THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



121 



A VISIT TO LIVERPOOL. 



By JOHN E. ROBSON. 



. (Continued from 103 -.) 



Mi an a. — Mr. Gregson has all the named forms of all the species, and 

 connecting links as well. Some of the pale Strigilis are very fine and light. 



Agrotis Nigricans. — A grand series of this variable species, including 

 v. Marshattana, Westwood, a large light brown form from the Tens. There are 

 also some specimens smaller than Nigricans generally runs, dark brown in 

 colour and very indistinctly marked. These, Mr. Gregson has named DuMce, 

 being dubious I suppose whether they really were Nigricans or something 

 else. 



A. Spinifera. — -A single specimen taken in the Isle of Man, and named 

 by Doubleday. It is a very light coloured insect with pure white hind-wings 

 and a white body. 



A. Ashworthii. — Among a long row T of this rare and beautiful insect are 

 three suffused forms. The variation appears to tend to a central fascia across 

 the wing. 



Noctua Glareosa. — Yar. Ilehraicaoides of this collection has a dark cold 

 brown ground colour, making the costal spots appear less distinctly defined, 

 and the margins of the stigmata more so. I did not note from what locality 

 this distinct form was obtained. 



Triph^na Orbona. — Yar. Curtisii with as much variation as can well be 

 imagined, splendid dark red-brown, red-brown, brown, cold dark grey-brown, 

 and cold light grey brown ground, all very distinct from each other, yet true 

 Curtisii. There is also a type var. with very pale yellow hind-wings, without 

 lunule, and another with the dark marginal band much broken. 



T^niocampa Gothica, — Yar. Gothicina very fine and varied. There are 

 also some dark smoky brown forms, with the black " Hebrew character " very 

 distinct. This form Mr. Gregson calls Nigra. There are also some very 

 pale forms, one remarkably so, with small distinct stigmata and small black 

 streak between. 



T. Instabilis. — Of this variable species he has a grand series, var. Nehu- 

 losus, Haw., light ochreous brown, to dark bluish grey ; v. Collinita, Esp., the 

 ordinary form; var. Fuscata, Haw., lines and margins of stigmata very dis- 

 tinctly light. He has also a pale cinereous unicolorous form that does not 

 appear to have a name as yet. 



T. Opima. — Of this equally variable insect he has a fine series, and has 



