1.20 " BRITISH JIOTHS 



The eleventh variety doscribed by Mr. Btutley agrees with tlie N. ocellina, of Hiibncr. " Anterior wings 

 dusky or blackish, with a short ashy streak upon the costa, with two black transverse strigse, the first before 

 tiie anterior stigma, the second behind the posterior ; near the hinder margin is a pale-waved striga, anterior 

 stiffma ocellated. 



Mr. Bentley's 12th variety, taken near Brockenhurst in Hampshire, in September, is remarkable for its small 

 size, expanding only 1 inch. The " anterior v/ings blackish, with a black streak at the base in the centre of 

 the wing, extending beyond the anterior stigma ; posterior wings ashy, slightly margined with fuscous." 



]\[r. Bentley has also informed us that A. sagittifera is also probably another variety. 



Thus it will be seen that the variation in this species ranges from the possession of from four to no transverse 



strigK, from a large to an obsolete teliforni stigma, from the possession to the want of a pale stripe upon the costa, 



and from grey to dark-brown coloured wings, sometimes dark at the base, and sometimes along the apical margin. 



■ It is, therefore, not very surprising that there are not two collections in London in which they are 



marked alike. 



Tiie species is not very uncommon in the southern counties of England, as well as at TVhittlesea-mere, in 

 June and July. The caterjiillar is grey and shining ; it feeds on the roots of grasses and low plants, hiding itself 

 by day. 



SPECIES 12.— AGROTIS CUNEIGERA. Plate XXIV., Fig. 7. 



SvNONYMEs. — Agrotis cuneigera, Stephens, II. Haust. 2, [p. 123. j Variety i Agrolis oi-nosa, Stephens. (Our plate '24, fi?. 8.) 

 NociuavaiUgera, Hawoitli. ' Varietij ? Agrotis hortorum, Stephens. 



The type of this supposed species measures 1 j inch in the expanse of the fore wings, which are of a reddish- 

 brown colour, with the three stigmata distinct, but with the transverse strigEe ratlier obscure, and a row of acutely 

 wedge-shaped brown spots within the apical margin. There is also a brown triangular-shaped spot before, and 

 another square in shape between the stigmata ; the hind wings are white with the margin and veins dusky : the 

 female is more griseous in colour, without the brown spots before and between the stigmata ; and the hind wings 

 are more dusky. The stigmata are extremely variable in shape ; the anterior one varying from nearly trian- 

 gular to circular. 



Found near London in July. 



It is with doubt that we give the A. venosa of Stephens as a variety of the preceding insect, from which it 

 differs in being of a more dusky appearance, being much irrorated with dark specks, with the base of the wing 

 considerably varied witli dark marks and waves, the supplemental stigma is wanting, the dark spaces near 

 the ordinary stigmata are here visible, a much-waved pale striga runs from the hind part of the posterior 

 stigma, and there is a submarginal undulated striga preceded by black wedge-shaped marks ; the body and hind 

 wings are like A. cuneigera. Taken in Cumberland and near Edinburgh in July. 



It is upon the authority of Sir. Bentley that we also give the A. hortorum of Stephens as another variety of 

 A. cuneigera, although Mr. Stephens considered it might prove to be a suffused variety of Tritici. He describes 

 the fore wings as deep dusky ash, with four transverse paler strigre, the three anterior of which are edged with 

 dusky, placed nearly as in Tritici ; but the posterior one is less undulated, and has a row of elongated dusky or 

 l)lack streaks attached to the anterior edge, as in A. cuneigera ; on the hinder margin is a row of minute black 

 spots ; the usual stigmata are faintly rufescent, margined with black ; the third is very slender, and the black 

 margins alone are visible ; the posterior wings are fuscous, with the nervures and margin darker. The body deep 

 fuscous. Taken in August at Whittlesea mere. 



