CIDARIA. By L. B. Prout. 
157 
S u b g e n u s Mesoleuca Hbn. 
(See Vol. 4, p. 253.) 
C. bimacularia Leech (Vol. 4, pi. 7 f). In recording topotypical <$<$ from the Stotzner collections, hi macular ia. 
Dr. Sterneck takes occasion to point out that the discocellulars of the hindwing are in this species more mark¬ 
edly biangulate than is allowed for in my diagnosis of the subgenus, which is probably not a strictly natural 
one. In alaudaria Frr., on the other hand, and in the only mandschuricata Brem. which I have examined 
from this standpoint, the 2nd radial is generally about midway between the 1st and 3rd and the tract between 
its base and the end of the cell-fold more or less short — i. e. as in the type of Mesoleuca, albicillata L. 
C. albicillata L. (Vol. 4, pi. 10 c) ab. philippsi (Rangnow, M. S.) Hannemann has the dark basal patch philippsi. 
of the forewing broadly confluent along the costa with the subapical patch. Berlin district. I have an asym¬ 
metrical $ in which the right wing is normal, the left strongly approaching philippsi. It is interesting to add 
that Reisser has described and figured an asymmetrical albicillata from Markthof (Donauau) with a similar 
tendency on the right forewing, though the confluence is subcostal. — ab. vestata Dadd, described from Mach- vestata. 
nower Busch, near Berlin, has the basal patch much broadened, as also the distal bluish part, the (normally 
fine) dark postmedian line strong, double, nearly median, the white median area consequently very narrow. 
nigromarginata Heydem. is a good race from the Sajan Mountains; Tunkinsk White Mountains, 2200 m. £ nigromargi- 
normal in size, smaller; further distinguished by the dark distal borders, which are more regular in breadth 
and not, or scarcely, interrupted by the white ground-colour, even the subterminal line weakened. Perhaps 
also, at least as an aberration, in N. Scandinavia and Finland. 
S u b g e n u s Melanthia Dup. 
(See Vol. 4, p. 253.) 
This subgenus is almost certainly misplaced; both the genitalia and the early stages show evident 
affinities with Horisme and, through it, with the Eupithecia group. Abdominal crests, which are characteristic 
of the group, are little developed in the type species (procellata), but see postalbaria below. 
C. procellata Schiff. (Vol. 4, pi. 10 c, as procellaria). In addition to its sometimes puzzling variability; procellata. 
this insect, so distinct from anything else which we know in Europe, is interesting as the centre of a group of 
races and closely related species which deserve monographic revision. Their distribution is from Europe 
through Siberia to Japan and Formosa, besides W. China and the N. E. Himalayas. English procellata is 
generally very constant and even in the rest of Europe striking aberrations are by no means frequent, but in 
the far East the reverse seems to be the case. — ab. fasciata F. Hoffm. Median band of forewing complete; fasciata. 
general coloration not darkened. Described from Lower Austria. — ab. efi'usa C. Schneider. Median band of effusa. 
forewing nearly complete but a good deal blurred, the lines of the posterior part indefinitely fused into proximal 
and distal groups. Wurttemberg. — ab. fulvomaculata Dannehl. Ground-colour inclining to yellowish, the fulvomacu- 
black-brown parts intense, the yellow-brown becoming fawn-brown between the posterior lines of the median 
area. Bad Reichenhall. — ab. extrema Schwingenschuss. Considerably more extreme than ab. infumata Rbl., extrema. 
resembling the d a r k forms of inquinata. — ab. loc. inexpedata Warnecke, f. nov. “Four specimens, collected inexpectata. 
by Graeser. The $ has the size of European specimens, $ smaller. They are the antithesis of inquinata Btlr., 
very near the name-form but considerably lighter, in the median area with the wavy lines behind the large 
costal spot wanting or obsolescent, so that the middle of the wing is particularly light.” Collected on the Lower 
Amur and about Vladivostok, the originals in the Hamburg Zoological Museum. I add that in the type 
which is rather extreme, the border of the forewing is somewhat narrowed and the hindwing almost unmarked, 
only the (weak and narrow) border developed. According to the material known to me, inexpectata is a recur¬ 
rent but by no means the only form of procellata in the district. I am indebted to my friend Mr. G. Warnecke 
for directing my attention to it. szechuanensis Wehrli (14 b). Larger than inquinata Btlr. and clathrata szechuanen- 
Warr. (N. India and S. China), much cleaner white, the costal spot larger, at the costa broader, the postmedian SiS ‘ 
band warm brown, rarely whitish, the white median area much more weakly marked, the marginal area ochre- 
brownish, containing 2 isolated white spots, the central one larger than that at the anal angle. A long series 
from different localities in W. China. 
C. exserens Wehrli (14 c). Near procellata but so different in colour and markings that it must be regar- exserens. 
cled as a species. Glossy white, with the markings dark grey-brown, not ochreous brown. Basal patch larger 
than in szechuanensis and clathrata, distally angled; mid-costal spot irregularly quadrate, at the costa in 
the middle with white spots, the strong lines behind it characteristic, enclosing round white spots and distal 
triangles; but the best distinctions of all are in the two pointed teeth which project outward from the middle 
of the median area and in the lack, or extreme reduction, of the large white subterminal spot of the preceding 
species. 2 from Siao-lu and a larger $ from Ta-tsien-lu. 
