IGG THE entomologist's record. 



the chief centre of melanism on the continent lies in the neighbourhood 

 of Crefeld, Barmen, and the other great manufacturing towns of 

 western Germany. 



One of the most important questions which the collective evidence 

 may be expected to decide is the question whether the change takes 

 place by the comparatively sudden appearance of unmistakeable 

 melanic varieties in a species or a district previously unaflected, or by 

 a gradual change in the "population." Thus far the evidence suggests 

 that the answer to this question will not be the same for all the species 

 concerned, and that the manner of the change must be separately 

 studied in the case of each. The coloured plate above referred to 

 represents some of the distinctive varieties met with in the best known 

 species which are believed to be exhibiting melanistic changes. The 

 figures were made by Mr. F. W. Frohawk from specimens kindly lent 

 for the purpose by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher. The forms represented 

 are as follows : 



1 — 2. Venimia camhrica. 1, light ; 2, dark. & 



3 — 4. Hemerophila abniptaria. 3, light ; 4, dark. 



5 — 8. Boarmia rJiomboidaria. 5, light c? ; 6, light ? ; 7, dark ^ ; 8, dark 9 . 



9 — -11. Acidalia aversata. 9, light d ; 10, yellowish d" ; 11, banded cf . 

 12 — 13. Amphidasys hetularia. 12, light ? ; 13, black ? . 

 14 — 17. Phigalia pilomria. 14, 1.5, light c? s ; 16, medium c? ; 17, dark 3. 

 18—23. Boarmia repandata. 18— 20, light forms ; 21, medium ? ; 22,23, 



black ? s. 

 24 — 27. Miana strigilis. 24, 25, light or mottled form ; 26, 27, dark form. 

 28—30. Polia chi. ' 28, light <? ; 29, medium <? ; 30, dark <? . 

 31 — 34, Hybeniia progenunuria. s . 31, 32, light ; 33, medium ; 34, dark. 

 35 — 40. Eupithecia rectanqulata. 35, 36, green light form ; 37, 38, medium; 



39, 40, dark form. 

 41 — 42. Aplecta nebulosa. 41, light ? ; 42, dark ? . 



43 — 46. Xylophasia polyodon. 43, 44, 45, light to medium ; 46, dark form. 

 47 — 50. Acronycta psi. 4=7, light s; 48, light ? ; 49, dark <? ; 50, dark ? . 

 51 — 53. Odontoptera bidentata. 51, light ; 52, medium ; 53, dark. (Darker 

 specimens occur.) 



The Evolution Committee wish to thank those correspondents, 

 English and foreign, who have already contributed information as to 

 the distribution of these and other species. The answers received are 

 now fairly complete, as already noted, as to the present state of the 

 forms in the northern midlands of England, the chief centre of the 

 melanic varieties. Information, however, is greatly needed respecting 

 the condition of the species on the southern borders of this area. 

 Records will be particularly valuable from the counties specially 

 mentioned above. 



Great importance attaches to the evidence sent by foreign corres- 

 pondents as to the spread of melanism in Belgium and Germany. The 

 Committee will be glad to receive further particulars from collectors 

 working in or near the districts aflected. 



A new aberration of Peridroma ypsilon (n-ith plate). 



By .J. A. CLAEK, F.E.S. 

 In British Noctuae and their Varieties, vol. ii., pp. 7-9, Mr. Tutt 

 gives a detailed account of the variation of Peridroma ypsilon (sufiisa). 

 He quotes Rottemburg's original description of the species (or rather 

 gives a translation thereof), and further deals with the following aberra- 

 tions — anne.va, St., idonaea, Cr., pallida, Tutt, &c. This latter aberration 

 is quite typically coloured, except that the outer transverse band of the 



