140 LEPIDOPTERA. 



SCOPARIA BASISTRTGALIS, mihl. 



This large and (for a Scoparia) rather handsome species, 

 as stated at page 1 of the 3rd volume of *' The Entomologist's 

 Montldy Magazine," wherein it is brought forward as a 

 species new to science, cannot possibly be confounded with 

 any otlier Scoparia^ unless it be Sc. amhigualis^ to which 

 it is rather closely allied ; the characters, however, there 

 pointed out, especially those relating to the shape of fore- 

 wing, direction of first line, &c., &c., are amply sufficient to 

 separate it from that species. 



The $ ba.sistrigalis frequently presents large and strongly- 

 marked specimens, and is liable to a curious form of aber- 

 ration — of which several examples have come under my 

 notice, — approaching melanism, a general mottling of the 

 fore-wing with dark-coloured scales, giving rise to a rich 

 dark velvety appearance. 



It is a considerable source of satisfaction to me that Mr. 

 Dale should have had by him for years, and have ticketed 

 as probably new, a well-maiked specimen o^ hasistr^galis. 



Pempelia subornatella, Zeller; serpylletorum, Z. ; 

 H. S. 62. 



For this interesting addition to our " knot-horns" we are 

 indebted to Mr. N. Greening, of Warrington, who discovered 

 it during the past season in the Isle of Man, in which locality 

 it has also been taken by Messrs. Gregson and Hopley. 



The synonymy of the dilutella of our cabinets has hitherto 

 been so unsatisfactory that until very lately it would have 

 been a bold thing for any British Entomologist to have at- 

 tempted to decide upon the identity of either it or the species 

 under consideration. 



Thanks, however, to Mr. Doubleday's zeal we have at 

 length arrived at something like a definite solution of the 



