6 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [j ANUARY 



1 6. C. gracilis, Tash. Common on moles. The fleas of this 

 genus differ as much from the common flea as does a greyhound from 

 a sheep dog. 



(To he continued.) 



MIANIA STRIGILIS AND FASCIUNCULA. 



By JOHN E, ROBSON, F.E.S. 



Several correspondents have written me respecting a statement 

 made at a recent meeting of the City of London Entomological 

 Society, and reported in the December part of the Young Naturalist 

 that one of these was but a variety of the other. The assertion was 

 made by my friend Mr. J. W. Tutt, who has bestowed much attention 

 in the variation of the markings in the wings of our British Noctuae^ 

 It is reported in his own magazine in the following words " M. 

 fasciunciila was a var. of strigilis without doubt. The Rev. F. W. 

 Johnson had sent Mr. Tutt specimens perfectly intermediate, and 

 equally well named as either species." It seems very hard to believe 

 that so positive an assertion as this, could be made on such very 

 slight evidence. Have we not, all of us, abnormal specimens in our 

 collections that might equally well be given more than one name. I 

 have bred a pug that has had four names given to it by as many different 

 Entomologists, and my friend Mr. Gardner bred another of them^ 

 which w^as exhibited at a meeting of the Entomological Society, under 

 yet a different name. But surely the want of unanimity amongst 

 Entomologists concerning an abnormal form is no evidence that thesa 

 five pugs are all one species. Tephwsia hiicndtdaria, and crepuscularia 

 are insects concerning which there has been much discussion. Every 

 cabinet contains specimens that might with equal propriety be called 

 by either name, if nothing but the superficial appearance were con- 

 sidered. But it is well known that these two species fly at different 

 periods of the year, and if no other evidence could be adduced, that is 

 surely enough to establish their distinctness. But with the species 

 now under consideration a great deal more can be said. Both the or- 

 dinary and extreme forms of hiundularia are very like those of crepus- 

 cularia. Accepting Mr. Tutt's statement, that one collector (and I 



