1042 The Zoologist— January, 1868. 



to characterize Rotundaria thus — " Alis rotundatis albis fusco-sub- 

 aiomosis, strigis duabus medio commit nib us subundulatis plumbes- 

 cenlibus antica anticarum geminata." He gives no descriptio, and 

 entirely omits all reference to Pusaria, which follows next in order, and 

 under which, in like manner, there is no reference to Rotundaria : his 

 character of Pusaria runs thus — "Alis albis fusco-subatomosis strigis 

 tribus medio ccquidislantibus, subundulatis plumbescenlibus ullimis 

 comjminibus." It will be seen that the anterior striga on the fore wings 

 of Rotundaria is double : at p. 85 of my ' British Moths' this character 

 is well shown in two of the figures; in the other two there are but two 

 strigce, and neither of these is double; but this character occurs also 

 in Pusaria, some specimens having one double and one single striga, 

 others two single strigce; the roundness of the wings therefore remains 

 as the only constant and reliable character. Herrich-SchaDffer dis- 

 misses Rotundaria without the slightest hesitation as one of the 

 synonyms of Pusaria. Freyer (pi. 60, fig. a) figures Rotundaria as a 

 species under the name of Confinaria. Lastly, Guenee ( Uran. et Phal. 

 ii. 55) admits Rotundaria as a species with a doubt implied, but sup- 

 pressed on the assurance that the larva of Rotundaria " had lately been 

 reared in great numbers in England, and was found to be entirely 

 different from that of Pusaria." This passage alludes to a discovery 

 of Mr. Machin's. I have never been so fortunate as to see the larva 

 of Pusaria, but I believe Mr. Machin's view of the eulire difference of 

 the larva is now generally accepted. 



4. Eupithecia linariata and E. pulchellata. — The larva of 

 E. linariata occurs commonly feeding on the blossoms of Linaria 

 vulgaris (the common yellow toad-flax) ; that of E. pulchellata is 

 equally common on those of Digitalis purpurea (the foxglove) : they 

 are totally distinct, as will be seen by a reference to the detailed 

 descriptions, from the pen of Mr. Crewe, in my 'British Moths.' 

 Guenee considers the perfect insects so similar that he would not have 

 given Pulchellata as a species had not Mr. Doubleday informed him 

 that he had bred more than a hundred individuals of Linariata with- 

 out meeting with one of Pulchellata amongst them. " It is much to 

 be desired," says M. Guenee, "that Pulchellata should be bred simul- 

 taneously with Linariata, so that we might verify its claim to specific 

 rank, a claim concerning which I have always had my doubts." This 

 has been done, and Pulchellata is acknowledged to be a species. 



5. Cidaria immanata and C. russala. — These insects are extremely 

 interesting, not only on account of their infinite variation, but also on 



