188 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



the sexes, somewhat similar to, but less marked than, that 

 exhibited by most of its allies. The male is smaller, the wings 

 shorter, and the body more slender. Chapman notes a distinct sexual 

 difference in the antennae : $ . Antennae with about 42 joints, length 

 6'5mm. ; length of plumules about the middle of antenna o*6mm., at 

 basal portion (about segment 8 to 10) of upper set o^mm., of lower 

 o*8mm., the difference ceases to be marked about segment 14 or 

 15 — so that the scoop-like arrangement is distinct enough without 

 being exaggerated. The dorsal scaling consists of about two rows 

 to a segment, but is quite irregular ; there are scales on the dorsal 

 aspect of the shorter series of plumules. The plumules carry about 

 26 rows of long hairs, divided as usual into a set on each side, 

 not always quite opposite each other. The plumules are clubbed 

 to a very trifling extent, are sloped off a little at the distal aspect 

 of the end, and on this slope is the baton spike, which is a small, 

 fairly ordinary bristle. This is the structure except towards the 

 apex, where the clubbing is a little greater, the shaft bends distally 

 at its end, making the sloping surface point distally, and the baton 

 is baton-like, very thick and short, with one small accompanying 

 bristle. 2 • Length 6'omm. composed of about 40 joints ; scaling irregular, 

 longest pectinations not twice as long as thickness of shaft, unsealed, 

 upper ones decidedly shorter basally, hairs very much appressed, 

 plumules basally rather conical, apically somewhat clubbed ; they 

 each carry a baton, which basally is nearly obsolete, but elsewhere is 

 short, thick and truncated, and a bristle which is well developed 

 on basal plumules but dwindles apically to a minute companion of the 

 baton. 



Gynandromorphism. — The following is, so far as we know, the 

 only recorded gynandromorphic example of this species : 



a. Left <? , 17mm.; right ?, 20mm. In colour the two pairs of wings 

 exhibit no difference, only the left ( <? ) side is smaller and more rounded 

 towards apex of forewing. The antennae, in the strength of shaft and character 

 of the teeth, midway between $ and ? ; left antenna distinctly shorter 

 (apparently crippled). The principal mark of gynandromorphism is in the forma- 

 tion of the abdomen ; it is more ? in form with a dividing line of bristles 

 along it, which, on the underside, is curved towards the left, just as the body 

 and anus are towards the male side. In agreement with this the left side has 

 the soft, woolly, erect down characteristic of the S , whilst the right ( ? ) side ot 

 the body has the smooth female down ; the abdomen is also thicker on the 

 right, and more full or swollen. Bred in Saxony (Wiskott, Festschrift Ver. SchUs. 

 Ins., 1897, p. 120). 



Variation. — The species appears subject to considerable minor 

 colour variation, and reminds one much in this respect of the 

 variation of Lachneis lanestris, the extremes of colour being grey 

 (in central Europe) and red (in Britain). Our British examples are 

 markedly redder than most of those from the Continent, although 

 some are indistinguishable, and the Japanese form (if it be not 

 indeed a distinct species) is also redder than the type. In his 

 Etudes, v., p. 37, Oberthiir records a $ and 5? taken in April, 

 1879, in the Island of Askold, which he says arc larger and more 

 brightly coloured than European specimens. These, we suspect, 

 are referable to var. japonica. It is possible that the var. sinina is 

 closely allied to, if not identical with, our British form, in spite of the 

 difference in habitat, but one wants specimens of sinina for comparison 

 before one can safely decide. McArthur exhibited at the meeting ot 



