18 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



They are veritable tritici and should be re-figured if the specimens they were 

 figured from really are cursoria. See the shape and underwings of these two 

 figures. The underwings of Tritici are rounder, suffused from the margin 

 gradually towards the base, and the nerves always show more or less dis- 

 tinctly, the wing itself being cold grey. Whilst cursoria is a longer and 

 narrower insect, its underwings are clearer and yellower, and always have a 

 marginal border, more or less defined, like a Helioihis, but the margin is not 

 quite so well developed as in that genus, and the upper portion of the wing is 

 always clear, and free from observable nervures. I have been told that no 

 stress should be laid upon the fact that these specimens are a little suffused, 

 because Shetland insects are darker and smaller than English or Scotch speci- 

 mens. Let us see how this works out in Mr. Curzon' s captures. He showed 

 me here the following species, and I looked over them several times each 

 day for three days and made notes : — 



ConvohulL — Two, fine, large, light specimens. Light. 



Exulis. — Twelve, large, several very large, light specimens. Much larger 

 and lighter than the figures on Plate 1, Yol. 17, of the " Entomologist." 

 Scotch specimens are very dark and much smaller than these. Light. 



Adusta. — A long series, large and much lighter than Lancashire or Scotch 

 specimens. Light. 



Velleda. — A long series, all small as Manx specimens, and like them in 

 colour, often very light. Light. 



Festiva. — Small in size, but splendid dark specimens. Dark. 



Note. — A very long series of exceedingly dark and small specimens of 

 festiva were captured by Mr. Curzon, in Unst, at sugar, but there was not 

 one light specimen amongst them, consequently he got no "var. conflua," 

 Conflua being a very light form of festiva, which is common at Rannock, 

 where it was first taken by Messrs. Dale and Curtis, above sixty years ago. 

 Mr. Dale gave me his Type specimen about thirty years since, which speci- 

 men is still in my cabinet ; if the specimens figured in the " Entomologist" 

 are as dark as they are represented in my copy, then the mainland specimens 

 have no claim to be called " var. conflua, Dale." 



Xanthographa.—N ot seen the specimens. Mr. Curzon thought they proved 

 extraordinary varieties of festiva when examined carefully. They are grand. 



Porpyhrea. — Little different from our moss species. I will say Dark for 

 them though they are dubious. Dark. 



Lucernea. — Grand, large, very dark. Dark. 



Occulta. — Exactly like Lancashire specimens, that is, rather light — Scotch 

 specimens are very dark. Light. 



Albutaria. — Some smoky, some very dark, all very small, no two alike } 



