6194 



Northern Entomological Society, 



wings in O. filigrammaria is a permanent distinctive cliavactev in the male, whilst the 

 female cannot be confounded with tlie female of the October insect. The size of the 

 insects, a point on which our friends seem to lay great stress, is of little moment, 

 hecause the Petty Pool specimens, more south than so-called Manchester specimens, 

 are quite as large as the Rannoch specimens, and generally much darker. I have 

 often been asked, ' How do you separate autumnaria from dilutaria, as you take them 

 together?' and I think the distinctive characters may well be remarked upon here: 

 first, the antennae in autumnaria are much finer, the insect is more silvery, and the 

 marginal band on the under wings is not parallel with the cilia, as it always is in 

 dilutaria, hut cuts across the elongated point of the wing, and is consequently broader 

 attbispart; this character is better defined in some specimens than in others, and 

 applies with still more force in filigrammaria, in consequence of the greater elonga- 

 tion of the under wing. 



" I do not care to enter into the question of another species in this genus, 

 further than to ask to be permitted to think we have one, as I shall be quite willing 

 to let those friends who have never seen it think we have not one ; but I may call 

 your attention to Mr. Weaver's note (Zool. 3495) on the genus Oporabia, and men- 

 tion that he made a journey from Birmingham to Liverpool purposely to see ray 

 specimens, and unhesitatingly pronounced them a distinct species. It may be said 

 Weaver had an object in multiplying species, but it is uncharitable to say so of him; 

 for my part I would rather take his opinion, founded as it was on practical and close 

 observations of the insect ; where it appears, how it sits, how it flies, when it disap- 

 pears, &c,, go for something, even when we do not know its food-plant; but 

 we know it to feed upon a tree, whilst the species to which it is allied occurs 

 frequently where no trees are, and at other times where fir alone will grow, as at 

 Moel Varna. 



" I fear I have extended my remarks over too great a space, but I think I should 

 not do justice to this question if I did not give the opinions of other practical entomolo- 

 gists, and shall select extracts from a letter kindly furnished by Mr. Garlick, merely 

 observing that Wharmton is always a cold, late district ; rising as it does on the 

 moors, it has not the protection from the winds which the adjoining hills of the 

 * brushes' range have, and consequently such hills as Highrige are always two weeks 

 earlier there. I have found filigrammaria wasted on the 12th of August, rather a 

 particular day to sportsmen in this district. 



" Mr. Garlick says, on the 16th of August, 1855: — ' I took two good specimens of 

 filigrammaria, just out, on a fence wall. This is the earliest date that ever I met 

 with them. T took 120 specimens, in fine condition, from then to the 4th of Septem- 

 ber ; this I should say is the height of the season for them here, but I did not see a 

 specimen of any sort after the 14ih of September.' 



"August 24, 1856. — ' Had been on the look out for them two weeks. Took three 

 specimens, just out, on the walls, and two on the trunks of fir trees. This year their 

 height was from the 1st to the 6th of September; on the 15lh they had dispersed.' 



" August 19, 1857. — * Found filigrammaria, just out ; it was in fine condition on 

 the 26th and 27th, but on the 10th of September it had gone to " Davy," and I could 

 not find one afterwards.' 



" When we allow for the coolness of this district, as compared with the sheltered 

 localities I and others have taken it in, we shall find that these dates coincide with 

 what might naturally be expected. Being desirous of laying the facts before you, 



