276 THE entomologist's record. 



past summer in a very restricted locality on the sandhills. Then fol- 

 lows a list of some of the more noteworthy general captures, divided 

 under the headings of Northern Forms, Southern Forms, Intermediate 

 Forms, and General Karities. In every case not only is the locality 

 given for each insect, but also very interesting notes as to the habitats, 

 and lastly a very complete bibliography is attached to the article. The 

 whole list is one of the best we have seen in these handbooks. The 

 last article to which we need refer deals with the Araneae, and is by 

 Dr. -Jackson. Here again, in addition to a few general notes, a fairly 

 complete list of the most interesting of the spiders which have been 

 captured locally is given, with notes as to habitats and special locali- 

 ties. We congratulate the Local Committee at Southport on a very 

 admirable handbook, and one which will be of great use to those 

 studying the local distribution of our fauna. 



j^ClENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Variations confined to one sex. — Referring to the note on this 

 subject {Kntom. Itec, vol. xv., p. 237), I think Mr. Doncaster will 

 find what he wants in the hospita form of Nemeoplula plantatjinis. 

 The 3' s are very constant, and though I have some ? s that have 

 almost the same coloration in the forewings, the hindwings lack the 

 beautiful white of the g hnsjiita. I have never' seen or heard of a 2 

 var. hofipita. Will your subscribers kindly look over their series and 

 give us their experience ? This is the first example that occurred to 

 me on reading Mr. Doncaster's note, but there may be others.— 

 Herbert Massey, F.E.S., Ivy Lea, Barnage, Didsbury. September 28t/i, 

 1903. 



W'A R I A T I N. 



Aberration of Biston hirtaria. — Daring April last 1 bred an 

 unusual aberration of Jlistmi liirtaria, in which the markings, which in 

 the type are black, are buff in colour ; it is an exactly parallel aberra- 

 tion to the famous, or infamous, buff ADijiJiiilasi/s hetularia, peculiar to 

 a certain portion of Lancashire some thirty years ago, and makes me 

 think there might have been something other than " faking " in these 

 forms, for it was one of a number bred from a north London strain, in 

 a cool conservatory, in which the pupae were also kept ; the remainder 

 of the brood showed about the usual range of variation obtaining in 

 this species. — W. G. Sheldon, Heimath, Friend's Road, Croydon. 

 September 2,m1, 1903. 



Aberration of Mania maura. — One specimen of this species taken 

 here this year is an interesting aberration, and one that I have not 

 taken before in the same locality, where, I may add, M. maura has 

 always been common, but not so abundant as in the present year. 

 It has the apical area, the inner half of the marginal area, the circum- 

 scription of the discoidal spots, the median nervure and other nervures 

 leading from the reniform spot to the hind margin, all of a rich pink, 

 fleshy tint. There are no alders or willows near, but many fruit- 

 trees. — Mer\'yn G. Palmer, 6, Court Road, West Norwood, S.E. 

 September lOt/i, 1902. [Is this not Mania maura ab. ruaea, Tutt, Brit. 

 Noctuae, &c., iv., p. 40. — Ed.] 



Erratum. — The locality mentioned in Ent. Record, antea, p. 215, line 6, 

 should be Luan, above Corbeyrier. — G. 0. Sloper. 



