230 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



Just recently I have obtained two or three pupae of Endromis 

 versicolor (which I now exhibit with those of Sfiicrint/nts filiae, S. 

 popiiJi, Choeracampa elpenor and Safuruia carpini),iin([ upon comparison 

 with those of Smerinthus and G. elpenor, they will be found to agree in 

 many respects, S. tiliae being nearest in general appearance, though in 

 some special features C elpenor seems to be even closer ; a very 

 noticeable ditference between E. versicolor and these two species 

 being the growth of stout bristles on the cremaster ; in this it 

 resembles S. carpini, which you will notice has a similar development 

 of bristles on the cremaster. 



( To he (•ontinued). 



On the Variation of Melitaea aurinia, Rott. 



By W. F. Dk VISMES KANE, M.A.. F.E.S. 



The article by Mr. Tutt under the above title is, I fear, in one 

 point, at least, likely to confuse still further the rather difficult 

 question of the identification of var. hibernica, Birchall. The writer 

 treats it as probably synonymous with my var. praedara. ' In my 

 notice of this ilf^'^/V(/m [Ent., vol. xxvi., p. 157), starting with the 

 fulvous type of Rottemburg, I define the var. y^raccZrt^rt as distinguished 

 from it by a straw-coloured band, and very vivid fulvous blotches, 

 corresponding with certain of Hiibner's figures. This is a very hand- 

 some form in Ireland ; and is common, though generally duller in 

 tint, in Great Britain. 



Intermediate between these is a local form, sii/nifcra, " a transi- 

 tional form," characterised especially by the italicised words in the 

 description. This would seem to have been substituted for var. 

 jirai'clara by Mr. Tutt. I then proceed to deal with those forms in 

 which the black ground predominates largely, namely, vars. scotica 

 and Itihernica. The vague terms, and two errors in Birchall's 

 description of the latter, probably misled Mr. Tutt, who may not have 

 referred to a plate which was published in the K)it. Mmitldi/ Ma(jazi)ii'^* 

 vol. X., pi. 1, which fixes more accurately the form intended. The 

 errors in the Latin definition of var. hihcrnica are, firstly, the one 

 alluded to by Mr. Tutt, that the straw-coloured band, etc., on the hind- 

 wings of the female are retained (as in the figure), and not obliterated, 

 as in part of the description. And secondly, the substitution of the 

 word " fulvis," instead of (?) stramineis, in the description of the male 

 hind-wings : the character intended to be noted being the partial or 

 entire suppression of the straw-coloured lunular marginal patches. 



A reference to the plate will show what I pointed out, that var. 

 liihernica is only an extreme aberration of var. srotira, as described by 

 me (loc. fit., p. 187). The question, then, becomes narrowed as to 

 whether Birchall's variety described from only a few examples should 

 stand as an aberration, or whether [if we adopt Mr. Tutt's dictum 

 that " Descriptions of varieties (local races) must be considered as a 

 whole rather than in detail "] we should retain the name Itihernica for 

 the Scotch and Irish forms with very predominant black ground, 



* This was published privately and not with the Ent. Mo. Man. We have no 

 plate in our copy of the i'.il/.il/., vol. x.,and should be glad to purchase it from any 

 one who has a duplicate plate. — Ed. 



