104 LEPIDOPTERA. 



by the slightest transitions." Staudinger, too, in his Cata- 

 logue makes ostrinalis a variety of j^urpuralis. 



NEW BRITISH SPECIES IN 1867. 



Naclia ancilla, Linn. 



An example of this singularly interesting species has 

 been captured at Worthing, by Mr. Wildman, on whose 

 behalf it was exhibited, by Mr. Newman, at the second 

 February Meeting of the Entomological Society of London. 



Herrich-SchiifFer's family Syntomides contains the two 

 genera Syiitomis and Naclia : these appear to be a con- 

 necting link between the Zyqa^nidcc and Lithosidce. 



There is something; about Naclia that reminds one forcibly 

 of Meterogenea asellus, and it may be well to consider 

 whether the latter should not come in our cabinets with 

 Naclia after the Zygivnidce. 



The expanse of the fore wings of the male N. ancilla is 

 about three-fourths of an inch; the fore-wings are dull 

 brown, with a slightly diaphanous appearance, and without 

 any spots or markings ; the hind-wings are dull yellowish, 

 being dark along the hind margin, especially towards the 

 apical angle, and with a dark mark from the discoidal cell 

 to the costa ; abdomen ochreous, with dark dorsal dots on 

 the segments. 



The female expands from an inch to an inch and a 

 quarter; the fore-wings are pale brown, with three white 

 spots arranged in a direction parallel to the apical margin, 

 the two lowermost beinsr close too^ether; the hind winojs are 

 darker, and without apparent markings ; abdomen ochreous- 

 yellow; antennas simple and pointed in Ijoth sexes. 



A species (iV. depunctata) comes very close to it, but its 



