NEPTICULA. 297 
condition, and especially bred specimens, as the habit of the larva, 
its colour, and the form and colour of its cocoon, frequently are 
invaluable helps to prove the distinctness of species, and it is only 
during the last two years that we have learnt how to collect these 
larvae, so that this branch of the study is completely in its infancy. 
The twenty-nine British species may be arranged in the follow- 
ing table :— 
a. Anterior wings without spots or fascie. Species 1-6. 
a a. Anterior wings with pale spots, no fascie. 
4, With a single minute pale spot on the inner margin. Species 7-9. 
6 6. With two opposite pale spots. Species 10-13. 
4 64, With two opposite pale spots and a broad basal streak. Spe- 
cies 14. 
666, With three pale spots. Species 15. 
aaa, Anterior wings with pale spots and a pale fascia, Species 16. 
aaaa, Anterior wings with a pale fascia. 
e. The fascia indistinct and yather dull. Species 17, 18. 
ec. The fascia distinet, bright, frequently metallic. Sp. 19-29. 
1. atricapitella, Haw. L. B. 555 (1829); Step.; Sta.—samia- 
tella §, Zell.? Alis anticis saturate eneis, postice violaceis; capillis 
atris, Exp. al. 3 lin, 
Head d/ack. ace yellowish. Palpi whitish. Antenne black, 
basal joint whitish. Anterior wings dark bronze, posteriorly shading 
to violet ; cilia pale grey. Posterior wings grey, with paler cilia. 
Common in May on the trunks of oaks, or on fences; occurs 
more sparingly in August. ‘The larva mines the leaves of the 
oak in July, September, and October, but has not yet been dis- 
tinguished from other larvee of a similar habit. 
2. ruficapitella, Haw. L. B. 586 (1829); Step.; Sta.—samia- 
tella 9, Zell.? Alis anticis dilute eneis, apicem versus violaceis; ca- 
pillis ferrugineis. Exp. al. 3 lin. 
Head and face reddish-yellow. Palpi whitish. Antenne fuscous, 
basal joint whitish. Anterior wings rather pale bronze, with the apex 
violet ; cilia greyish. Posterior wings pale grey, with paler cilia. 
Common on the trunks of oak, or on fences, in May; also ap- 
pears, though less plentifully, in August. ‘The larva mines the 
leaves of the oak in July, and in September and October. 
3. anomalella, Goétze, H. B. ili. 4. 168. 290 (1783); Sta.—Ro- 
sella, Schr.—ruficapitella, Lewis (Ent. Mag. i. 422), Alis anticis di- 
lutissime enceis, pone medium dilutioribus, apice obscure violaceo; ca- 
pillis luteis (interdum atris). Exp. al. 24 lin. 
Head and face bright yellow (sometimes black). Palpi whitish. 
Antenne fuscous, basal joint whitish. Anterior wings very pale bronze, 
VOL. III. 2Q 
