NOTES ON NEW AND RARE BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 125 



localities, but also in both North and South America. It 

 flies in June and August. M. Guenee remarks, that Do- 

 novan's figure (pi. 453, f. 1) of aurosignata, which is said 

 to represent interroyationis, very much resembles it. 



Superficially it is not very unlike our common P. gamma^ 

 for a variety of which it would be werj apt to he passed 

 over by an inexperienced eye. It has also many points of 

 resemblance to interrogationis. As, however, it is far more 

 likely to be confounded with gamma than any other species 

 with which I am acquainted, I have offered a few notes 

 (E. M. M. V. p. 127), which I hope will enable anyone so 

 fortunate as to capture the species to separate it readily from 

 that " Aurelian's pest." 



Less in size than gamma; the less acute fore- wings, though 

 lacking the burnished lustre of gamma, are far more rich in 

 their depth of tone, contrast of shading, cheerfulness of tint 

 and distinctness of markings. The hieroglyphic more usually, 

 but not constantly, resembles that of V. aureum^ but the 

 peculiar character of the last segments of the abdomen of 

 the $ , fringed with tufts of ochreous scales which terminate 

 in an ochreous patch underneath the anal segments, should 

 afford conclusive evidence of its distinctness. 



For this handsome addition to our Plusidce we are in- 

 debted to Mr. D'Orville, of Alphington, near Exeter, so 

 well known as an ardent Lepidopterist, who at page 128 of 

 the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, vol. v., records the 

 interesting fact of his having secured an example {$)'m his 

 garden at flowers of red Valerian, on the 13th of August 

 last. That gentleman notes that the flight of ni is less like 

 that o^ gamma than o^festucce. 



Its ordinal position will be between Plusia gamma and P, 

 interrogationis. 



