5142 Insects. 



have received from M. Zeller, and, although closely allied, it is 

 certainly distinct from our British species. 



22. E. vulgata. This is the austeraria of H.-Schseffer, but the 

 original figure of Hubner appears to represent a variety of castigata ; 

 and M. Guenee has therefore adopted Haworth's name, about which 

 there is no doubt. 



23. E. sobrinata. This species varies very much. Mr. Shepherd 

 has a splendid series from Scotland, which he kindly allowed me 

 to send to M. Guenee, who said it was a remarkable variety, and at 

 first he was inclined to consider it a distinct species. The insects 

 taken by Mr. Samuel Stevens appear to be the expressaria of 

 H.-Schaeffer, but M. Guenee considers this to be only a variety 

 of sobriuata, and I believe it would be impossible to separate them 

 from some of Mr. Shepherd's Scotch specimens. 



24. 25 and 26. M. Guenee is inclined to consider all these 

 as local varieties of one species, — the Absynthiata of Linne. I 

 am rather inclined to think that this opinion is not correct. No. 24 

 appears to be the true Absynthiata of Linne, which he says feeds 

 upon wormwood, &c. : it is well figured by Hubner, No. 453. It has 

 been bred from wormwood by Mr. S. Stevens, and from ragwort 

 by Mr. Gregson and others : it is principally found upon the coast 

 and in the fens, and appears in the perfect state in August. 



25. Well-figured by Hubner, No. 454, under the name of 

 minutata, W. V. ; it is considerably smaller than the preceding 

 insect, and appears in the perfect state in June : the larva feeds 

 in the autumn upon heath (Calluna vulgaris). 



26. This appears to be the Absynthiata of Haworth, Stephens, 

 &c, and is a garden-insect, and seems to have been more common 

 formerly than it is at present. The wings appear to be broader and 

 more rounded, and the colour darker than in the other two species (?): 

 the perfect insect appears in May. Mr. Wailes mentions, in a letter, 

 seeing two at Newcastle, on the 4th of the present month, and Mr. 

 Shepherd kindly sent me a living specimen to-day (May 7th) ; 

 the larva is unknown. These observations may induce others to pay 

 attention to the subject, and prove whether they really constitute 

 three species or are only local varieties. 



27. E. expallidata. This large species is very closely allied 

 to Absynthiata, but is always much paler in colour, and is almost 

 without the white marginal spots on the upper wings : it has prin- 

 cipally occurred on the coast, and is found in August. 



