61 • [August, 



The head, palpi, thorax and antenna? are of the colour of the fore-wings, the 

 thorax being the most clouded with dark grey ; the body like the hind-wings. 



The antennae are about two-thirds of the length of the fore-wings, and simple 

 in both sexes, though in the male they are a little thicker, and slightly curved at the 

 base; the palpi are rather long (about f"), porrected, rather ascending, thickly 

 clothed with scales, except the last joint, which is narrower and more naked ; eyes 

 very dark grey. 



This moth is very distinct from any other British species, but 

 comes very near to Epischnia prodromella, H.-S., E. illotella, Z., E. 

 asteriscella, Mill., and E. asteris, Stdg. From E. illotella it may be 

 at once separated by its larger size and much longer palpi, otherwise 

 it is not unlike it in general appearance. M. Bagonot would place it 

 between E. illotella and E. asteriscella. "With regard to E. prodrom- 

 ella, as M. Bagonot points out, the fore-wings in that species are 

 narrower (the ratio of the breadth to the length is 15 to 50, whereas in 

 the Portland species it is 15 to 46) ; the costa is more distinctly arched ; 

 there is a distinct discal spot, and the hind-wings are pure white. In 

 addition to this, the angles formed by the line which begins near the 

 middle of the costa are in prodromella very acute, being little more 

 than 45°, and the light and dark parts of the wing are reversed in 

 position. Prodromella has also a pearly gloss, whereas the Portland 

 species is dull. 



Mr. Barrett has kindly lent me specimens of E. illotella and E. 

 prodromella for comparison. Of E. asteriscella I have not seen a 

 specimen, but M. Bagonot says — " The principal difference I find 

 between asteriscella and your insect is that the inner margin of aste- 

 riscella is ochreous, as in illotella ; the thorax is pale reddish-ochreous- 

 grey ; the wings are slightly tinted with ochreous or pale brownish, 

 whilst in your insect the fore-wings are more elongated, of a uniform 

 cinereous-grey, clouded with dark grey ; the veins streaked with 

 blackish, as in asteriscella, the thorax concolorous. The second line 

 does not appear to be indented on the discal fold, as in asteriscella. 

 Asteriscella measures 22 to 23 mill., whilst the English specimen 

 measures 26 mill." 



Of E. asteris M. Bagonot says nothing, except that its food-plant 

 is Aster tripolium, which does not, so far as I know, occur, in the 

 neighbourhood where my specimens were taken. I propose to name 

 the new species Bankesiella, after my friend, Mr. Eustace B. Bankes, 

 of Corfe Castle, who has done so much to add to our knowledge 

 of the Micro-Lepidoptera of Portland and Purbeck, that I think 

 he well deserves that his name should be recorded in that of one of 

 them. In conclusion, I would express my best thanks to those who 

 have so kindly and materially given me their help. 



Montevideo, Weymouth : 



July 16th, 1888. 



