ON THE VARIATION OF MELITAEA AURINIA. 143 



spots (usually divided at the upper end by a transverse black line) are 

 united, forming a transverse series of conspicuous longitudinal 

 streaks, and thus making a transverse band = ab. rin/ata ; the other 

 with the whole of the ordinary fulvous and red markings of the fore- 

 wing dull ochreous or straw-coloured in tint = ab. oc/nra. 



We are still much lacking in knowledge of the various forms found 

 in the Southern and Midland Counties of England, and in Scotch 

 localities, other than Aberdeenshire. If this note be the means of 

 eliciting information of the variation of the species in other localities 

 it will not have been written in vain. 



^^ ARI ATION. 



The DARK VARIETY OF SpILOSOMA MENTHASTRI, NOT FROM ARGYLL- 

 SHIRE. — In the last number of the J'^nt. Ilccord (ante. p. 75), Mr. 

 Tutt mentions "dark varieties of Spilo.sdina inent/utstfi '' as being 

 obtained in "Argyllshire and Elgin." I wonder if this mention of 

 " Argyllshire " is due to my having put into an exhibition-box of the 

 Exchange Club sundry specimens of this species from "Argyllshire 

 and Elgin." Some confusion seems certainly to have arisen. The 

 Argyllshire specimens are decidedly creamy ; but nothing that I 

 have taken or bred in Argyllshire can in any way compare with the 

 dark-brown specimens which Mr. McTavish has sent out from Elgin. 

 These seem to be quite peculiar to his district. — W. M. Christy, 

 F.E.S., Watergate, Emsworth. Norcinhcr 23;v/, 1895. 



My impression of dark Argyllshire specimens was j)robably formed 

 from Mr. Christy's specimens, or from something Mr. Christy wrote. 

 I therefore take this early opportunity to correct the error, in accord- 

 ance with Mr. Christy's note. Several lepidopterists have, 1 know, 

 bred the very dark forms, and I had a general impression that they 

 were distributed from two centres, one in Morayshire, the other in 

 Argyllshire.— J. W. Tutt. Noirwhcr 25tJi, 1895. 



Varieties of Hybernia defoliaria. — A Query. — I should be glad 

 to know whether the banded and more unicolorous forms of H. defo- 

 liaria are equally distributed. — S.Walker, York. Noirniber IGt/i, 1895. 



NoNAGRiA ARUNDiNis AB. FRATERNA. — Froiii some pupae of Nona;/na 

 anindiuis obtained in the Broads, I bred two smoky-black females 

 f= ab. fraterna, Tr.).— E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.E.S. , Myddelton 

 House, Waltham Cross. October 1th, 1895. 



Hypsipetes sordidata ab. infuscata, Stdgr., on Sallow. — I think 

 I remember noticing, a few years ago, a statement that the bilberry- 

 feeding larva? of H. sordidata produced the dark brown forms of the 

 perfect insect. This summer I bred a very dark unicolorous blackish- 

 brown specimen from rolled-up leaves of sallow, that I had collected in 

 the spring. — W. S. Riding, M.D., F.E.S., Buckerell Lodge, nr. 

 Honiton, E. Devon. Noreinber 1st, 1895. 



When collecting in August, 1893, in the Western Highlands with 

 Dr. Chapman, we took a number of imagines of this species which 

 were flying around, or driven from, the sallow bushes on the east shore 

 of Loch Goil. Many of these were exceedingly dark, almost black. — 

 J. W. Tutt. Xoceiiiber SOth, 1895. 



Polia CHI VAR. OLiVACEA. — I havc recently been trying an experi- 



