3i [•^"^y' ■ 



NOTES ON BEITISH T0RTRICE8. 



BY C. G. BARRKTT, F.E.S. 



{Continued from Vol. xxiii, ]p. 4). 



Concerning the type-specimens of certain rare and reputed SritisJi species. 



Through the friendly intervention of Dr. Mason, I have had an 

 opportunity of examining the original types from which several of our 

 rare, doubtful, and reputed British species of Tortrices were described. 



Penthina Grevillana, Curt. — The two original specimens are in 

 Mr. Edwin Shepherd's collection. They are not only known to be 

 the specimens from which Curtis's iagure and description were taken, 

 but they agree accurately in markings with the figure to the most 

 delicate dot or ripple, though it must be admitted that the figure is 

 somewhat distorted, the right wing being too much arched and 

 elongated. 



After a very careful examination of these two specimens, I am 

 thoroughly satisfied that they are pale specimens of P. sauciana. They 

 agree with it in size, in shape, in the form and proportion of the dark 

 and of the white divisions of the fore-wings, in every blacker blotch 

 and streak in the dark portion, and in the delicate rippled lines and 

 apical markings of the white portion, but they look different, because 

 these markings are not obscured by the deep blackness which usually 

 characterizes sauciana. P. Grevillana has long been a very doubtful 

 species. I have never seen more than two specimens which appeared 

 to me referable to it, and tJiey did not agree very well with each other, 

 nor quite satisfactorily with Curtis's figure. "What species they really 

 are may be a subject for future consideration ; but I think that we 

 should be pei^fectly safe in expunging from our lists a name which 

 rests on so unsatisfactory a foundation. 



Penthina ustulana, Haw. — The original type is also in Mr. E. 

 Shepherd's collection, having upon its pin Haworth's label. It is in 

 poor condition, and faded, but agrees fairly in shape and colour with 

 fuligana, Haw., yet has the absence of marbling of brown in the fore- 

 wings, and an indication of the yellowish dorsal blotch, which are 

 usually characteristic of nigricostana. I think it impossible to decide 

 which of these two species it belongs to, and am well satisfied that it 

 has been dropped out of our lists. 



(I think that nigricostana is out of place in the genus Salonota, 

 and very closely allied to Penthina fuligana and carhonana.) 



Retinia duplana, Hiib.' — In Mr. Shepherd's collection are six of 

 the original specimens on which this species was introduced into our 



