70 [March, 



LOZOPERA FRANCILLONANA, ¥., COMPARED WITH ITS ALLIES. 



BY THE RIGHT HOJT. LORD WALSINGHAM, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., &c. 



Throughout the progress of entomological study, and especially 

 in countries where that study has reached a point at which all obvious 

 distinctions relied upon for separating the known species are quickly 

 recognised by the initiated, much labour and minute observation has 

 been devoted to the recognition of critical differences between ob- 

 scurely coloured, closely allied species frequently regarded as mere 

 varieties, until their constant and consistent variation, supplemented 

 by some knowledge of their earlier stages, has enabled us to separate 

 them from among a mixed sei'ies. Where the markings are clear and 

 distinct, consisting of darker bands, blotches or spots, upon a pale 

 ground, less attention has been devoted to them, and provided that 

 these bands or spots are found to be approximately in the same 

 position, it has less frequently occurred to students to seek for 

 persistent differences. 



That such persistent differences are easily overlooked becomes 

 perhaps more apparent in the examination of the Australian Micro- 

 Lepidoptera than in those of any other part of the world. In the 

 (Ecophoridw and in the Xyloryctidce Mr. Meyrick and other authors 

 have rightly described as distinct a large number of species of con- 

 spicuous pattern and very similar colouring, which differ from one 

 another in a very minute degree, but whose differences are persistent 

 and consistent throughout long series obtained from the same and 

 different localities. In many cases this apparently somewhat coura- 

 geous differentiation has been justified by the subsequent discovery of 

 their food-plants, and by a comparison of their larvae. 



The late Monsieur Eagonot [Ent. Mo. Mag., XII, 87—88 (1875)] 

 corrected the synonymy of the francillonana group as given in Staudin- 

 ger's Catalog, and I will now venture to submit conclusions that have 

 forced themselves upon me after comparing large numbers of specimens 

 which would undoubtedly have been placed by those who have confined 

 their studies to British Lepidoptera in the single species known under 

 the name of "francillana, F." 



As an introduction to these notes, I desire to call attention to the 

 fact, that the late Carl von Heyden, writing 32 years ago [Stett. Ent. 

 Ztg., XXVI, 100 (1865)], expressed his opinion on the species be- 

 longing to this group of Conchylis in words that were thus translated 

 by Stainton (Ent. Ann., 1867, 39) — "I believe that amongst O. snnqui- 

 nana, Tlv.,Jlagellana, Dup., and Jrancillana, F., there are still different 

 species, very closely allied, to be distinguished. It is probable that 

 the larvae and their different habits may help us in this respect." 



