IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 29 



and inclining to black. I have one or two specimens so devoid of 

 variegation, that they resemble jota very closely. The two parts of 

 the characteristic 7 mark are as in jota, but I believe more rarely 

 united, although they undergo the same minor variations in size and 

 position as in the latter species. There appears to be rather more 

 sexual difference in the hind wings in this species than in jota, although 

 the character of a pale central transverse band is maintained in both. 

 Haworth's description of the type is as follows : " Alis brunneo griseo 

 ferrugineoque variis, gamma aurea fracta, stigmatibus divaricatim 

 remotis aureo cinctis." Haworth then adds : " Very similar to the 

 last var. (= percontationis, Tr.), but much more beautiful. It may be 

 known at first sight by the wings being more variegated, and by the 

 more strongly marked and distinct stigmata, which are beautifully 

 surrounded with golden colour. The cilia are reddish with fuscous 

 spots " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,' p. 256). Humphrey and Westwood 

 describe pulchrina under the name of iota, whilst iota is described as 

 percontationis, in their ' British Moths,' p. 231. Of this species 

 Newman writes : " Contrasted with the preceding species, pulchrina 

 is more decidedly variegated than iota ; the boundaries of the shades 

 being more sharply defined " (' British Moths,' p. 454). Guenee 

 writes : " This species is extremely near to iota. It appears, however, 

 to be distinct. Its larva resembles, I understand, that of gamma. It 

 is of a pale green, without any longitudinal line ; the head is green 

 with a black line on each side. I have before me a very good drawing 

 of it ; but I dare hardly say that it has not been taken from an example 

 ready to undergo pupation, and that -it may have lost its markings, as 

 then happens to all NOCTU^E, especially the species in Plusia. However, 

 I am assured that the larva differs constantly from that of iota, and as 

 the latter is common in England, I must concur with the observations 

 of English entomologists. The following are the slight differences which 

 separate the perfect insects : Pulchrina is only 38 mm. in expanse. The 

 superior wings of a less intense rosy red, which approaches carnation 

 colour more than does iota, with the brown areas more numerous, 

 thus making it appear more variegated. The elbowed line always 

 strongly angulated, the subterminal more pronounced and more de- 

 cidedly resembling an M in the middle. The reniform more visible, 

 greatly constricted in the middle, encircled with golden colour at the 

 bottom, and with very distinct black interior shading. The golden marks 

 are thicker; the first resembling an U rather than a Y, the second forming 

 an oval point generally larger. Fringe always broken up with black. 

 Inferior wings having the lines and border more distinct above. The 

 female the same as the male, although a trifle darker. Pulchrina is 

 found in the same countries as iota, but is always rarer. English en- 

 tomologists maintain that Hiibner's figure 282 refers to this and not 

 to iota ; this is a difficult matter to decide with this figure which is far 

 from being one of the best in Hiibner's work " (' Noctuelles,' vol. vi., 

 pp. 339-340). 



a. var. jmcta, mihi. This is a parallel variety to iota var. per- 

 contationis, and has the two parts of the metallic mark united to form 

 a gamma as in that variety. Mr. Finlay writes : " I have captured 

 and bred some hundreds of this species, but specimens having the gold 

 marks united are very rare indeed " (in litt.). I have specimens from 



