90 THE entomologist's kecobd. 



practical purposes, a hand-lens is sufficient if the spurs be well visible 

 in the specimen. It is very desirable that specimens should be set 

 with this in view. I express the length of the spur more conveniently 

 not by its own length, but by the percentage of the total length of the 

 tibia that there is beyond the origin of the spur. The five principal 

 lengths that occur are much more easily discriminated by eye after a 

 little practice than their numerical difference would lead one to expect. 

 The chief difficulty is between the crassiorella group, with a length of 

 •66 to -74, and the casta group, '77 to -81, and here it would always 

 be well to mount a specimen for examination. 



Bruandia reticulatella. — The male of this species, as I have 

 observed it in most collections, is almost identical with a specimen I 

 have from Staudinger. It has 22 joints to the antennae, and the 

 anterior tibial spur arises at -56 of the length of the tibia from its 

 further extremity, giving the length of the spur on the assumption 

 that the extremity of the spur reaches exactly the end of the tibia. 

 The expanse is 13mm. The wing texture and general appearance 

 approaches that of Bijugis bombycella, more flimsy and translucent 

 than in other Fumeas. The costa is more rounded than in other 

 Fumeas, that is the central portion, which is usually straighter than 

 the basal or apical portion, or even quite straight, is either very short, 

 or partakes of a continuous curve from base to apex. The colour is 

 pale yellowish-brown, with a network of slightly darker broAvn (doubt- 

 less the darker portion was much more nearly black Avhen the specimen 

 was fresh). The darker markings follow the nervures longitudinally, 

 and between the nervures they form transverse bands, usually not 

 crossing the nervures, but alternating at them. The paler spots are 

 fairly circular, or at least of equal transverse and longitudinal 

 dimensions. The dark marks in the cell do not cross the median 

 nervure, but alternate at it. From the cell to the fringe are, in each 

 intercellular space, four pale patches, and one may count thirteen dark 

 marks along the costa and ten along the inner margin, the two or 

 three basal ones in each case being ill-marked. The hindwing is 

 marked only by slightly darker nervures. I have bred, however, from 

 Cannes, some specimens that agree absolutely with this specimen in 

 the formula of the tibial spur, viz., -57 and -56, in the greater trans- 

 parency of the wings and in the roundness of the costa and apex. 

 They vary in expanse from 9nim. to 16mm., are very dark in colour, 

 and exhibit reticulation that can only be detected with difficulty. 

 Although I am not aware that this variety of reticulatella has been 

 described as such, I have very little doubt myself that that is its real 

 character. The only doubt I have about it is whether it is the form 

 described by Dr. Heylaerts as norveyica from the south of France. 

 If so, it would be named reticulatella var. norve[/ica. If not, I should 

 propose for it the name var. obscurella (pi. iv., fig. 27, ant. tibia of 

 type form, figs. 28-29, ant. tibia of var. obscurella). 



Bruandia comitella. — This species much resembles B. reticulatella. 

 It has a more solid aspect than that species ; the reticulations are 

 more confined to the apical portion of the wing. The costa is rather 

 straighter, and the usual tint is much darker. It is generally possible 

 to distinguish several rows of pale spots parallel with the hind-margin 

 and a darker shade occupying the distal margin of the cell. The most 

 certain character by which to recognise it is the tibial spur length of 



