VARIATION. 327 



tibiator, Cr., from Plufella cruciferartan. These examples illustrate the 

 fact that the parasite is often of more restricted range than any par- 

 ticular host ; but on p. 177 of the same number we have an opposite 

 instance, that of Opheltes glaucopterus, L., an Ophionid found both in 

 Europe and America, but infesting species of Ciiubex which are 

 peculiar to one continent, — T. D. A. Cockerell. January, i8qi. 



Fecundation before Hybernation. — A friend inquired of me a 

 short time ago if I ever obtained ova of Xy/itia petrificata or X. semi- 

 brunnea in the spring. The question was rather puzzling. In the first 

 place I was not aware that the last named insect hybernated (I have 

 never taken or seen a specimen in the spring, neither does Newman 

 say that it hybernates) ; secondly, though petrificata hybernates freely, 

 I was uncertain whether the females deposited ova in the autumn, or 

 after hybernation. I am inclined to think, now, that this is done in the 

 autumn occasionally, as one evening last October, I took a female at 

 ivy, and through an oversight it remained in the box it was taken in 

 throughout the following day. On opening the box to take out the 

 insect for killing, I found it had laid a quantity of ova, and was most 

 agreeably surprised, the more so, as I was under the impression until 

 then, that the eggs were not laid until spring. I may say, that I have 

 never got ova after hybernation, though I have frequently kept speci- 

 mens for that purpose. I should feel greatly obliged for information 

 respecting these two insects, from any entomologist who may have bred 

 them from ova, or who knows their earlier stages. — J. Mason, Clevedon 

 Court Lodge. January, 1891. 



Aneurism. — This occurs equally in a state of nature as when breed- 

 ing insects. Nine out of twelve bred Nonagria sparganii were affected 

 thus, and numerous were the imagos captured among the foodplants 

 unable to fly from the same cause. — Sydney Webb, Dover. January, 1891. 



Sudden development of the wings of Lepidoptera. — The 

 Chesias spartiata incident related by Mrs. Bazett {ante, p. 237) is cer- 

 tainly strange, but I have had the same experience on two occasions, 

 the first with Ceuira vinnla, and the second with A^otodonta drome- 

 darius. if I remember rightly, C. spartiata buries itself at a con- 

 siderable depth to undergo its transformation from larva to pupa. This 

 may have had something to do with it, especially if the pupa had been 

 disturbed and laid on the surface. Perhaps Mrs. Bazett can tell us 

 this. The eccentricities of some of these deep-burying larvae are won- 

 derful, and how they return to the surface is surprising. Felurga che- 

 nopodiata and Nyssia hispidaria are examples, especially the latter, 

 which will go down at least twelve inches if the soil be loose. — C. 

 Fenn, Eversden House, Lee. January, 1891. 



Variation. 



Variation of Smerinthus tili^ (with Coloured Plate). 

 I think it probable that a description of some of the varieties of this 

 species will prove interesting to the readers of the Entomologisfs 

 Record. If we look at our three species of Snierinthus, we note, that 

 S. populi has a more or less developed band passing transversely across 

 the centre of the anterior wings ; ..9. occllaius has a fairly developed 



