i89i.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



H3 



tion of a long series. There is no doubt, I think, but that Haworth's 

 didactyla (taken in Norfolk) is synonymous with distans, Zell. In the 

 Entomologist's Record," Vol. I., p. 94, I have written the following: 

 "Haworth describes his species as : ^Alucita (the spotted moth plume). 

 Alls patentibus sordide ferrugineis, fascia punctisque albis, anticis 

 bifidis, posticis trifidis. Habitat apud nos valde infrequens. Etiam 

 in Com. Norf., Rev. J. BurrelL' " This reference to Noriolk is very 

 suggestive of distans, and the description " sordide ferrugineis" could 

 only be applied to this of our British species; distans, too, is par excellence 

 a Norfolk species. Haworth's remark, after describing parvidactyla, is 

 very interesting, and affords the strongest possible clue to his didactyla 

 and heferodactyla. He writes of parvidactyla : — "This is the smallest 

 of our "Plume" moths, and it is also one of the rarest. Its characters 

 are almost exactly the same as in the two preceding articles ; yet its 

 dimitutive size as a species renders it very distinct." This remark, 

 coupled with the description and locality he gives, seems to settle the 

 species conclusively as the species we know now as distans, Zell. Of 

 course didactyla, Haw., sinks as a synonym of distans, Zell., there being 

 already a didactyla. Linn." 



Imago — The anterior v/ings of this species are divided into tw^o 

 lobes, the tips of the lobes acute. The colour pale ochreous-brown, 

 with the costa rather darker, but the extreme edge of the costa, near 

 the tip, much paler, almost white. There are three more or less* 

 abbreviated fasciae passing transversely across the anterior wings — ■ 

 (i) a pale crescentic fascia at the end of the lissure ; (2) a pale, broad 

 fascia, made of two crescents placed obliquely and forming an acute 

 angle near the termination of the fissure ; (3) a narrovv'er fascia forming 

 a crescent. Fringes the same colour as the wings. Posterior wings 

 brown, with paler fringes, divided into three plumules, the third 

 having a tuft of black scales beyond the middle, and a few white scales 

 at the base. Head and thorax colour of fore wings ; abdomen colour 

 of hind wings. Mr. C. G. Barrett (" Entomologist's Monthly Maga- 

 zine," Vol. XXV., p. 431) writes : — " Its pale fasciae are so placed as 

 to resemble crescents, especially when the insect is alive and at rest." 

 Zeller's diagnosis of the species is as follows : — " Distans, Z. (p. 345) — 

 Major, alls anterioribus luteofusccntibus, laciniis obsolete albido- 

 bistrigais, arcis laciniae posterioribus marginali albido ; digiti tertio 

 tertis dorsa longe ante apicem atro-squamato ( ,S $ )". 



