320 THE entomologist's record. 



in unison with Mr. Merrifield's. All my notes and observations 

 on the matter, satisfy me that the larval stage is the one 

 which is extremely sensitive to external influences." 



Closely connected with heredity is the question of dark 

 forms being brought about either by reversion or progressive 

 development. Of the " Coalescence of dark markings," Mr. 

 Cockerell writes: — "■ Argynnis bellona var. fasciata. The 

 zigzag band fused with the outward of the inner markings, 

 forming a white band (Maynard). ChrysopJianus JiypopJilczas 

 var. fasciatiis, Strecker. C. phlcsas var. fasciatns, Entoin. xi,, 

 25, with fig. (W. P. Weston). Acronycta tridens var. virga 

 {fasciata), with marginal band; Entom. xi., 24. In these cases 

 the dark markings have coalesced to form bands, such as are 

 normal with other species, and it is hard to consider them 

 entirely as cases of disease. Whatever may be their nature, 

 I think there can be no doubt that they point to the way in 

 which bands were originally acquired in banded species, and 

 very possibly by careful breeding from banded aberrations such 

 as these, a two-banded race might be formed " {Entom. xxii., p. 

 99). I do not for an instant imagine these to be cases of disease, 

 but a matter of progressive development brought about by 

 "natural selection." Many cases occur to me. Argynnis 

 adippe var. cleodoxa. If the silvery markings have originated 

 in the metamorphosis of some white pigment, var. cleodoxa 

 must be a decided case of progression, for the original white, 

 represented by the silvery spots, has here become reduced to 

 a minimum, its place being supplied by fulvous. I have a fine 

 series of varieties of undersides of this species, in which the 

 intermediate forms between a remarkably silvery under surface, 

 and total absence of silver spots, are represented. Argynnis 

 euphrosyne and Melitcea atJialia frequently assume a more or 

 less banded form. Syj'ic/ithns alvcohis often has the pale spots 

 reduced to a minimum, thus closely resembling some of the 

 allied south European species ; Lyccena agestis and its var. 

 artaxerxes , vary much in the quantity of orange spotting round 

 the wing ; Hepialus huninli males from Shetland become 

 ochreous like the females ; ill-developed spots in Zygcena ; 

 banded form of Eulepia cribnim (if this is not indeed a true 

 melanism) ; dark banded Odontopera bideniata, Crocallis elin- 

 guaria, some of the Ephyras, Acidalia bisetata (outer margin), 

 Acidalia aversata (banded iovm) , Loinaspilis inarginata, LobopJiora 

 lobiilata, Larentia ccssiata, Scotosia certata, S. undulata, Anaitis 

 plagiata, Carsia imbtitata, Eubolia lineolata ; most of the genus 



