VARIATION. 243 



List, and wrote strigilis, Gn., as a var. oi fascmncida. \x\ fasciuncula I 

 have always considered that we had two well-marked forms: (i). A 

 greyish form = var. cana. (2). A bright red iox'cs\= fasciuncula. Strigilis 

 is polymorphic, and its varieties not easily classified, there being almost 

 a dozen named vars. But for our purpose, we may consider two forms: 

 (i). The black-and-white marbled {oxva- strigilis. (2). The black form = 

 (Ztliiops. Now in the South, the black form, although often as large as 

 the mottled form, is generally decidedly smaller, and but little, if any, 

 larger than the fasciuncula ; in fact, I have many strigilis in my series 

 as small as the ?,m3\\Qsi fasciuncula, and I doubt, therefore, whether size 

 will help us with our determination. Now with regard to time of 

 appearance. Those specimens of both, of which I have exact dates, 

 occur between the beginning of June and the third week of July (1888), 

 and the dates and localities of both species appear to be identical ; i.e., 

 all the localities which I have found to produce strigilis have produced 

 fasciuncula at the same time, and my earliest and latest dates have 

 produced both species. Therefore, so far as dates are concerned in 

 the time of appearance, there is no reason, at least in Kent, why they 

 should be considered distinct. Now as to markings. I would suggest 

 that there is not a single point of difference in them. The basal Imes 

 are identical, the stigmata, although varying slightly iftter se, are also 

 identical. The lunular mark, which is the lower part of the elbowed 

 line, and situated on the inner margin within the anal angle, is again 

 identical. In both, specimens occur with the elbowed line complete, 

 and they are exact in shape, direction and position. The shape from 

 the apex to the inner margin is the same in both, and lastly, the 

 claviform undergoes the same modifications, from total absence to a 

 strong H-like mark, joining the basal and elbowed lines under the 

 reniform and orbicular. In markings, therefore, I fail to see a single 

 point by means of which they may be separated. We now come to 

 colour. This has been, undoubtedly, our basis for scientific distinction, 

 but it has absolutely broken down before specimens sent me by Mr. 

 Johnson. He has sent me fasciuncula, from the very brightest red, 

 through reddish grey, dull grey, blackish grey, to dark strigilis, and I 

 am unnble to refer the blackish grey and black specimens any more 

 to strigilis than to fasciuncula. Of course, in closely allied species, I 

 always look for parallel ranges of variation, and am never surprised 

 when I find them. Here, I am left with the conviction, that either 

 strigilis = fasciuncula, or otherwise — I am not yet sufficiently trained to 

 discriminate the specimens sent. I need hardly add that I have ample 

 material to work on. At the same time, I have left out of account the 

 life-histories, of which I must acknowledge absolute ignorance. — J. \V. 

 TuTT. December, iSgo. 



Mr. Tuti's statement, that " M. fasciuncula was a var. of strigilis 

 without doubt" {Record, p. 218), has surprised me very much, and 

 I have no hesitation whatever in replying that M. fasciuncula and M. 

 strigilis are " without doubt " perfecty distinct. . Both occur here in 

 abundance, and some of my earliest recollections in connection with 

 sugaring refer to these two moths. Fasciuncula used to visit my 

 sugared trees in the garden and a lane near in profusion, but was 

 always much earlier in appearance than strigilis, appearing in May and 

 June. Strigilis began to appear at the end of June, but not until 



