THE BRITISH UPARID MOTHS. 31 



but is composed of some glutinous secretion, which becomes tough, and 

 dries on exposure to the air. 



The ova of P. nimilis are, speaking from memory, very similar to 

 those of O. tli.sjiar, but smaller ; like those of the latter species, too, 

 they are laid in patches, and covered with down from the abdomen of 

 the female. I can find no description of the egg of P. chrysorrhoea ; 

 they are, however, laid in patches, and are covered with down. 



The ova of r>rt.s7/t7i/;Yj/«.sr('Zt»a are rounder than those of Ocneria, 

 but each still forms a flattened sphere, which is of a dulicato white 

 porcelain appearance. Tho eggs are laid in small patches, and 

 covered with dark grey or dusky down. Those of />. jntilibnnda, so 

 far as I remember, are laid in large, close patches, are of an opaque 

 whitish or grey coloration, faintly ringed with darker grey, like the egg 

 of (K antiqua. 



The eggs of Oiyi/ia antiijua are laid in a large patch, usually on the 

 old cocoon. Each is shaped rather like a kettle-drum, spherical, but 

 with a flattened top, the latter having a broad raised edge ; it is opaque, 

 with a porcellanous appearance, of a pale brown colour, with the 

 exception of the raised rim, which is white. The egg of 0. t/onostiiinia 

 is white, and of a delicate poicellanous appearance. I am not quite 

 certain as to its shape, but I believe it to be spherical, or nearly so. 

 The ova are laid in large loose masses, mixed with down from the 

 body of the female. The natural place of deposition appears to be 

 between the inner and outer cocoon. I can find no description of the 

 egg of Ij. cnoiofta. 



It is remarkable how different are the ova and the ogg-laying habit 

 of the various species, closely as they are allied. Of nine species 

 mentioned, six cover their eggs, five with down and one with a 

 gelatinous secretion. The most closly allied forms difter widely from 

 each other in this respect, e.g., IK pudibunda and D. fasrrluw, 

 (f. antii]ua and O. (innit^tiijma, (>. monacha B,nd O. disi)ar, the former of 

 each pair laying its ova without, the latter with, a covering of down ; in 

 the case of the Orgyias the structure of the egg also differs considerably. 



f To be continued.) 



On the habits and aberrations of Melitaea aurinia. 



By JOSEPH MEliRIN. 

 Among a number of Melitaea aurinia, taken in a spot known as 

 Kimberland, a large swampy meadow, bordered by a small wood, 

 chiefly of oak, between three and four miles from Gloucester, during 

 the last five or six years, I have obtained a few good aberrations. 

 They have been captured at the normal time of emergence for this 

 species, and swarms of the species are, in most seasons, to be taken 

 there. The herbage consists largely of devil's-bit scabious and 

 plantain, with many other "weeds." Broods of the larvae in their 

 webs are visible amongst these during the winter, and they scatter in 

 the spring when about half-fed, and may be picked up while sunning 

 themselves on the herba.m'. I have fed many up into the perfect 

 state, but never obtained any aberrations, which seem to occur only 

 occasionally. Attempts to naturalize the larva> into the adjoining 

 fields have failed. The butterflies are remarkable for confining them- 

 selves to the meadow in question, although the scabious is dotted 



