^^^ AND ^"^^^^ 



JOURNAL OF VARIATION. 



Vol. X. No. 1. January Ioth, 1898. 



Aberration of Arctia caia (with figure). 



By J. A. CLARK, F.E.S. 



Fig. 1. — Aberration of Arctia caia. 



The figure of this aberration will give the readers of Tlie Kntomo- 

 loi/ist'.s Ei'cnrd a better idea of its peculiarities than any extensive 

 description. From this it will be seen that the forewings show 

 considerable malformation, the costa being hollowed and the outer 

 margin somewhat bulged beyond the normal condition in this species. 



This modification in shape is accompanied by a weak coloration, 

 the brown areas of the fore-wings, although much extended, being 

 badly pigmented, and this has evidently resulted from a failure to 

 reach the normal state of pigmentation. The spread of the brown 

 markings beyond their normal limits has resulted in a corresponding 

 contraction of the creamy areas. The latter are remarkable for the fact 

 that they are almost symmetrical on the two wings, a slight difference 

 in the size of the central arch of the creamy mark being the main 

 point of distinction. The hind-wings and abdomen are orange in 

 colour, the former with a dark fringe ; the black spots on the hind- 

 wings are strong and well-developed, and a fine black longitudinal 

 line joins the black marks that reach the costa. 



The specimen was bred in July, 1897, from a larva found at 

 Waltharastow, by Mr. Coleman, of Ada Street, London Fields. 



Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1897. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



Another year has passed, and I am again about to offer a short 

 critical review of the Lepidoptera of, and the doings of Lepidopterists 

 in, the year 1897. 



The .season, this year, seems to have been, on the whole, below the 

 average from the collector's point of view, although such species as 



