107 



the extremes of variation in J/, neuntria, tlae very dark C. potatoria 

 males from Norfolk, and also the very richly coloured females from 

 the same district. 



Mr. Sperring showed a very beautifully variegated and dark 

 suffused female of C. potatoria. 



Mr. Brooks exhibited a light yellow male and a dark female with 

 male coloration of C. potatoria from Wicken. He also showed a 

 series of M. nexstria, including very red forms, forms with only 

 mere traces of the transverse band, forms with the band nearly- 

 divided, extremely dark and light forms, and an aberration in which 

 the band was very clearly white-edged, a male. 



Mr. A. E. Gibbs exhibited specimens of C. potatoria, including a 

 female in which the zigzag markings were obsolescent, a male of 

 uniform pale putty colour and destitute of markings, a male with a 

 minimum of markings and of a reddish-ochreous suffusion on 

 forewings, extremely dark specimens from Cambridge, dark 

 variegated females from Sussex, and several examples in which the 

 basal pale blotches are extremely emphasised in area. 



Mr. B. Adkin then read the following notes on the three species 

 exhibited by the members : — • 



" To-night I am exhibiting specimens of Alalacosoma castrensisy 

 M. nenstria, and Cosmotriche potatoria, for the purpose of complet- 

 ing my exhibition and remarks upon those iMchneides which vary 

 in ground colour from pale yellow to dark brown. 



" It is unnecessary for me to give all the forms and names which 

 are to be found in Tutt. I will state very shortly the main features 

 of variation. 



" Malacosoma castrensis. — -The sexes are dissimilar, their variation 

 is on different lines, but the most extreme forms, unicolorous 

 yellow-ochreous on the one hand and unicolorous red-brown on the 

 other, occur in both sexes. Between these there are many shades 

 of colour in both sexes, and a great variety of markings. The 

 typical male has pale yellow ochreous forewings with brown lines 

 and coppery coloured hindwings. The typical female is fawn 

 colour with two transverse yellow lines on forewings. The speci- 

 mens shown, though far from what I should wish, appear to give a- 

 good idea of the range of variation. 



" Malacosoma nenstria. — In both sexes the ground colour varies 

 from pale yellow ochreous, or buff", to deep rust-red or red-brown. 

 The markings vary considerably, either two distinct transverse lines 

 on forewings, or three united, or broken, or forming a band, or 

 absent. The typical form is yellow or buff, with two distinct trans- 



