VAIilATION OF MELIT.EA AURINIA, ROTT, 231 



and sink the more recent var. scotica. But as Birchall lays stress on 

 the difference between it and the Irish variety, I have adopted the 

 former alternative. In the plate above referred to a Scotch uunnia 

 also is represented, but the figure is so ill done that it is doubtful 

 what was intended, especially since Birchall, in commenting on it, 

 states that it approximates to var. merope (with small buff patches, 

 the fulvous colour being retained generally only in the ante-marginal 

 series of the hind-wings). This certainly is not the var. ■scotica. 

 Perhaps those who have a good series of Scotch M. aurinia will com- 

 pare them with Birchall's two figures of var. Jiibcrnica, and 

 state if they approximately represent the major part of the dark 

 Scotch forms ; or, if not, whether aberrations occur similar to them. 

 If they are sufficiently near to serve as the type, we must set down 

 the Scotch race as var. Idhernica ; but, if not, the name can stand as an 

 aberration, and most dark Irish specimens will rank under var. .sro//rrt. 



^^ ARI ATION. 



The dark form of Hypsipetes elutata on sallow. — I can 

 corroborate Dr. Eiding's statement {ante, p. 143) that the black 

 form of H. elutata occurs on sallow, as it used to be common on that 

 tree in Carmarthenshire, in company with a great variety of other 

 forms, Avith endless intermediate specimens. — N. M. Richardson, 

 B.A., F.E.S. Januarn, 1896. 



The variation of Xanthia fulvago. — As is well-known, there are 

 two very distinct shades of ground colour presented by the forms of 

 Xanthia fidrai/ti [ccraijo) occurring in these Islands. Each of these 

 may be looked upon as giving us in its markings four groups, (1) 

 with dark purplish markings, (2) with bright red markings, (3) 

 with very faint markings, (4) with only central spot. These give us 

 the following table, as extracted from The British Noctnae and their 

 Varieties, vol. iii., p. 10. 



1. Pale yellow, with lower part of reniform forming a dark spot=ab. 

 flareKCOif!, Esp. 



2. Pale yellow, with indistinct red markings=ab. eerago, Fb. 



3. Pale yellow, with distinct red nvA,\:Wng%=fiilrago, Linn. 



4. Pale yellow, with purplish-red band:^fcrar/o, Newman=ab. suff'usn. 

 •5. Orange-yellow, with central sx^ot^ab. ohxoleta. 



6. Orange-yellow, with indistinct red niarkings=ab. iirqierfecta. 



7. Orange-yellow, with distinct red markings:=ab. aurantia. 



8. Orange-yellow, with distinct purplish-red band=ab. virijata. 



In the hope of discovering the distribution of these various forms, 

 I have obtained the following preliminary notes : — 



Mr. H. J. Turner, F.E.S., writes : — " The forms I get may be 

 classified as: — 1. — Pale yellow form, with red markings = /»?rrtvr>, 

 Linn. — I have, until this year, bred only specimens of this tint 

 from various parts of Surrey, and from Horsham (Sussex), la. — 

 Pale yellow, with cencral spot = ab. fiarescens, Esp. — I have never 

 bred this form until the present year, when I obtained about 4 per 

 cent, from Surrey larva\ lb. — Pale yellow, Avith indistinct 

 markings = ab. cerai/o, Fb. — Two or three per cent, represents the 

 number of this form which occurs any year. Ic. — Pale yellow, with 



