SCOPULA. By L. B. Prout. 
45 
S. ambigua sp. n. (5 d). Very closely similar to kagiata Bastelb., which is fairly common on Formosa, so 
that I was inclined to regard it as a subspecies, but the genitalia are too different. An easily observed distinction 
is that the cerata (rami of the 8th sternite) are very unequal in ambigua (the left curved and less than % as long 
as the right), while in kagiata they are about equal. Both species are larger than emma, termen of forewing 
straighter and more oblique, median shade heavier, and they have a considerably shorter $ hindtarsus ( 1 tibia 
or scarcely), ambigua is appreciably paler than kagiata, with the median shade of the forewing not quite so obli¬ 
que (at least in front of the 3rd radial), therefore less closely approximated to the postmedian at the 1st radial, 
the markings on the whole somewhat less sharp. Forewing beneath in both species rather strongly suffused as 
far as the median shade, postmedian line also strong; terminal line beneath brownish,not or scarcely interrupt¬ 
ed, accentuated by blacker dots between the veins. Probably not rare in W. China, July to August. — Mt. 
Ornei, Moupin, Wa-shan, Pehlinting, 6000 feet (150 miles N. N. W. of Chengtu), Chia-ting-fu, Kwanhsien, 4500 feet 
(G. M. Franck), the type a very perfect from the last-named locality in my collection. 
8. emutaria Hbn. subroseata Haw. (5 d). This, the ordinary British form, is in general paler than that of 
S. Europe and with the oblique stripe weaker or slenderer. The biological information which I gave in Vol. 4 
was founded chiefly on this form. In the Mediterranean countries it does not seem to be particularly associated 
with salt marshes nor with Statice limonium, though I have little information regarding the nature of its haunts. 
Milliere associates it with “open places” (lieux fra is) and with Convolvulus sepium. If the name-typical form 
occurs in Britain (e. g., in the New Forest), it is only as an occasional aberration. 
8. jlaccidaria Z. albidaria^h/r., described inVol. 4 as an “ab.”, is clearly a good race; besides its white¬ 
ness, the antemedian line is better developed, the median shade generally broadened, the cell-spot of the hind¬ 
wing large, the forewing beneath heavily suffused. The British Museum has a short series from E. Turkestan, 
from an altitude of 4000 feet. 
S. imitaria Hbn. Although the aberrations, as stated (Vol. 4, p. 77), are inclined to “pass into one another 
by gradual transitions,” a study of more extensive material has shown that I was scarcely correct in describ¬ 
ing them as “little striking.” Several forms have since received names. —• ab. rosea Trti. is of a bright rose- 
colour (deeper than in syriacaria), with the black cell-dots and blackish oblique stripe, the rest of the markings 
obsolescent. Founded on one example from Bengasi. —- ab. aequilineata Schwingenschuss has the oblique stripe 
slender, linear, like the other transverse markings. Gravosa. —- ab. fasciata Vorbrodt (5 d). Median line and the 
shade outside it consolidated into a dark band. Founded on 2 from S. E. Switzerland, occasional in many lo¬ 
calities. —- ab.umbrata Dufrane is similar, but more “reddish ochreous”, the median band apparently still 
broader, reddish. 2 examples from Vannes. —- ab. bitinctata Dannehl is a very rare aberration, light bone-yellow 
as far as the median line, the entire outer part of the wing strongly suffused with reddish brown. The type comes 
from the Roman Campagna. — syriacaria Culot (5 d) is a small form, prevalent in Syria and Cyprus, with a 
strong suffusion of flesh-pink throughout and with the postmedian line less sinuous, on an average also with the 
angle of the hindwing somewhat weaker. Very similar forms are occasionally (but very rarely) met with in North 
Africa and Sicily and intermediates are not unknown from Syria and Cyprus, but — like M. Culot — I have never 
seen really typical imitaria from these latter localities. 
S. stigmata Moore (5 d). Following Hampson’s synonymy, I described this species in Vol. 4 as exti- 
maria Walk. Closer study of the group has shown, however, that Walker's type (described without locality) be¬ 
longs to the Sikkim-Assam representative, with sharper black dots, stronger spots on the abdomen, etc., so 
that Moore’s stigmata (“N.W. India; Solun”) has to be revived for the insect here figured, with its characteris¬ 
tically large and compound postmedian spots. 
8. moorei Cotes & Swinh. achrosta subsp. n. (5 d). Paler (less suffused with red-brown or red-grey) than 
the other races, the dark irrorotion slighter, dots on fringe weak or wanting. The cell-spot of the forewing is always 
large, but indistinct, that of the hindwing small, sharply blackish, not — as in many m. moorei —• replaced by 
orange scaling. The name-typical race of moorei belongs to Sikkim and Assam; achrosta replaces it in N. W. India 
(Masuri,Murree Hills, Simla, Kashmir etc.) and sometimes attains a larger size than its relatives; type a 8 from 
Kashmir Valley, 7000 feet, in my collection. 
S. proximaria Leech is now known from Szechuan, as well as from Central China. Our figure (Vol. 4, 
pi. 5 f) is a little too red, the antemedian line of the forewing rather too strongly curved and the dark markings 
outside the postmedian of the same scarcely developed enough. 
S. propinquaria Leech (Vol. 4 pi. 3 1, 5f). May probably be regarded as a straggler from the Indo- 
Australian Region. Besides Hong-Kong (mentioned in Vol. 4, p. 78) and other S. Chinese localities, it is not 
rare on Formosa, March to July. Our figures are satisfactory, though pi. 5 f is somewhat too highly coloured 
and does not bring out the black spot at the costal end of the postmedian line. 
arhbifjua. 
subroseata. 
albidaria. 
imitaria. 
rosea. 
aequiline¬ 
ata. 
fasciata. 
umbrata. 
bitinctata. 
syriacaria. 
stigmata. 
achrosta. 
proxima¬ 
ria. 
propinqua- 
ria 
