40 VARIETIES OF NOCTILSS 



Mania, Tr., maura, Linu. 



The strangest character in the markings of this species is the 

 peculiar shape of the angulated line, which, although somewhat of the 

 shape of that of Amphipyra pyramidea, is very different to that of 

 most other NOCTU.E. The space under the stigmata is sometimes uni- 

 colorous with the rest of the ground colour ; sometimes it is crossed 

 transversely with two dark fasciae, one, a part of the central shade, the 

 other, parallel with the basal line ; at other times this area is much 

 darker than the rest of the wing, when it gets a banded character. 

 The central band is never complete transversely to the costa, although 

 the lower area just mentioned as sometimes being much darker, is 

 occasionally continued up to the costa, (1) between the orbicular and 

 basal line, (2) between the stigmata and (3) between the reniform and 

 angulated line, thus almost completing it in some specimens. On the 

 outer margin of the hind wings some specimens are paler, but others are 

 almost uniform with the ground colour. The Linnsean description of 

 the type is as follows : " Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alis depressis 

 dentatis fasciis duobus nigris; inferioribus nigris fascia alba " (' Systema 

 Natures,' xth., p. 512). The form with the median space darker is 

 described by Guenee. The more unicolorous Linnasan type is figured 

 in Newman's ' British Moths,' p. 459 as a variety. The striated 

 variety is figured by Newman on the next page (I.e.) as the type. 



The forms we get appear to be as follows : 

 1. Almost unicolorous = maura, Linn. 

 2. With central area banded = var. virgata. 

 3. With pale (whitish) transverse and longitudinal lines = var. 



striata. 

 4. Tinted with rosy or violet = var. r osea. 



a. var. virgata, mini. This form with a more or less complete 

 dark central band is described by Guenee as the type. Kare as the 

 two following varieties appear to be in Britain, specimens with the 

 central area forming a more or less complete band, especially in the 

 lower part towards the central area, are not at all uncommon. 



ft. var. rosea, mini. This is Guenee's var. A of which he writes : 

 " A rosy or violet tint on all the pale parts." He also adds : " Some 

 examples of this variety are always obtained in rearing a number from 

 Iarva3 " (' Noctuelles,' vol vi., p. 418). I have noticed no specimens 

 with this peculiar tint. 



y. var. striata, mihi. The anterior wings with a distinct whitish 

 central nervure, which bifurcates under the reniform, a pale inner 

 margin and angulated line, pale nervures between the angulated and 

 subterminal lines, which are also pale, the nervures pale also on the 

 outer margin. It is figured in Newman's < British Moths,' p. 460. 



Nwnia, St., typica, Linn. 



A long series of bred specimens of this species sent to me by Capt. 

 Kobertson from Swansea disclosed to me the fact that there were two 

 distinct forms of it. I was quite conversant with the dark fuscous- 

 grey form, and knew that there was more or less indistinctness about 

 the longitudinal markings in some of the specimens. It was quite a 

 revelation to me, however, to find among bred specimens a form with 



