140 THE entomologist's record. 



believing that you Avill Itnd any remarks on my specimens equally 

 applicable to Mr. Tutt's series. I begin from the left. The first row 

 represents the usual South of England forms of festira, the top half 

 being from Somerset, the bottom from Essex. Kent and Middlesex 

 are represented at the bottom of the second row, the upper portion 

 being a fine and varied series from the late Howard Vaughan's collec- 

 tion, but unfortunately Avithout localities. For the third row I am 

 indebted to Mr. J. Gardner, of Hartlepool. It is a bred series from 

 Teesdale, and is the form usually distributed as conjina. It differs, 

 however, in both shape and colour. Its reduced size may well be 

 attributable to environment, as anyone acquainted with the wind- 

 swept Fells of Teesdale Avould admit. I>ut by whatever name this 

 form may be called, none surpass it for exquisite beauty and brilliancy, 

 and variety of coloration, the nine males at the top being well worthy 

 of close inspection. The upper portion of the fourth row is a series 

 of festira bred by myself from specimens taken in 1894 in West 

 Sutherland, a captured series from the same district being next it. 

 Below are a few specimens from Central Scotland. We now come to 

 (■inijlna, row six, consisting of a large and uniform strain of the 

 chestnut-brown variety, all bred from the pair at the bottom of row 

 seven, Avhich in turn were bred from Shetland ova and paired in con- 

 finement. This series is of interest, as showing how true the offspring 

 come to the parental types ; the remainder of row seven and the 

 whole of row eight forming an excessively variable series, bred from 

 the mixed ova that were laid in my collecting boxes whilst in Unst. 

 The other four rows were all captured at sugar. As I have before 

 stated, it would be useless to attempt to describe the almost endless 

 and beautiful forms these two species exhibit ; but in order to draw 

 your attention to the most striking types of variation, not only of 

 colour but of shape, I have placed small hands against specially note- 

 worthy examples. 



To a few of these I have already draAvn attention in an article 

 which appeared in the K. M. M. in January last, so need not 

 recapitulate what I there stated. 



In conclusion, I would only say that I should have been glad to 

 have had longer time in which to look up further literature bearing on 

 the subject. It would not have been difticult to make these notes far 

 more complete in many important points ; but it was not till our 

 last meeting that I was asked to read a paper on the subject, and 

 having little leisure, was somewhat dismayed to find that my paper 

 was announced for our gathering to-day. On this ground I must ask 

 your indulgence, and whether my conclusions be sound or no, I hope 

 that my remarks may lead to a discussion on the subject by those 

 better qualified than myself to form an opinion. 



On the Variation of Melitaea aurinia. 



By -J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



I have recently had occasion to look up somewhat carefully the 

 variation of Mditaca aurinia. When I had finished my notes on the 

 subject I remembered Mr. Kane's article thereon {Hntoiu., xxvi.) and 

 referred to it to see how far my conclusions agreed with his. It would 

 appear that we agree on all broad matters of fact, although, viewing 



