18T7.] 209 



Lobophora vlreiata douhle brooded. — As it would appeal', from Mr. Buckler's 

 interesting article in the last number of the Magazine, p. 185, that Lohophora 

 virefata does not appear to have been recorded as double brooded, I may state, that 

 on the 13th August, 1873, I took, at light, a specimen of this insect, thus affording 

 additional proof that this species, even in a state of nature, has two broods in the 

 year. — Id. 



On variation in the larva of Pyrameis Atalanta. — This butterfly is very abundant 

 in the Isle of Man, and although it occurs almost everywhere in the British islands, 

 the larva does not seem to have been very commonly observed, if I may judge from 

 my correspondents' letters. 



In the neighbourhood of Douglas, during the past summer, the larvae swarmed 

 in every lane, disputing the possession of the nettles with Vanessa urticce, and far out- 

 numbering the larvae of Vanessa lo. It is iisually called a " solitary " larva — Stainton's 

 Manual, i, 37, Xewman's Britisli Butterflies, p. 62 — but the word solitary can only 

 be applied to it here in a restricted sense, and as referring to its habit of requiring 

 sole possession of at least one leaf for the construction of its tent, for I have taken 

 eighteen full-fed larvae from one plant of nettle, and left behind at least as many 

 young ones ; the plant was not a solitary one, but grew in a lane bordered with nettles, 

 so that the female butterily was txnder no compulsion to deviate from her supposed 

 ordinary practice of depositing her eggs singly over a wide range. The larva of 

 Pyrameis Atalanta varies in colour remarkably, but may generally (perhaps always) 

 be classed under one or other of the following descriptions, and yet the colour of 

 some of them is so far intermediate that the variation can scarcely be called simply 

 dimorphic. 

 1. — Ground colour grey-green, varying to dingy white, the lateral stripe not very 



distinctly marked. Tliis is, I think, the typical form, and the only one that I 



have seen in England. 

 2. — Ground colour intensely black, the lateral stripe white or yellow. 



The spines on the various segments vary in colour almost indefinitely in both 

 forms of larva; : some being black throughout their whole length, others only tipped 

 with black, some are white and semi-transparent, some smoke coloured. The black 

 type of larvae certainly predom.inates in the island, but not very markedly. 



I reared upwards of one hundred butterflies from each form of larva, keeping 

 well marked specimens of each type in separate cages, with the view of ascertaining 

 what differences, if any, in the perfect insect corresponded with the strongly con- 

 trasted colours of the larva, rather expecting to find it a sexual one, but the results 

 were purely negative. The sexes were produced in about equal numbers by both 

 forms of larvae. The white spot sometimes found on the upper siirfaec of the scarlet 

 band on fore-wings is not indicative of the female sex as stated by Newman 

 (British Butterflies, p. 62), it was present in about one-tenth of the specimens, was 

 produced from both forms of larva), and in about equal luimbers of both sexes, it 

 varies greatly in size, in some specimens being a barely discernible speck. 



In short, I am not able to indicate any difference by which the butterflies pro- 

 duced from such remarkably distinct looking laiwa; can be distinguished from one 

 anotlier. I venture to ask you to find a corner for this rather unsatisfactory note, 



