NEW BRITISH SPECIES. 139 



in Germany, Hungary and the West of France ; but is not 

 so generally distributed as the rest of the Dianthcecice. It 

 has long been in onr list of reputed British insects, but we 

 hail the present captures as a new discovery. 



DiANTHiECIA COMPTA, S. V. 



Dianthcecia comptaj S. V. ; Esp. ; Hiibn.; Dup. ; Gn. i. 25; 

 H.-S. 572. 



Although this pretty species has been incorporated in the 

 valuable list of the Lepidoptera of Ireland, contributed to 

 the Ent. Mo. Mag., in which publication a figure engraved 

 by Mr. E. W. Robinson-, and coloured by Miss Wing, has 

 been given of the species in question, still Mr. Birchall's 

 authority for including it rested on very ancient specimens, 

 so that the present captures are at any rate a re-discovery. 



The insect is readily distinguishable from D. conspersa by 

 its smaller size, by its broad white irregular middle fascia, 

 which absorbs the white orbicular stigma, and by showing 

 no conspicuous white patches near the apex or anal angle, 

 and considerably less white than its congener about the base 

 of the fore wing. 



The larva has been described by Messieurs Duponcheland 

 Guenee in the *' Iconographie des Chenilles d'Europe." 



To Mr. E. G. Meek is due the credit of re-introducing 

 this handsome Noctua to our list. His are the only recent 

 captures that we are acquainted with. They were taken at 

 Howth last summer (vide Ent. Mo. Mag. vi. QQ). 



M. Guenee remarks that D. compta is common and widely 

 distributed throughout Europe, frequenting garden pinks and 

 such plants in May and June. He considers the typical 

 form to be that in which the broad middle fascia is uninter- 

 rupted. 



