VARIATION. 151 



logical societies, under the name of var. lowei. A description, therefore, 

 of the form becomes necessary. This is as follows : — 



Male smaller than the female, ochreous in tint, not unlike the hue of Ercmobia 

 oclirulencn. Fore-wint,'s with abreviated basal line, followed by complete basal line ; 

 these with the anj^ulated and subterminal lines, pale whitish grey, edged with fuscous. 

 The costa marked with pairs of short fuscous streaks, one on either side of the com- 

 mencement of each of the transverse lines. An ochreous yellow patch (below the ceil) 

 between the base of the abbreviated, and the complete, basal lines ; the orbicular 

 pale and con>picuous, an ochreous patch below it. Thereniform also moderately 

 well marked, pale greyish in colour. These look more conspicuous i)ecause of the 

 dark fuscous colour that fills up the central area of wing between the complete basal 

 and the angulated lines. Between the angulatcd and subterminal lines the wing is also 

 fuscous, with three small yellow ochreous blotches, one towards tip, and one on 

 inner margin, the third just above the latter. The wing beyond subterminal line 

 of the pale ground colour. The fringes alternately light and dark. The hind-wings 

 dark grey, basal area lighter (more especially in male), cilia ochreous grey, .\ntennie 

 of the male ciliated with a single row of tooth-like projections almost to the tip, 

 those of ? not ciliated, but very distinctly segmented. The male is paler than 

 the female, both on the fore-wings (having less fuscous) and hind-wings (towards 

 base). 



This will be well known to our readers as a very variable species. 

 The general variation of the species, and a detailed description of three 

 named forms, viz., var. harrcttii, Dbdy., var. brunneai/o, Esp., and var. 

 olbiena, Hb.-Gey., are given in the British Xoctuacand their Varieties, 

 vol. i., pp. 134-186. Since then Major Ficklin has captured a some- 

 what grey form — var. jicklini, in Cornwall, and Mr. Lowe's makes 

 another addition to the varietal list. — J. W. Tutt. 



Aberration of Melanippe sociata. — In 1886 I captured here a 

 good aberration of M. sociata, on which the central band is reduced 

 to a dark discal lunule. A broad dark grey band crosses both wings 

 parallel to hind margin of fore- and hind-wings, just within the 

 subterminal, which is white. — (Rev.) Frank E. Lowe, M.A., F.E.S., 

 S. Stephen's Vicarage, Guernsey. 



J^RACTICAL HINTS. 



Field Work for June and July. 



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



1. — During the last week of June, search the plants of Cardamine 

 pratensis and Alliaria ojficinalis for larvae of Kuchlae cardaniines. 



2. — Thecla pruni affects the privet blossom in Barnwell Wold. The 

 blossoming of the privet is usually a good sign as to the date to obtain 

 this species. 



8. — In July, sweep Lotus cornicidatus in the early morning or late 

 afternoon (after 5.80 p.m.) for Sesia ichneumouiformis. 



4. — During the first fortnight of July, search the seed-pods of the 

 various species of Silene for the larva.' of Kupithecia venosata. 



0. — The pupa of Boarmia abietaria is sometimes found in pro- 

 fusion at the roots of fir trees during the last week in June. 



6. — In late June, the larvae of Cleora (jlabraria are to be found 

 feeding on lichens on oak-trunks. 



7. — The imagines of Acidalia emutaria begin to fly directly after 

 sunset, settling on the herbage as soon as it is quite dark ; they are 

 then easily found with a lantern. I have found them as early as the 

 second week in June, and as late as the second week in August. 



