Insects. 2093 



has a broadish base, is very nearly straight, and points towards the anal angle ; the 

 other three are comma-shaped ; the fourth just touches with its apex the oval black 

 spot at the apex of the wing : the first inner marginal spot is much curved, and 

 reaches to just beyond the apex of the first costal spot ; the second is somewhat trian- 

 gular, though its inner margin is slightly curved ; the third is opposite the third costal 

 spot, which it very nearly joins : all these spots are margined internally with brown : 

 cilia varied, according to the parts of the wing from which they spring, with a darker 

 arch from the fourth costal spot to the anal angle : the inner margin of the wing is 

 often whitish from the base to the first spot. Posterior wings clear gray ; cilia paler 

 and fulvescent. 



Closely allied to the next species, but differs in the generally paler colour of the 

 anterior wings, and the hind tarsi are quite white instead of being spotted. 



I took this species in plenty last May on the Penge palings ; I do not remember 

 ever taking it before. 



Zeller says of it, " This probably not scarce species flies in April and May, and 

 again later in the season, near Glogau, in an oak wood, in which there is a mixture 

 of whitethorn and sloe, &c." 



Zeller mentions two varieties of it, viz. — 



" Var. b. With the first pair of spots united, forming a very acute angle. 



" Var. c. With the first and second inner marginal spots united at their apices." 



It is among specimens of this insect that I have found mixed elatella, ilicifoliella 

 and securiferella. Several other allied continental species may yet have escaped de- 

 tection. 



Fabricius's description of Blancardella would suit this insect very well, only it 

 would equally suit ilicifoliella, pomonella and others. He says, " Anterior wings 

 golden, with a slender silvery basal line, which joins the side of the thorax. Four 

 spots on the costa, three on the inner margin, all beyond the middle." 



Haworth has copied Fabricius without remark, but he describes as var. /3. an insect 

 with a medial fascia, which from his description I cannot make out at all. Mr. Ste- 

 phens also adds but little to the description of Fabricius. Haworth's description of 

 mespilella would also suit our insect very well, and I have very little doubt that this 

 insect was the one he intended; but Mr. Stephens has copied Haworth's description, 

 and apparently applied it to a different species. 



Hubner's figure of mespilella is too coarse to be of any use where the species are 

 so very closely allied. 



Sp. 16. pomifoliella, Tischer. 



Lithocolletis pomifoliella, Tischer, MSS. Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entom. i. 

 196, f. 15. 



Tinea Rajella, Haworth ? Lepidop. Brit. 577, 56. 



Argyromiyes Rajella, Stephens ? Illustrations, iv. 256. St. Mus. Bent. Mus. 

 Wood's fig. 1314. 



This species differs so little from the preceding one that it would be superfluous to 

 write a full description of it. It is generally smaller than pomonella, the anterior 

 wings are much deeper tawny, and the hinder tarsi are spotted with black, instead of 

 being pure white as in that species. It is one of the commonest and most generally 

 distributed species in the genus. 



VI T 



