258 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



below the spiracles which separates the dorsal and ventral areas (the 

 ventral area less covered with scales than the dorsal). The antennas 

 are long, slender (about seventeen joints), and almost colourless ; the 

 legs also are long, slender, with a very strong stout terminal claw. 

 There is a large compound eye at the base of each antenna (Tutt. 

 Described July 7th, 1899, from a ? that emerged the same morning). 

 Breyer notes also that on the second and third thoracic segments a 

 little below the middle, are two pyriform appendages, very difficult to 

 see although somewhat lengthened which evidently represent the 

 amorphous wings. He also says that the " zebra-like aspect " of the 

 abdomen is due to the distension of the abdomen that fills out the 

 segments and stretches the naked intersegmental areas. He further 

 notices a double crochet on each foot as well as the terminal hook. 



Variation. — Heinemann says that from cases (from tree-lichens) 

 which were three lines long, and very much broader than usual 

 medially, he bred larger and darker specimens, in which the border 

 before the fringes of the hind wings is somewhat abnormal. 



Comparison of Bacotia sepium with Peoutia betulina, Fumea 

 casta (nitidella), &c. — F. sepium is about the size of F. nitidella and 

 F. betulina, but a little narrower winged even than the latter. . . . 

 It differs strikingly from them in the differently formed antennas*, the 

 narrower and faintly reticulated forewings with a dark discoidal lunule, 

 so that it cannot be confused with them even without a knowledge of 

 the larva (Speyer). The following are comparative diagnoses of the 

 species by the same author : 



P. nitidella, Hb. (?). — Alae nigro-fuscae, unieolores, nitidulae ; antennae pec- 

 tinatae, articulis circiter 16, dentibus pectinum longioribus, squamosioribus, apice 

 subfusiformi ( <? ). Femina flavida, barba anali griseo-flavescenti. 



P. betulina, Zell. — Alas nigro-fuscae, nitidulae, unieolores ; antennas pectinatae, 

 articulis cire. 18, dentibus pect. flliformibus, tenuioribus ( $ ). Fern, fulva, barba 

 anali nivea. 



P. sepium, Sp. — Alas oblongae, angustiores, anteriores flavescenti seu fusco- 

 cinereae, subnitidae, obsoletissime nigro-tessulatae, macula venae transversae 

 obsoleta nigra ; antennae pectinatae, dentibus brevioribus, apice subfusiformi ( <$ ). 

 Fern, flavido-alba, barba anali griseo-flavescenti. 



Zeller says that the male comes very near Solenobia minorella, 

 Dup. (T. politella), but has somewhat rounder wings, is somewhat 

 smaller, darker brown and very glossy, with strongly fringed antennas. 

 Bruand notes that " the male of B. tabulella much resembles that of 

 P. salicolella in the shape of the wings but its colour is not so dark. 

 . . . The female is similar to that of salicolella." Barrett com- 

 pares (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxx., p. 269) the insect with his betulina.\ This 

 comparison is rather strained, and the statement that the anal tuft of 

 the female (of tabulella) is "brownish" leaves one in doubt as to 

 whether he knew the 2 of B. sepium (tabulella) at all. 



Egg-laying. — The ovipositor (4mm. long) consists of two retractile 

 tubes, the second of which is drawn entirely within the other to 

 receive an egg ; it is then fully extended and the egg is placed on the 



* Chapman notes that Bacotia sepium and Proutia betulina are tolerably close 

 in antennae, Fumea casta (nitidella) is different. 



f Since the above was in type, Chapman has determined (by examination of 

 Fletcher's examples) Barrett's betulina as Bacotia sepium. Barrett's comparison, 

 therefore, is evidently between different s s of sepium, and between sepium ? and 

 the ? of some other species not yet determined. 



