54 



are quite white and much the same as in the species, it has three 

 black spots on each of the upper and a single one on the under- 

 wings." Unfortunately, no locality is given, but I think the figure 

 must be referable to one of the hinatiJtii forms. 



The black spotting of the wings varies very considerably, both in 

 the type form and its colour varieties. I do not remember to have 

 seen a specimen absolutely devoid of spots, but examples of both 

 sexes in which the only marking is one small black dot in the centre 

 of each forewing are not very uncommon (the female of this form 

 has been named depnncta by Schultz), and from this every grade of 

 spotting may be found up to heavily blotched specimens, both fore- 

 and hindwings being affected. In the latter case the variation 

 appears to be largely racial. 



In this connection, Porritt (" Trans. Ent. Soc. of London," 1889, 

 p. 441, pi. xiv.) describes and figures representatives of two broods 

 that he reared from batches of ova found in the neighbourhood of 

 Hudderstield, all the individuals of which, both males and females, 

 are heavily blotched, in the more extreme examples taking a radiated 

 form on the forewings, and forming practically a marginal band on 

 the hindwings. Rebel (" Berge's Schmetterlingsbuch," 1910, p. 426. 

 See also Barrett, ii., pi. 75, tigs. 2b-2c) names the female of this 

 form faaciata. Porritt tells us that the form was exceedingly local, 

 being confined to about a hundred yards of a lane near Grimescar. 

 Mendicana of Staudinger, described as "wings more or less streaked 

 and blotched with fuscous, the terminal area sometimes suffused 

 with fuscous," appears to be referable to this form. 



Heavily spotted forms are not, however, confined to any particular 

 locality, and may occasionally be found almost anywhere, and when 

 bred from, a considerable number of the progeny usually follow the 

 parents more or less closely. This seems to suggest that if a colony 

 having this tendency gets separated it may gradually increase its 

 intensity until fasciata forms are produced, as in the case cited by 

 Porritt. I have heavily spotted forms from places as far apart as 

 Yorkshire, Kent, and Hereford, including good radiated forms of 

 the female from Kent and Co. Cork. Theselastmayperhaps be regarded 

 as chance aberrations, as apart from a local race; as may also forms 

 that we occasionally find in which the chief spotting is in the form 

 of a small blotch on thecosta or inner margin or both, or it may be a 

 streak along the costa, or, as in the case of var. depuucta, already 

 referred to, is confined to a single spot on each of the fore-wings. 

 Indeed, we find endless variations and combinations in the spotting, 

 more particularly in the female, that appear to be quite casual. 



Experimental Work. 



A great deal of experimental work has from time to time been 

 done in crossing the rnstica race with the type. Standfuss found 

 that by pairing the white male of the rnstica race with typical 



