78 
ORTHOLITHA. By L. B. Prout. 
ododuren- 0. octodurensis Havre (7 i). The claims of this Ortholitha to rank as a species, considered doubtful 
sis . py its author but confirmed by Pungeler on its somewhat different build (see Vol. 4, p. 164), have been still 
further established; in particular, the distinctions in the genitalia are quite unmistakable (see Wehrli, Iris, 
Vol. 41, p. 66; Zerny, Eos, Vol. 3, p. 407, the latter with the names bipunctaria and octodurensis very un¬ 
fortunately transposed for fig. 3 and 4). The size distinction, on the other hand, is quite immaterial. 
Geographical variation is at least as pronounced as in bipunctaria. Dannehl has collected in the Stilfser Joch 
and Ultental specimens which agree, in his opinion, with the description of octodurensis , but 1 do not know 
whether they have been tested; the definitely ascertained range in Europe is from S. Spain to Wallis, but as 
it is now known to reappear in the Caucasus (see below) some considerable additions may be looked for. In 
kettembeili. many localities it and bipunctaria occur together. — ab. kettembeili Heinrich has the median area of the 
forewing strongly darkened, forming or solid blackish band. Best known in the following race, in which it 
f tallica . was first erected, but can occur in the other races. — gallica Wehrli (= ? grisescens Neuburger) (7 i). On an 
average somewhat larger than the name-type, the forewing somewhat lighter, more bluish grey, with basal 
and distal areas less darkly shaded. Probably this was first described from Digne under the erroneous name 
of bipunctaria ab. grisescens (see Vol. 4, p. 163), and although I possessed Digne specimens when writing 
Vol. 4, I failed to connect them with octodurensis ; even now, it is not impossible that Neitburger had before 
him the light Digne form of bipunctaria. Those entomologists who insist upon giving an aberration-name a 
status in nomenclature will, however, probably desire to call this race 0. grisescens. The form from the Ma- 
nevadina. ritime Alps scarcely differs. — nevadina Wehrli (7 i). Nearer to gallica than to octodurensis, the ground¬ 
colour remaining comparatively pale and weakly marked; somewhat smaller, somewhat more clay-coloured 
or yellowish in tone, with some inclination towards reddish, especially in the median area. Sierra Nevada, 
apparently a race on the chalk terrain of the northern spurs, at an altitude of 1800—2000 m. — The rest of 
the Spanish forms, so far as I know them (Alberracin and Tragacete), are darker and rougher-looking (the 
lines on the pale areas less indefinite, the colour “yellowish-grey to ash-grey” (Zerny), approximating to the 
ibera. “drab" and “hair-brown” of Ridgway and may be called ibera subsp. nov. Agenjo, in a valuable article on 
the group in Spain, adds Montarco (near Madrid) to the range; following Zerny's genitalia figures, lie has 
reversed the names bipunctaria and octodurensis thoughout, as has also Fernandez in erecting (bipunctaria) 
aetptes. ab. albescens. — aelptes subsp. nov. (7 k) has, at least in the type, a slight olive tinge, the pale ground-colour 
being “smoke grey” (Ridgway), the irroration and markings greyer than “light greyish olive"'; cell-dots 
separate, but not widely. The strong subterminal spots are probably inconstant. But as the genitalia in the 
only two examples yet known agree together, while showing appreciable differences in the shape of both the 
costa and the projecting extremity of the sacculus, as compared with European octodurensis, it is manifest 
that we have to do with a local race. The type, a from Chodzhalmachi, Daghestan (M. Rjabov) belongs 
to the Wehrli collection; the second from Grusia, Transcaucasia, long stood in the Joicey collection as 
a possible subspecies of bipunctaria , but being in poor condition was never thoroughly investigated: it is much 
browner than the type (partly through age and wear) the shape of the median band, etc., the same, but prob¬ 
ably without the strengthening of the subterminal spots. Collectors who have “Caucasian bipunctaria ” (so- 
called) are recommended to examine them. 
alfacaria. 0. alfacaria Stgr. (7 k). A gynandromorph has been described by Reisser, the left half Q, the right 
albarraci- half <$. It was captured at light in the Sierra Nevada, 13—14 July. — albarracina Zerny (7 k). Lighter and 
na. more yellowish grey, especially on the forewing costally; average size perhaps somewhat smaller. Albarracin. 
inondula. — ab. inondula Schawerda is almost uniform light-grey, the numerous lines of the forewing almost entirely 
wanting, only the boundary of the basal area indicated by a slightly darkened band, the outer boundary of 
the median area by a pale, divided band; cell-dot and white praemarginal dots visible. A <$ from Albarracin. 
transma- — transmarina Zerny (7 k). Lighter than typical alfacaria, especially the hindwing; forewing predominantly 
r'nia. either yellowish- or reddish-brown, with the median area darker than the proximal and distal. Morocco: 
Great Atlas, at 2300—3100 m. 
B. $ antenna not pectinate. 
pulchrata. 0. pulchrata Alph. (Vol. 4, pi. 8 c). Matsumura has tentatively referred here a battered $ from S. 
Saghalien (Shiska, 17 August), but admits that its condition does not allow of a definite determination. The 
locality seems to be very improbable. 
adomata. 0. adornata Stgr. (7 k). We figure a from Kuku-Nor. So far as I know, there is little variation. 
propingua- 0. propinguata Roll. (7 k). The Ortholitha from “North India" (known from Kumaon to Kashmir) 
la ~ recorded in Vol. 4 (p. 165) under niphonica is really propinguata, the oldest name for the collective species 
or group, and was well described by Kollar from Masuri as long ago as 1844. The $ figured on pi. 7 e of 
Vol. 4 as niphonica really belongs here, being a $ from Kashmir Valley (7000 feet) in my collection; we now 
add a <$ from Masuri, which shows that the sexual difference is chiefly a matter of size. The <$ antenna is 
