116 PTYCHOPODA. By L. B. Protjt. 



uniformis. Pt. uniforiTlis Stgr. (3 h). Both wings above and beneath uniform pale yellowish sand-colour. The 



transverse lines (antemedian, postmedian and sometimes also a median) discernible in certain lights but 

 excessively weak, only sometimes (except the median) slightly better indicated on the costal margin of the 

 forewing, by slightly enlarged spots; on the underside entirely wanting. Discal dot sometimes present on 

 forewing above, though not very darkly coloured; its position (much beyond the middle of the wing) draws 

 attention to one of the chief peculiarities of the species, the elongate cells of both wings. Otherwise it presents 

 few striking characters. In shape it is not greatly different from the two preceding species. The ^ antennal 

 ciliation is moderately long; the hindleg short and weak, tarsus much abbreviated; tongue apparently wanting 

 or rudimentary. The only $ which I have seen is very much larger than the figured (J, but this seems to be 

 unusual; Staudingee gives 19 mm for a cJ, 17 mm for 2 $$. Palestine: Jordan Valley, end of May. 



squalidaria. Pt. squalidaria Stgr. (3 h) is another rather inconspicuous species, with glossy, very weakly-marked 



wings. It may best be compared with subsericeata, from which, however, it is easily distinguished by the straight 

 distal margin of the forewing, which causes ihe wing to appear more pointed (rather recalling the shape of 

 ossiculata) and by the more yellowish (or even brownish) white ground-colour. The S antenna is similar, 

 though the ciliation appears slightly shorter \n squalidaria; the hindtibia is less thickened, the tarsus about 

 equally short. Lines very weak in the ^, somewhat better expressed in the $, wavy or subdentate; cell-dots, 

 marginal dots and the first line of forewing obsolete. The forewing beneath is slightly more tinged with brownish 

 or smoky, the hindwing more white; the lines of the upper surface sometimes present, sometimes absent, 

 the $ being here also the better marked. According to Statjdinger the $ sometimes shows 3 very minute 

 marginal dots. Originally described from Panticosa (2200 m) on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, but Dr. 

 Chapman has more recently discovered it at Gavarnie. Flies in July. 



subsericeata. Pt. subsericeata Haw. (= perfluaria Bdv. =■ pinguedinata 2eZZ. = oloraria Rossi.) (4d). White with 



strong silky gloss, the lines grey, seldom strongly expressed, on the other hand usuailly all present, thus num- 

 bering 5 on the forewing and 4 on the hindwing; the outermost line (distal shading of subterminal) the 

 oftenest absent; all except the median are parallel with the distal margin, but slightly wavy; the median on 

 the forewing is usually somewhat oblique, but occasionally almost parallel with the others; that of the hind- 

 wing runs straighter across the wing, instead of following the curve of the strongly convex distal margin. Cell- 

 spots and terminal line wanting or rarely the former present, minute; fringe usually with a series of minute 

 black dots at the base, which are sometimes in part, more rarely entirely obsolete. Forewing beneath often 

 with a smoky suffusion, either basally or all over; median and postmedian lines present, often well develo- 

 ped; a small discal dot present. Hindwing beneath white, with discal dot and postmedian line. $ antennal 

 ciliation little longer than diameter of shaft; hindtarsus short. Not on the whole an extremely variable species, 

 except in size; there is, however, a great deal of trivial variation, i. e. as regards the absolute or relative 

 strength of the several lines, the close proximity of the inner subte minal to the postmedian or their wider 

 separation, the degree of suffusion of the under surface, etc. Second-brood specimens, besides being smaller, 

 obscura. seem to be on an average whiter beneath and are sometimes rounder- winged. — ab. obscura Bbl. s the only 

 really striking aberrat on with which I am acquainted. The entire upper surface is uniformly suffused with 

 dark grey, only the fringes remaining white. The grey lines are entirely obliterated, but the subterminal is 



wjancuniata. faintly discernible. Founded on a single example from N. Cornwall. — mancuniata Knaggs (= veterata 

 Gregs.), from N. England (Lancashire and S. Yorkshire), which was considered (chiefly on some larval diffe- 

 rences) a separate species, scarcely seems to be even a constant local race ; it was founded on bred specimens, 

 of a somewhat more ochreous tone, with the minute marginal dots rather even, the forewing less pointed, 

 asbestaria. thus in part corresponding to the second brood. — asbestaria Zell. is merely diagnosed by Statjdinger as a 

 "larger form". Zeller, who erected it as a separate species (from pinguedinata), adds that the wings are a little 

 broader, the forewing a little whiter, the dots on the fringe weaker, the palpus not brown at the tip. It was 

 described from Tuscany. In the type specimens I can see but little difference from the other forms and it 



diaphanaria. must be borne in mind that Zeller's pinguedinata ((^ Messina, ? Cisterna) was somewhat dwarfed. — dia- 

 phanaria Bang-Haas, also erected as a species, appears, according to a cotype in the PtJNGELEE collection, 

 to be a rather large, rather clear white, weakly marked form (local race ?) of subsericeata, the median and 

 postmedian lines rather widely separated, especially on the hindwing. Its structure agrees entirely, and very 

 similar forms occur in Turkey, Algeria and probably elsewhere, diaphanaria was described from Ain Draham, 

 Tunis. — Egg oval, laid flat, the upper side with a long central depression; the entire surface with regular, 

 minute pitting ; colour very pale yellowish, changing to pale orange with red blotches. Larva slender, tapering 

 considerably towards the head, skin rugose, strongly granulated; dull whitish grey, dorsal surface reddish, 

 mediodorsal line black but very slender and inconspicuous, subdorsal also black, more distinct at anterior 

 and posterior extremities, lateral line dull yellowish white, a dull yellow spot on the side of the sixth abdominal 

 segment, ventral surface whit'sh in the middle, with black spots. The pupa is darker brown than that of 

 any other Ptychopoda with which I am acquainted, indeed almost blackish, and with the wing- veins unusually 



