IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 37 



VI. Sub-class : INTRUST, Gn. 

 1 . Family : Amphipyridce, Gn. 



This group has been variously placed by different authors. 

 Guenee places it with the Toxocampidce and Stilbidce, whilst Staudinger 

 sub-divides it, putting Ncenia and Mania next Brotolomia meticulosa, 

 and Amphipyra pyramidea and tragopoginis between Eus'ma and Tcenio- 

 campa, at the end of the Caradrinidce, a not at all unnatural position it 

 appears to me, for this latter genus. I consider that Ncenia and Mania 

 belong essentially to the Noctuidce and have no relationship whatever 

 with Amphipyra as united by Guenee, nor with the Toxocampidce 

 following. Typica and maura should not be too far from Graphiphora 

 ainjur or Triphcena pronula, whilst it has been suggested to me that 

 the larva of pyramidea suggests Petasia as a possible relationship. 

 Guene'e writes of the family : " The insects are recognised easily by 

 their flattened form. When at rest, they carry their wings parallel to 

 the plane in which they rest, and crossed over the back in such a way 

 that they partly cover themselves. This depressed form allows them 

 to glide into the narrowest crevices. It is in such places that A. 

 tragopoginis is often found, in the frames of doors and of shutters 

 where it appears at first as if they must be inevitably crushed. The 

 imago of pyramidea often hides in the empty galleries made by the 

 larva? of Gossus ligniperda in the trunks of trees. I have often seen 

 them in these retreats with their heads turned towards the entry, and 

 plunged into complete darkness with which the reddish phosphores- 

 cent light of their eyes strongly contrasts" (' Noctuelles,' vol. vi., 

 p. 412). The two British species in Amiphipyra appear to be rather 

 closely allied. 



Amphipyra, Och., pyramidea, Linn. 



This species in Britain is not what may be termed a variable one, 

 but occasionally very beautiful varieties of this species are met with 

 here, in which the whole of the central area between the basal and 

 elbowed lines (which are very pale) is formed into a distinct dark 

 transverse band. The outer half of this area is frequently banded in 

 this species, in fact, it is rarely that it is not so, but it is very unusual 

 for the whole area to become dark. The reniform is generally indis- 

 tinct, and in many specimens there is a longitudinal line passing 

 from the elbowed line through the reniform and often extending be- 

 yond the orbicular to the basal line. This generally absorbs the 

 reniform, leaving the orbicular distinct, although occasionally this 

 also becomes absorbed and obsolete. The outer area beyond the sub- 

 terminal line varies considerably in depth of colour and there is some 

 variation in the number of cuneiform spots developed. A second 

 longitudinal black mark often reaches from the claviform to the 

 angulated line. 



The Linnsean description of the type is as follows : " Noctua 

 spirilinguis cristata, alis fuscis : superioribus strigis tribus flavescenti- 

 bus repandis " (' Systema Naturae,' xth., p. 518). In the xiith edition 

 " fuscis " becomes " cinerascentibus," whilst " undatis " precedes 

 " flavescentibus " and " maculaque fusca " comes after " repandis." 

 The exhibition of " a slate coloured specimen of Amphipyra pyramidea 



