168 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



It is worthy of note that melanic specimens are often smaller than 

 typical specimens. lb has been so with the majority of T. j)sif 

 K. at»\iiaria, and Aiiijihidasia hetidaria that I have talien, and with H. 

 obni/itaria that I have seen, and has always suggested to me some 

 physical weakness. The melanic form of the Common Snipe, known 

 as Sabine's Snipe is also smaller than the type. I remember once 

 sending some Callitiwyjiha (hnuinida larvte to a friend who fed them on 

 a non-succulent foodplant, and generally neglected them, with the 

 result that he only bred one small specimen, a lovely aberration with 

 nearly black hindwings, whereas I reared 84 specimens out of 87 larvfe, 

 full-sized and monotonously typical, the larvae being fed on succulent 

 foodplant. In an editorial in the Kntomologisfs Record for July- 

 August, 1913, some extracts are given from a paper by H. B. Weiss in 

 the Canadian Kntu)nola(ii;<t on "Protective Resemblance" and '' apper- 

 ceptional expectancy." There may or may not be something in the 

 latter, that remains to be proved, but I fail to see how night-flying 

 moths could benefit by it. My observations in the field led me to 

 believe that the chief object of Butterflies and Moths is to seek shelter 

 from the elements, I have watched both make quite a number of 

 trials before settling down in a comfortable and sheltered position. If 

 " apperceptional expectancy," can be proved by observations in the 

 field the theory of weeding-out by birds causing "cryptic" resemblance 

 would be demolished. 



The case for " protective resemblance " in the above article is 

 given away, however, in the centre of the quotation — " Many trained 

 observers, and, in fact, niiiiieruiis birds, are able to overcome this exjiectancy, 

 and as a result, discriminate such insects from their surroundinijs, althouyh 

 sucli discrimination may be due in part to an ability to perceive tlieui.'' 

 Quite so, and exit " Protective " resemblance. 



With regard to the editorial Knt, Record, November, 1913, Vol. 

 XXV., p. 285, on Prof. Poulton's lecture at the South London Natural 

 History Society on " Mimicry in the Nymphalines of North America," 

 I was fortunate in being present at this most interesting lecture, but 

 must confess I saw nothing to convince me with regard to the hypo- 

 thesis of mimicry that " there was something it." As an exposition 

 of the probable evolution of the pattern of Nymphaline butterflies'^ 

 wing-markings, and the probability that the Danaines had been 

 evolved along the same lines, thus giving an instance of parallel 

 variation, it was most interesting. 



Life=history of Lycaena sephyrus var. uhryki. 



By F. W. FROHAWK, M.B.O.U., F.E.S. 

 {Co)tcluded from pacie 17.) 

 On March 12th, 1914, two larvae awakened from hibernation 

 and were placed on a young tender shoot of Astragalus, upon which 

 they remained quietly resting for several days owing to the dull cold 

 weather that prevailed during the following week. On the 20th they 

 started feeding, when two more larvte emerged from their hibernacula 

 and were followed by others during the next two or three days. They 

 fed on both the young developing leaves, and tender shoots, by boring 

 into the latter. One of these was riddled with holes just below the 



