llO PTYCHOPODA. By L. B. Prout. 



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been taken in some numbers in Algeria, as at Biskra and Philippe ville. There is a succession of bio^d; — in 

 captivity certainly three, May — June, July — August, October. 



marrolica. Pt. marcotica Drmidt (3g, as mareotensis) has the hindwing similarly shaped to that of the preceding 



species but with the crenulations rather more regular, the excision between the radials less deep, the projec- 

 tion at the 3. radial and 1. median less prominent; anal angle produced as in incisaria. Wings slightly 

 jiarrower, less strongly dusted, the costal spot at origin of median line weaker, occasionally even obsolete, 

 the lines of the forewing angled on the 2. submedian, reaching the posterior margin very obliquely as in 

 calu7ietaria, those of the hindwing much less sinuous than in incisaria. ^ antennal joints more projecting than 

 in the allies. Hindtarsus of S longer than in incisaria, somewhat shorter than in albitorquata. The brownish- 

 grey shade which follows the postmedian line is continuous, or in any case not broken up into spots; it is ge- 

 nerally rather well developed, but mareotica is rather variable in this and other respects. Some specimens 

 are darker and more strongly marked than the one figured, some paler and weaker-marked. The larva is rather 

 compact, flattened, with prominent lateral carination; almost uniform yellow-grey ^with quite weak dorsal 

 X-markings crossing the segment-incisions. Mariout Desert, Lower Egypt, probably in a succession of broods. 

 I possess a worn (^ which was taken at light at Alexandria, 2 July 1904, by Mr. P. P. Graves. 



albUnrqttata. Pt. albitorquata Pwiig. (3 f). Hindwing still less irregularly shaped, more approaching that of seriata. 



From that species it differs in the whitish collar, the somewhat coarser (though not denser) dark atoms, more 

 conspicuous black marks on the distal margin and also in the structure of the (J antenna and hindleg. cj an- 

 tennal joints scarcely at all projecting; hindtibia more swollen, tarsus shorter, more approaching mareotica. 

 Until quite recently this species was entirely overlooked, on account of its strong superficial resemblance to 

 the whitish southern forms of the variable seriata or to sodaliara or camparia, all of which have the collar 

 brown. It is on an average somewhat larger in size. Already known from Sicily, Greece, Asia Minor and 

 Mesopotamia, thus has evidently a wide range. Herr Pungeler has reared it from the egg. As with seriata, 

 nnpoleon. there is a succession of broods, the life cycle being completed in two or three months. — napoleon form. nov. 

 (5 b) may possibly be a dark local form of albitorquata, but more probably a separate species. Unfortuna- 

 tely only the $ is yet known, but this seems to have the antennal joints somewhat more prominently angled 

 at their extremities than albitorquata. Smaller, the white ground-colour much more densely dusted with the 

 large dark atoms, the dark markings also much more distinct, indeed more blackish than in the most strongly- 

 marked examples of seriata known to me. Antemedian and postmedian lines formed similarly to those of se- 

 riata but thicker, more contiiiuous, the teeth on the veins thicker and stronger; median shade faintly indi- 

 cated in light brownish; a series of strong fuscous spots proximally to the subterminal line; distal marginal 

 black strokes on an average even more strongly developed than in tyj^ical albitorquata. Under surface also 

 more strongly marked than in seriata. Corsica : Bastelica, 30 July, 1 905 (t3rpe, in my collection) ; Ajaccio, 9 June, 

 1899 (cotype, British Museum). Herr Pungeler informs me that he has also an example, without exact loca- 

 lity. I further learn from him that a very similar form occurs in the mountains of Sardinia which except 

 for the apparent (slight) antennal difference might be referred here and which he inclines to regard as a 

 small dark mountain race of albitorquata. Further material is required for a full elucidation of these various 

 closely-allied forms, but the Corsican nwpoleon is so distinct and easily separated from typical albitorquata 

 obUipinrui. that I do not hesitate to call attention to it. — obliquaria Trti. After the above was written, and indeed 

 just as we are going to press, the above-mentioned Sardinian form has been described as a new species by 

 TuRATi; it will possibly, on side-by-side comparison, prove to supplant my 7iapoleon, notwithstanding the 

 apparent difference in the antenna. "Form of virgularia. Hbn., but smaller than albitorquata Piing., between 

 which species it seems to come. Forewing more elongate ; colour blackish grey. Transverse lines more oblique, 

 very black, distinct, less dentate; bands (marginal and submarginal) somewhat similar to albitorquata, Piing.; 

 but with the submarginal from the middle of the wing-margin to the posterior angle dark and broadly diffuse. 

 Hindwing with the submarginal line also diffuse. Under surface smoky, with black lines formed of dashes 

 on the veins. Thorax and abdomen concolorows, dark grey, head lighter, not sharply contrasted with the col- 

 lar. 9 (^, 1 9 Monte Chiesa, collected in May and June, reared from ova in July and August". According to the 

 discoverer, G. C. Kruger, the larva differs from that of albitorquata. 



joannisiala. Pt. joannisiata Homberg (= ? campata Pbr. nee H.-Sch.) is unknown to me except from Homberg's 



excellent description and the notes which accompany it. It was discovered in 1901 near Vernet-les-Bains 

 (Eastern Pyrenees) but was at first misidentified as camparia. If it is really identical with the campata 

 of Rambur it occurs also in Andalusia, but as the figure shows rather slighter angles in the lines and the me- 

 dian shade removed a little further distad than in joannisiata the identity is not established; the Andalusian 

 specimens which I have seen appear to be true camparia, but in any case are clearly not joannisiata. The 

 latter is distinguished by its glossy pale bro\vnish grey colour, strongly different from the coarsely dusted, dirty 



