150 BRITISH LEKDOPTEBA. 



differ from the type in the absence of the silvery spot near the apex, 

 and, in some cases, in the silvery fascia near the base being reduced 

 to a spot or inconspicuous " (in litt.). 



a. ? var. eximiella, Zell. — We have already pointed out that there is some 

 doubt as to whether Zeller's eximiella is not a southern form of this species. It 

 was described in a " List of the Tuscan Lepidoptera observed by Herr J. Mann " 

 [Stett. Ent. Zeit., xi., p. 62 (1850)] as follows : " Micr. eximiella, Koll. nov. sp. — Am 

 24 April bei Montenero, wo sie in den Mittagstunden im Sonnenschein um 

 Myrthenstrauchern schwarmte. Micropteryx eximiella : capillis ferrugineis ; alis 

 ant. viridi-aureis, strigis duabus maculaque costse postica niveis (mas). Size of 

 Micr. aruncella, to which the species stands nearest, but the wings are still narrower. 

 Head hairy, rust-coloured. Antennse brown, finely serrated. Thorax shining gold 

 colour. Abdomen brown. Legs glossy, brownish-yellow. Fore-wings greenish-gold, 

 glossy, violet at the base, very narrowly reddish on the costa, more coppery at the apex. 

 At the beginning of the second fifth is a thin, snow-white, almost perpendicular 

 transverse line ; in the middle of the wing, one similarly formed, only somewhat 

 convex externally ; in the middle, between it and the apex, a snow-white spot, 

 broadened and rounded below, hangs on the costa. One example (var. b : puncto 

 coatali niveo ante maculam posticam) has, immediately before this, a little snow-white 

 marginal dot. The apex is more " wrinkled " than the rest of the surface. Fringes ex- 

 teriorly grey. The grey-fringed hind-wings are "furrowed," and of a somewhat shining 

 light copper-colour. The whole underside is like the upperside of the hind-wings, 

 but brighter on the fore-wings ; here the central line shows through very obscurely. 

 The ? , probably, as in aruncella, very differently marked, is unknown tome." This 

 description agrees very well with our British M. seppella, and the similarity is further 

 accentuated in the Linn. Ent., v., p. 328, where Zeller says that M. eximiella 

 is of the size of M. aruncella, but differs from the latter (1) in the extension of the 

 basal transverse spot into a transverse line, (2) in the external convex curve *of the 

 central line, (3) in the lengthening of the costal spot, which is broadened and 

 rounded off below, and (4) by the somewhat more extended fore-wings." Lord 

 Walsingham's remarks on the specimens have already been quoted (ante, p. 146). 

 In note 3 (I.e., p. 327), Zeller draws attention to the fact that Stephens mentions 

 the occurrence of the costal spot in concinnella, and suggests that both Stainton's 

 aruncella and seppella, and Stephens' concinnella and seppella, are but one species. 

 Stainton states most distinctly (Monograph, etc., p. 40) that he received from 

 Zeller " specimens of seppella as eximiella" and this may be taken by many ento- 

 mologists as conclusive evidence of their specific identity, although there appears 

 to be no evidence to show that the eximiella received by Stainton from Zeller were 

 any of the original specimens taken by Mann at Montenero. 



Ovum. — The ovum is spherical, 0-41 mm. in diameter, i.e., slightly 

 smaller than that of M. calthella, and distinctly yellow ; otherwise it 

 is much like that of the latter species (Chapman). 



Habitat. — This species is found in a variety of situations — downs, 

 woods, etc. — but appears to be especially partial in the imago state to 

 the flowers of Veronica chamaedrys. Bower has found it flying in 

 the morning sun, at rest on grass blooms and those of Veronica, and 

 also obtained specimens by beating in various parts of Kent and 

 Surrey. Atmore has observed it on flowers of Veronica chamaedrys, 

 from which it is readily swept ; it flies only in sunshine. Kichardson 

 says that it is common at Portland among mixed herbage. At 

 Wareham, Cambridge says that it is abundant in all kinds of situa- 

 tions, and to be obtained by sweeping. Corbett says that M. seppella 

 seems to prefer drier places than those inhabited by M. calthella. It 

 frequents flowers of V. chamaedrys, Mercurialis perennis, Galium 

 saxatile, Nepeta glechoma, etc. . The imagines are not so conspicuous 

 as those of M. calthella, due, perhaps, to the fact that the flowers they 

 frequent are smaller and more numerous, so that one single flower 

 does not harbour so many moths ; the moths are generally taken by 

 sweeping, and occur at about the same time as M. calthella. Stainton 

 says that it is a common species, that he found it in abundance in 



