22 
we have intermediate races in a wild state. I have some in my cabinet 
from Pitfour, and it is difficult to say whether they are more like the 
moorland form of Filigrammaria or the Aberdeen form of Autumnaria. 
Bearing on the point of different races of one species appearing at 
different times, I think I am right in saying that there is quite a marked 
difference in the time of appearance between northern and southern 
Taeniocampa opima, and that the difference is not in the direction one 
would expect to look for it, as the southern opima are nearly a month 
later than those from Cheshire. In speaking of southern opima 
perhaps I should confine myself to Essex, as my knowledge goes no 
further. Another pair of species which are perplexing to many of us 
are Tephrosia crepuscularia (double brooded species), and Biundularia 
(single brooded species). In this case very few of us are inclined to 
deny specific rank, although I remember hearing the late C. J. Barrett 
contend that they were one and the same. Personally, I have never 
had an opportunity of hybridising these two, but 1 have hybrid 
specimens in my cabinet, all of which are males. It is pretty 
evident that in a state of nature the two keep absolutely distinct, although 
they are both occasionally taken in the same wood, Crepuscularia 
emerging first, but late ones overlapping Biundularia. My latest 
success in pairing two different species was to get a pairing between a 
5 Lapponaria, and a $ Zunaria. A large proportion of the eggs never 
hatched, owing, I believe, to sudden changes in temperature just as 
they were ready to hatch, but once started they did very well, and 
appeared to be quite strong and healthy. So far they have only arrived 
at the pupal stage and it still remains to be seen if any emerge. I also 
tried to pair a $ Hirtaria with a $ Lapponaria, but without success. 
Doubtless Zunaria is more closely allied to Lapponaria than Hirtaria is, 
but the resemblance in the larvae of the two last mentioned made me 
think that there might be a possibility of success. 
Perhaps the Noctuae where species blend most is among the 
Agrotidae. Although our inland forms of Nigricans seem distinct 
enough, yet when taken on the Suffolk coast it is extremely* like 
Tritici in some of its forms. I believe the generally accepted defini¬ 
tion is that Tritici possesses some tooth-like marks towards the outer 
margin, whereas Nigricans does not. Then we have to consider the 
very wide variation of Tritici, if we accept var. Aquilina as only a 
var., which personally I am inclined to do. It is undoubtedly a very 
distinct race, and in some localities very constant, particularly in the 
marshy districts of Essex, and formerly I used to take a very 
specialised form from a garden near Ipswich. But practically all 
these forms may be taken on the Suffolk coast with true Tritici 
running into Nigricans in a most delightfully confused manner. 
Possibly the difficulty of getting Noctuae to pair in confinement has 
prevented some of us from working out these species from the egg, 
and again there may be, I am afi'aid, the unscientific reason that 
when considerable labour has been expended in rearing them, they 
have a very poor exchangeable value. Going back to the Geometers, 
there is little doubt that one of the most closely allied groups is that 
of the genus Fphyra , where not only is there a strong family likeness 
in the imaginal stage, but also the larva? are remarkably alike, as well 
as the pupae. But with all that the several species appear to keep 
entirely distinct in a natural state. Occasionally one may meet with 
