VAKIATIOX. 203 



Cdiiu's in Britain is not red, neither is it black, it is grey, but so is the 

 technical type, so here there is no cause for controversy. But either 

 the red or the black form might have been made the type in the natural 

 history sense. One word in conclusion. If 1 tell Mr. Prout that Mr. 

 Hibernius is typically Irish, does it convey anything to his mind ? If 

 it does there is a " general " meaning for the word apart from its 

 natural history meaning. — -W. J. Kaye, F.E.S., Caracas, Ditton Hill, 

 8urbiton. Ajnii 22^;^/, 1904. 



jg^OTES ON LIFE-HISTORIES, LARYiE, &c. 



Notes o\ Pygaera pi(;ra, Hufn. — Moths emerged first week in 

 April from two chrysalids, the full-grown larvte of which were found 

 in the autumn of 1903. A pairing was secured without any trouble. 

 Eggs were laid a few on each night for the period of a week. When 

 first laid they are white, turning after a few days to flesh-colour, later 

 on dark purple, and, finally, just before the emergence of the larva, 

 almost black. Placed in a cold place, the larvte hatched during the first 

 week in May. Larva: — Firat moult not noted. Second moult. — 

 May 19th, 20th, and following days. Head black; body dark 

 chocolate-brown, slightly covered with small whitish hairs, with 

 broad yellow dorsal band, interrupted on the 4th segment by two, on 

 the 11th by one, black velvety patch. Down centre of band a black 

 stripe, bordered by a row of dots. The whole band is bordered by a 

 row of black warts. Slight traces of yellow lateral stripe. Third 

 moult. — May 27th, 28th, and following days. Head black, with short 

 hairs. Body chocolate-colour, washed with greyish- blue. Yellow- 

 dorsal band, bordered with a row of deeper yellow or orange tubercles. 

 Patches as before, former black markings much less distinct. Chain- 

 like yellow band on side preceded by a row of small black warts. Body 

 covered with short whitish hairs. As the larva approaches pupation, 

 the yellow markings tend to become duller and more washed with 

 grey. On June 1st the first larvie began to draw the leaves, between 

 which it lived, more closely together, forming a fairly thick cocoon. 

 Actual pupation took place on June 5th during a very hot spell 

 of weather. Others pupated during the few following days. — 

 J. McDuNNouGH, Berlin W., Moritzstr. 6. June 15th, 1904. 



The larva of Hypolycaena livia attended by ants. — I am sending 

 you a pupa (dead) of Huiiohjcaena livia, probably the first sent to England. 

 I have about 15 larva?, in all stages, at the present time, of this species. 

 They feed on the pods of Acacia fanienaiia, and some of the larvae are 

 already in their last stage here. The remarkable feature of their 

 economy, however, is that they are attended by small black ants 

 which eat their frass. The first J s of this species appeared at the 

 end of April and beginning of May, whilst fresh 5 s are still emerging 

 in localities near Alexandria. — Philip P. Graves, 33, Rue Cherif 

 Pasha, Alexandria. May IQth, 1904. 



W'A R I A T I N. 



Aberration of Pharetra menyanthidis. — It may be worth noting 

 that Pharetra menyanthidis: ab. sartorii is the corresponding form to 

 your Triacna psi ab. bivirriae, and should, therefore, be specially 

 characterised as havin<!: " the basal and limbal areas of the anterior 



