jOO BRITISH JIOTIIS 



The extensive list of synonymes given above will at once prove this to be another most variable insect. 

 The expansion of the fore wings measures from Ij to I3- inches. They vary in their ground-colour from a pale 

 reddish hue almost to black ; the costa being darker than the disc of the wing, with several short, oblique, 

 dusky lines or spots. The base of the wing is more or less irrorated ; the space between the two ordinary 

 stinmata is o-enorally black, the basal one being also often preceded by a triangular patch of black ; the 

 supplemental stigma is also generally present ; the outer stigina is succeeded by a pale, curved, and wavy 

 fascia, edged with dusky, and there is also another nearer to the apical margin ; the extreme margin being also 

 marked with dark dots. The hind wings partake of the ground colour of the fore wings, but much paler, and 

 are darker along the margin. 



Jlr. Bentlcy has published the descriptions of a series of twelve varieties of this species, forming so many 

 links, in which are found the chief of the synonymes given above, and of which the following are the short 

 characteristic notes : — 



" Var. 2. Niyricans. — Anterior wings dusky, with three transverse, dark, waved strigw, and three stigmata, 

 all margined with black ; posterior wings ashy, with dusky margins. 



" Yar. 4. Fiimosa. — All the wings blackish, with the jiosterior stigma tinged with yellow ; the teliform 

 stigma is entirely wanting. 



" Yar. 7- Dnhla, female. — "With four transverse yellow strigaj, the first near the base, .and interrupted ; the 

 second before the anterior stigma ; the third behind the posterior ; and the fourth parallel with the Qapical] 

 margin, which is spotted with black ; posterior wings dusky. 



'■ Yar. 9. Ruris. — Anterior wings light brown or reddish, with various yellow spots and streaks ; the 

 ordinary stigmata tinged with yellow. 



" Yar. 12. Oheliscata. — Anterior wings red-brown, with a long black spot, interrupted by the anterior 

 stigma, and based upon the posterior." 



Found in woods, marshes, and gardens, frequenting the flowers of the sun-flower in August. The caterpillar 

 is found in June on low plants, and is of a shiny brown colour, with black spots and a dentated paler coloured 

 line. 



SPECIES IG.— AGROTIS MARSHALLANA. Pl.ite XXIV., Fig. 1.5. 



This new species, which appears to be most nearly allied to the variety of A. nigricans, which has been named 

 dubia, has been kindly communicated to this work by T. Marshall, Esq., M. E. S., with whose name I have 

 in.scribed it as a slight memorial of his excellent practical knowledge of Lepidopterous insects. The fore wings 

 measure an inch and a half in expanse, and are of a dark sooty brown colour, slightly varied along the principal 

 veins with a lighter gloss, the extreme base being rather lighter than the rest of the wing, and partaking of the 

 colour of the grey brown thorax. Close to the base of the wing is a very slender dentate, pale, transverse line 

 interrujited behind ; then follows, at about one fourth of the length of the wmg from the base, another more waved 

 pale lino, edged on both sides with black, with the base of the black teliform stigma resting on its penultimate 

 wave. The two ordinary stigmata are present, but very indistinct, margined with black, the outer one succeeded 

 at a short distance, by a slightly-waved transverse row of pale arches, (but very much incurved towards the costa), 

 and with a fourth pale streak more irregularly waved and less distinct than the preceding, near the apical 

 margin of the wing, which is dotted with black ; the cilia is paler brown, having a fine darker line runnino- 

 through the middle of it. The costa is also marked with several very slight, oblique, pale lines ; the abdomen 

 and the hind wings are pale brown, the latter with a central, .slightly-darkened lunule, and with the margin 



