318 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



form venamed flore7itina by Stefanelli in 1882, and treated by 

 him as = grcecaria, Boisduval-Staudinger. As alpinaria, Bork- 

 Scriba, was the first form described and the name is invalid, I 

 propose the name italica for the species. 



The ground colour of italica is a somewhat glossy grey 

 slightly mixed with light brown scales. 



We have the usual four lines, but the first and median are 

 only faintly marked except on the costa, where they are suffused. 

 In the direction of the second line we have a most important 

 character to distinguish this species from its congeners. All 

 the lines start from the basal half of the inner margin and then 

 strike very obliquely outward until vein one is reached. This 

 point is perfectly reliable to separate italica in all its forms from 

 gracaria and alpina. After vein one the first two lines go as in 

 the other species. The second line, as in alpina, then strikes 

 across the wing to the lower angle of the cell, and then, unlike 

 that species, it continues parallel to the termen, which is not 

 strongly curved near the costa. The median line is midway 

 between the first and second line. None of the lines are thickened, 

 but become darker as they cross the veins. 



The subterminal band, owing to the weakness of the suffusions 

 and the lines, is not so broad and rarely shows up so well as in 

 alpina. The same differences are observable in the lines on the 

 hind wings, but, owing to the difference in shape in the hind 

 wings of the two species, both the median and second lines are 

 nearer the base of the wings and are more parallel, with the 

 result that very often the thickened second line crosses and 

 obliterates the discal spot. 



In shape the wings are very characteristic. The fore wings 

 are markedly longer than the hind ones, and the termen is much 

 less rounded than in alpina. In the hind wings, as the upper 

 angle is much produced, the wings are much broader than in 

 either alpina or gracaria. 



The antennae are markedly different from those of either 

 alpina or grcecaria, being very long and having very strong 

 pectinations, which extend to the apex on the outer side, but are 

 absent for the first four joints on the inner side. The pectina- 

 tions, as well as being longer, are thicker and blacker than those 

 of grcecaria. The thorax is broad, and is covered with grey fur, 

 whilst the abdomen is brown and is more or less covered with 

 greyish hairs. The genitalia, too, are very distinct. The valves 

 are much longer and broader than those of alpina. The upper 

 margin is not concave, as in that species, but for about two-fifths 

 of its length is straight. There is then a slight dip followed by 

 a rapid outward curve. The outer margin is very slightly 

 hollowed ; then it turns upward, not with a bold curve, but with 

 a slightly concave sweep until it reaches the downward curve of 

 the upper margin. The costal ridge is narrow. 



