310 THE entomologist's record. 



aurantiaria and marginaria, agreeing in the broad wings, semi-apterous 

 $ , and comparatively slender larva ; {b) rupicapraria, approaching the 

 first group in the imago, but widely different in the larva ; {c) leuco- 

 phearia and defoliaria, wings more elongated, markings and variations 

 similar, apterous $ , and stouter larva. He was uncertain, however, 

 whether group {h) or (c) should come next to cescularia, the former being 

 nearer to it in the larval state, the latter in the imago. On the subject 

 of variation, he remarked that this was chiefly owing to protective 

 colouring, and dependent on the habits of the species. Thus, the 

 natural resting-place of rupicapraria, leucophearia, and cescularia was on 

 tree trunks and fences, the insects being all brown or grey-brown. On 

 the other hand, defoliaria, auratttiaria, and marginaria rested among 

 dead leaves, and their colour was ochreous. Defoliaria and marginaria, 

 however, had acquired the habit in some localities of resting on fences, 

 and in these districts the dark unicolorous specimens became more 

 common. The females usually hid among leaves and rubbish at the 

 roots of their foodplant by day, and ascended the trees at night ; and 

 he had noticed a tendency in them to become gregarious, on one occa- 

 sion finding four female defoliaria on one tree. With regard to the 

 occasional superabundance of some of the species, he expressed an 

 opinion that the females sometimes migrated short distances ; but that 

 the chief factor of these swarms must be looked for in local influences, 

 or in the migration of a large number of males, as suggested by Mr. 

 Adkin. Remarking on the time of year at which these species 

 appeared, he stated that with defoliaria and aurantiaria temperature 

 had but little to do with it, as pupae kept indoors emerged at the usual 

 time, but that the spring species seem to wait for a few mild days before 

 they made their appearance. Defoliaria, however, sometimes lay over 

 in pupa until January or February if the autumn were very severe, and 

 rupicapraria had passed over the time of its emergence entirely, arid 

 died in pupa during the following summer. All the species emerged 

 about mid-day, the limits in Mr. Front's experience being from 9 a.m. 

 to 4 p.m., both in captivity and nature. On the subject of breeding, 

 he stated that defoliaria seemed to require a good depth of earth for 

 pupation, and that rupicapraria and ascularia made firm cocoons, after 

 the manner of brumata. The earth should be kept damp, as the larvae 

 otherwise dried up when full-fed ; but he had found it necessary to dig 

 up the pupse just before the imagines were due, so as to allow of the 

 emergence of the moths. A discussion took place, in which most of 

 those present joined \ and a vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. Nicholson, 

 and seconded by Mr. Battley, was accorded to Mr. Prout for his paper. 

 Tuesday, December dth, 1892. — Exhibits : — Mr. Clark, a specimen of 

 Vanessa cardui, taken in the New Forest, part of the wings having a 

 bleached appearance. Mr. Bacot, a variable series of Hybernia 

 defoliaria from Epping Forest, some specimens being very dark, others 

 well banded. Mr. Prout, a long series of Caradrina blanda, and one 

 specimen of C. alsines, from Sandown. Mr. Battley, Orrhodia vaccinii 

 and O. ligula, taken this autumn, including specimens of each with a 

 pale band on the hind margin. Mr. Tutt pointed out that the banded 

 form was the type of ligula, but that the parallel form in vaccinii was 

 very rare. Mr, Bayne, variable series of Oporabia dilutata, some 

 specimens being pale and others dark, although all from the same 



