IN THR BRITISH ISLANDS. 53 



looks like the claviform but which is the " subreniform " of Guenee. 

 In fact, the whole arrangement of the stigmata in this species and its 

 allies is very remarkable, the reniform being situated in contact with 

 an almost obsolete orbicular; the "subreniform," peculiar to this 

 group, situated well forward and directly under the reniform, the 

 claviform being practically obsolete. There is also in some specimens 

 a tendency to the formation of a transverse series of yellow-ochreous 

 spots, between the angulated and subterminal lines. Very little 

 difference is to be observed in the tint of the hind wings in the various 

 specimens, and but slight variation in the width of the central black 

 band in these wings. Guenee writes: "The imago is easily dis- 

 tinguished by its larger size, its superior grey-brown wings being 

 mixed with yellow and not with white, the inferior wings of a 

 brighter red, the band which precedes the border narrower, with 

 rounded angles " etc. (' Noctuelles,' vol. vii., p. 91). Of the stigmata 

 of sponsa, Humphrey and Westwood write : " The anterior stigma is 

 represented by a J- like mark, and the outer one by a G, very plainly 

 delineated, behind which is a distinct spot, varying in colour, and 

 edged with black " (< British Moths,' p. 250). 



Treitschke writes: "In sponsa the fore wings have a dull 

 appearance, yet the following markings are clearly perceptible. At 

 the base stands an incomplete, further on a complete, transverse line. 

 The broken one is brown and yellow, the complete one forms irregular 

 arches and is yellow with a blackish border on both sides. The 

 middle area of the wing is the lightest, and is chiefly of a whitish- 

 grey colour mixed with yellowish. In it is found the ochreous reni- 

 form, which, on the outside, is surrounded with whitish teeth but 

 bordered with black ; below it stands a flame-shaped spot, thinly 

 scaled and which appears transparent when held against the light ; 

 the second line and the zigzag line are special characters in sponsa 

 and distinguish it from dilecta. The elbowed line turns towards the 

 inner margin in many small black arches. At the end towards the 

 inside, is an arrow-shaped whitish streak. It is black, and a second 

 line which runs parallel is dusky and indistinct. In dilecta the second 

 line consists of two strongly-marked dark streaks, which, after having 

 formed a comparatively larger M, runs with a gentle arched curve 

 towards the white arrow. The watered band (outer margin) is more 

 striking in sponsa, likewise the zigzag subterminal line, and this latter 

 takes a different course, as it turns from the costa in a more slanting 

 direction, and has a clearer border. The nervures are marked through- 

 out by longitudinal lines and they terminate in a row of dark dots 

 which is situated directly before the dentate, white-spotted fringes " 

 (' Die Schmet.' etc., vol. v., pt. 3, pp. 344-345). 



The Linn^ean description of the type is as follows : " Phalcena. 

 Noctua spirilinguis cristata, alis griseis ; inf erioribus sanguineis ; fasciis 

 duabus nigris, abdomine undique cinereo." " Facies Ph. pactce. 

 Abdomen undique cinereum. Alae superiores supra fusco griseo 

 undulato-nebulosfe. Punctum pallens juxta maculam lunarem. 

 Subtus nigricantes ciliis marginalibus fuscis inter dentes albos. 

 Inferiores supra saturatissime rubrse ; fasciae 2 atra3 undulatse. Margo 

 ciliaris cinereus. Subtus sanguinese fasciis 2 nigris, quorum anterior 

 arcuata in orbem. Margo ciliaris albo punctatus " (' Systema Naturae/ 



