VARIATION. 



81 



8. — Hi'iixinh')ie jhnhriana flies freely in the bright sunshine during 

 March and April in oak woods. In dull weather it may be beaten 

 from oaks, appearing to have a preference for resting in the higher 

 parts of the trees. It is as well when collecting this moth to stand in 

 the centre of a riding, as then one obtains a clear view of the insect 

 against the sky. Under such a condition it is easily seen, which is 

 not the case with a dark background. 



4. — About the middle of April, larvsp of Talcpon'o t.i<bitlnsa are to 

 be found wandering over palings, tree trunks, etc., searching for 

 suitable places to affix their cases for pupation. If these are collected 

 and enclosed in a box, the sides of which have been roughened, they 

 will very shortly attach themselves, and in due season produce moths. 



5. — The made-np cases of Solenobia incimspiciiella may now be 

 gathered off lichen-covered tree trunks, fences, walls, etc. 



G. — During April the larvfe of Pai/cJwidea verJiiielldlo are to be 

 found in their burrows amongst the spores on the underside of fronds 

 of Aspleniiim ruta-iinimria, A. tricli())nanrfi, Srnhiiinulriinii ndijarc, and 

 AtJijiriitiii cctcracJi. 



7. — Those who are not averse to early rising may now spend some 

 very profitable hours by searchiny- the moss on old walls before the 

 dew has evaporated. By so doing, the probabilities are that their energy 

 will be rewarded by a good supply of larvie of liii/otro/i/ia lUmiestica 

 and II. ajt'ims. These larvfp are easily reared if kept in seed-pans on 

 moist patches of their food-plant. 



8. — From about the middle of April, hita actliinjis is to be obtained 

 in heathy places. Like other black moths that frequent heath and 

 moors, it is always to be found most freely on those parts where the 

 heather has been burned to encourage young growth for the benefit of 

 grouse. 



9. — Lita fratcniella larvfp occur during the early part of April in 

 the drawn -together leading shoots of StcUaria ulvjinom, S. (iraiiiinea, 

 and Cerasfiii))! triralf. Railway-banks and commons are the most 

 likely places for them to occur. After having found one tenanted 

 .screwed-up shoot, it is best not to open others, as by so doing the larvae 

 will not have the chance to wriggle out and escape. 



10. — liiitaJis inconiiniella is well out by the middle of April, and 

 should be looked for in heathy places. It is almost useless to work 

 for it except on absolutely calm and bright sunny days. On such 

 occasions (unfortunately rare at this season) it flies abundantly for 

 about two hours before noon. 



11.— Larva- of Larerna pabuliroldla maybe searched for early in 

 March, mining in the leaves of Kpilohiutn. pcdnatre, /lirsntitm, and 

 viovtonuni. The best way to rear moths is to dig up the plants 

 having mined leaves containing larviP and plant them in flower-pots 

 or seed-pans. 



'W' A R I A T I N . 



Dark aberration of Syrphus kaltb:atus, Deg. — During a week's stay 

 at Broc ken hurst, from September 27 th to October 3rd last, I noticed 

 several small dark specimens of Si/rphus baltcatits, amongst other 

 Diptera, but, as it is such a common species, I only took two or three of 

 the darkest I came across, all 2 s. When I came to compare them 

 with my other specimens at home, I saw they were more distinct than 



