SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 277 



in most cases, and takes the same direction. The specimens which 

 show the true character of ivinianaia best, are those from Shetland, and, 

 as the venation is often darker, it is very valuable when studying the 

 structure of the wing. 1 have riissata from many different counties in 

 England, including most of the northern ones, also in Scotland, from 

 Perth, Aberdeen, etc. I think there can be little doubt that russata is 

 more abundant than imiiianata in the south, while the reverse is the 

 case in the north, and, as the second brood of russata appears at the 

 sam.e time as the only appearance of wvnanata, there is little to be 

 wondered at in the confusion that has arisen. Certain vars., however, 

 are peculiar to each. The var, centum-notata, the russata form with 

 brown, orange or chocolate ground colour, according, as a rule, to the 

 condition of the insect, never appears in immanata ; while the latter has, 

 in most cases, a distinct paler, and often brownish or purplish band near 

 the base of the fore wing, of which there are generally but slight 

 indications in russata. Russata is a bigger, coarser insect ; particularly 

 the spring brood. Any characters, drawn from the size or prominence 

 of the teeth in the submarginal band of the fore wing, are worse than 

 delusive. With regard to the natural history of the two species, it may 

 be as well to say a word or two, for many of our collectors still entertain 

 a lingering idea that they are identical. This is not, however, the case. 

 The eggs of russata, laid in the autumn, hatch within a short period, 

 the larvae hibernating and producing the spring brood in May (end) and, 

 June. The offspring of these become the autumn brood, which 

 emerges in August, September, and even the beginning of October; 

 iiiimanata, on the other hand, is single-brooded. The eggs, laid in 

 autumn, pass the winter in that state, and the larvae hatch in March and 

 April, the moths appearing from the end of July to the beginning of 

 September. It has been suggested, that russata and immajuita are 

 climatic varieties, but this is incorrect, for they occur together, and, 

 surely the surroundings of the one would hardly fail to affect the other. 

 One more word and I have done. The eggs are distinct in colour, 

 russata being a pale whitish ochreous, and they do not seem to 

 materially change colour before hatching. Immauata ova are yellowish 

 almost reddish, and darken very considerably before they hatch. 



The young larvae of russata are whitish, while those of immanata are 

 yellow, and when full-fed they differ considerably in several important 

 points, but, as these would prolong this paper to too great a length, I 

 must refer to the late Rev. J. Hellins' masterly description of both 

 species in the Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. i., p. i66, which I have personally 

 verified by breeding both insects. — C. Fenn, Eversden House, Burnt 

 Ash Hill, Lee, Kent. 2-[st Octoh':r, 1890. 



Mr. Fenn remarks that Cidaria immanata appears in August and 

 September. I remember once taking several specimens, just emerged, 

 at Folkestone the second week in July. I have not had much ex- 

 perience with this species, but is it not a fact that this insect appears 

 between the first and second broods of C. russata, at least, that the 

 former would be getting worn before the second brood of the latter 

 appeared ? On comparing the C. russata taken at Abbott's Wood with 

 C. inunanata from Folkestone and Arran, I notice that the former 

 seem much larger, my observation thus coinciding with that of Mr. 

 Fenn on this point. — E. C. Dobrke Fox, Castle Moreton. — Nov. 1890. 



