VARIATION. 261 



hind- wings. I have one in my collection, bred from a larva found on 

 Scotston Moor, near Aberdeen, which has the hind-wings solid velvety 

 black — not smoky, a form that I have previously referred to. The 

 fore-wings have one or two yellow blotches, but otherwise they are 

 also black. It is a beauty ! So far as I know, it is unique as a British 

 specimen. — Arthur Horne, Ugie Bank, Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen. 

 October 3/v/, 1897. 



Aberrations of Zyg.ena trifolii-major. — The following are notes on 

 some of the forms of the July emergence of X. tnfoUi, as observed in 

 West Dorset. Eoughly they appear to be divisible into three groups : 

 (1) Those in which the red spots are small, well separated and well 

 defined. (2) Those in which the two central spots coalesce and 

 assume either a more or less rounded shape, or, after coalescence, become 

 elongated and elbowed. (3) Those in which all the spots coalesce — 

 ab. conflucns. This latter group may be sub-divided as follows : (1) 

 Those in which the basal and the outer spots are joined to the central 

 by a thin streak of colour running a little below the costa. (2) 

 Those in which the central area of the wing is occupied confluently 

 by a bold irregular mass of colour, equal to at least one-third of the 

 area of the wing. This sub-group is the most beautiful as regards 

 colour distribution, as well as the most rare. As regards the hind- 

 wings, a form more or less orange-tinted occurs. This I have taken 

 in perfectly fresh condition, and the colour is therefore not due to 

 prolonged exposure (worn specimens have a strong tendency to become 

 yellowish-red). The margin varies in depth, a few specimens have it 

 not exceeding in depth that of some Z. Jilipcndulae, while others possess 

 one deep and dark, forming a richer contrast to the main coloration 

 than that of any other of our native variety. The females are excellently 

 disposed to part with their ova ; most of them when boxed deposited 

 considerable batches, one of which I had great pleasure in forwarding 

 to our editor for his critical examination. — J. Clarke, Reading. 



Grammesia trictRammica ab. obscura, Tutt. — I have taken this 

 season, in this neighbourhood, two very fine specimens of (J. trit/ram- 

 inica ab. obscura, Tutt. — W. E. Butler, Hayling House, Reading. 



Nemeophila plantaginis ab. hospita in Westmoreland. — -Whilst 

 collecting Krebia cpiphron, on a mountain near Helvellyn, in June last, 

 I took, amongst a rather long series of A''. j)lanta(/inis, a few nice speci- 

 mens of the white form (ab. hospita). Both forms were taken together, 

 and at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. — B. H. Crabtree, F.E.S., 

 The Acacias, Levenshulme, Manchester. 



n^OTES ON LIFE-HISTORIES, LARY^, &c. 



Descriptions of eggs of Lepidoptera. — Erebia neoridas. — The egg is 

 laid on end, is somewhat oval in outline vertically, with a flat base and 

 not very rounded apical area, the base being, however, broader than the 

 apex. It is, when fresh laid, of a very pale yellow colour, with 16 

 strongly defined longitudinal ribs, strikingly white and shiny, reaching 

 from the base to the shoulder of the Qgg, where they end in minute 

 white knobs, united transversely by fine white concave threads. The 

 apex of the egg is only slightly rounded, and is covered with a poly- 

 gonal (hexagonal) reticulation. At the centre of each hexagon is a 

 raised white knob, which gives off from its apex six concave radiating 



