40 BRITISH MOTHS 



the base), a stripe composed of white spots extending from the base along the inner margin nearly to 

 the tip, where it is united to an oblique bar of white spots, and beyond the latter is sometimes a row of 

 marginal pale spots ; the fringe is fulvous, and the hind wings are brown and unspotted. The female has the 

 wings of a dirty brown colour, with dull white markings, nearly similar to those of the male. The species is 

 however exceedingly variable, not only in the ground-colour of the wings, but also in the markings, which are 

 sometimes entirely evanescent ; the insect appearing then, as represented in fig. 5, of a uniform dirty pale brown 

 colour. Several of these varieties were considered by Mr. Haworth as distinct species. 



This very common species appears at the end of May in gn^at abundance, flying about grassy banks with 

 the greatest rapidity, without any of that peculiar undulation which so remarkably distinguishes the flight of 

 the two preceding species. Boisduval also gives August as the time of its appearance. 



SPECIES 4.— HEPIALUS VELLEDA. Plate VIII., Fig. 10, 11. 



SvNONYMFS. — Bomhy.r Velleda, Illibncr, Bomb., pi. 212, 233, 

 234; Espcr; H.awortI). 



Hepialus J\Tappa, Donovan, vol. 10, plate 36, fig. 3. 



Hepialus Velleda, Ilawoitli ; Stephens ; Wood, Ind. Ent., pi. .'J, 

 f.S. 3. 3. 



Phormacis flina ? Hlibner, Verz. bek. Scbm. 



This handsome species varies from li- to 2i inches in the e.xpansion of its fore wings, which arc much more 

 variegated in their markings than in any of the other species — whence the English name of the species, the Map- 

 winged Swift ; the ground being of a brown colour, with livid and white markings ; the fore margin marked 

 with brown spots, and generally a row of irregular-sized white dots along the outer margin. The most con- 

 spicuous of the pale markings on the wings are a triangular spot, succeeded by a short central white dash, and a 

 broad very irregular livid stripe, running from the base along the inner margin, and then curving upwards and 

 running obliquely to the tip, where it is forked. The hind wings arc orange brown, without any markings ; 

 and the fringe of all the wings is yellowish, spotted with brown. The female is of a more uniform appearance 

 than the male, the livid colour being wanting ; the pale markings of the male being, however, traceable. As in 

 all the other species, the markings vary considerably in size and breadth, as well as the depth of their colour. 



This species has been found plentifully in Darenth Wood, Kent, as well as in various and distant parts of 

 the country. It is by no means a common species. 



SPECIES 5.— HEPIALUS CARNUS. Plate VIII., Fig. U. 



SvNONYMEs. — Hepialus carnus, Fabricius ; Curtis ; Stephens, t Hepialus Jodutla, Hiihner, Bomb., pi. 50, f. 213. 

 111. Haust. 2, pi. 13, fig. 1 ; Wood, Ind. Ent., pi. 5, f. 2. 2. | Gazorijctra Jodutta, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Scbm. 



This species varies from \\ to 2;\ inches in the expansion of the fore wings, which are of a livid or ashy 

 hue, with a row of ill-defined pale spots along the inner margin, connected with an irreofular (but sometimes 

 nearly straight) pale bar, which extends from tlie hind margin to the tip of the wings. The disc is also more 

 or less clouded in streaks, with whitish and brownish, and is moreover marked with a whitish spot, occasionally 

 margined with blackish. The hind wings are dark ashy-grey, with the fringe yellowish-o-rey, with darker 

 spots. The female is much more obscurely coloured, but presents slight traces of similar markings to those 

 of the male. 



This species is regarded by BIr. Wailes (Ent. Slag. ], 42) as an extraordinary variety of the last species, 

 with which indeed it is frequently taken in company, especially in the north of England. M. Boisduval 

 and Mr. Stephens, however, regard them as distinct ; and I am willing to follow their opinions. 



