328 THE entomologist's record. 



dark blotch on the costa of the anterior wings, followed by a smaller 

 blotch on the inner margin, these two blotches undoubtedly showing 

 the origin of a central band in the genus ; whilst in S. tilia, the central 

 band is always dark on a pale ground, and hence stands out con- 

 spicuously. Perhaps the most common form of the band consists of a 

 large costal blotch and a large blotch on the inner margin just united 

 at the centre of the wing, as in Plate A, fig. lo. Sometimes this band, 

 however, is quite complete, and occasionally, entirely absent, as 

 Plate A, fig. I, will show. The most interesting feature with regard 

 to this, is the occasional asymmetrical character of the band as in 

 figs. 2, 4 and 6 ; and figs. 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9, although all showing 

 some abnormal condition of the band, are perfectly symmetrical. A 

 structural pioint to which I would also draw attention is the variation 

 in the outline of the anterior wings. This species always appears to 

 unite the sinuous outline of S. populi with the centrally concave out- 

 line of 6". ocellatus, the latter feature being generally strongly deve- 

 loped ; but in the specimens figured it will be noticed that figs, i and 

 4 have this character reduced to a minimum, whilst fig. 8 has it very 

 strongly developed. There is a considerable amount of variation, also, 

 in the width of the double transverse basal line, compare figs, i and 3; 

 that of fig. 7 is, however, practically obsolete, and fig. 10 also shows 

 some variation in direction. In the basal space between this line and 

 the thorax, there is also considerable difference, compare figs. 6 and 8. 

 Of the variable character of the transverse line outside the central band, 

 figs. 9, 8, 6, 3, 2 and i show especially, although no two are alike, 

 and fig. 6 exhibits a most abnormal, asymmetrical shape of the pale 

 apical blotches. Careful comparison shows that there is some varia- 

 tion in the shape of the hind margins of the posterior wings. 



With regard to variation in colour it would be next to impossible 

 to make any inteUigible remarks without the plate. Fig. i, var. 

 obsoleta, is of a delicate fawn colour, with the basal area and transverse 

 lines slightly darker, the central area having the faintest tinge of pink, 

 without the trace of a transverse band ; the extreme outer area is 

 strongly tinged with green. Hind wings orange-coloured with a brown 

 dark central band, united to the dark scales at the base. Fig. 2. The 

 left hand anterior wing is identical with var. obsoleta, as also is the right 

 hand, except that it has central and inner marginal blotches, as traces 

 of the original band. The ground colour of the hind wings is much 

 like that of the fore wings, the dark band also ill-developed. Fig. 3, 

 var. bipmiciata, has the ground colour slightly more tinged with pink 

 than figs. I and 2, and the outer margin rather grey; the transverse band 

 is represented by a central spot and a smaller one on inner margin ; 

 hi'nd wings tinged with yellowish, band not very distinct. Fig. 4. 

 Another asymmetrical specimen with the ground colour of anterior 

 wings much as in fig. 3, but the outer edge with more green ; the left 

 wing with two spots as in bipinictaia, the right with one as in centri- 

 puncta. The bases of the posterior wings are rather darkly scaled, 

 otherwise like those of fig. i. Fig. 5, with the ground colour of the 

 central area redder than any of the preceding, and with the outer area 

 greener. The spot is intermediate in development between the costal 

 one in fig. 8 and the central one in fig. 7, and is not quite symmetrical, 

 reachmg fully to the costa on the right, but not quite on the left ; hind 



