fuscse, 

 albo nebulosaa. Inferiores lutese punctis nigris, duobus, magnis, quo- 

 rum alter in centro coheerens cum nigredine baseos ; alter ad angulum 

 ani. Subtus omnes alas luteaa : fascia in medio nigra " (' Fauna 

 Suecicse,' pp. 308-309). It is noticeable that Linnaeus calls the hind 

 wings " yellow." Generally they are red or at least orange-red, with a 

 distinct yellow spot towards the anal angle. Some specimens, how- 

 ever, are of a decidedly orange tint with a minimum of red, others are 

 red with a minimum of orange. The central spot, agreeing with the 

 lunule, is variable in size and shape and is sometimes double, the lines 

 which join this to the black basal mark also varying in intensity. 

 Mr. Dale's var. nigra, mentioned below, is the only melanic specimen 

 of which I have ever heard. Guenee describes the sexes of this species 

 separately, and says of the female: "Female larger, 40mm. (<^, 

 35 mm.), more powdered with white, the median shade and lines more 

 distinct, the fringes more netted ; the inferior wings* tinged here and 

 there with clearer yellow" ('Noctuelles,' vol. vi., p. 264). Both sexes 

 in this species are very liable to variation in the quantity of paler 

 markings on the fore wings, the Scotch specimens being particularly 

 variegated and beautiful. 



a. var. nigra, Tutt. The original notice of this variety, for which 

 I proposed the name nigra, is from Mr. Dale, who writes : " I have a 

 specimen of B. parthenias, which was obtained from the late Mr. Boss, 

 which is entirely black without any trace of white or yellow about it. 

 It is one of the best melanic specimens I have ever seen " (' Ent. 

 Eecord ' &c., vol. i., p. 34). 



V. Sub-class: VARIEGATE, Gn. 

 1. Family :Plusidce, Bdv. 



So far we have been dealing with Guenee's great division TRIFIDJB, 

 we now have to consider the sub-classes in his other great division 

 QUADRIFID^:. The first of these is Variegatce. This large sub-class 

 which Guenee divides into eight families, has no British representatives 

 in any of the families except in Plusidce and Gonopteridce, the latter of 

 which has been transferred elsewhere (ante, vol. iii., pp. 96-97). The 

 Plusidce, however, considering our limited fauna, is well represented. 

 Of the latter family Guenee writes : " This family is one of the most 

 natural, and a trained eye recognises immediately the insects which it 

 comprises. I should observe that the last genera (Plusiadonta &c.) 

 approach the family Calpidce insensibly, with which, indeed, they form 

 a transition, more natural than is to be obtained by a rigorous method " 

 (< Noctuelles,' vi., p. 319). To which he adds: "The imagines are 

 recognised as quickly as their larvas by their brilliant superior wings, 

 sharp, and always provided in some place with satiny, brilliant, metallic 



