252 THE entomologist's record. 



which is rounded ; the anterior extremity is blunted, and, in the 

 largest, measures 4mm. across. The separations between segments 5-6, 

 6-7, and 7-8 are deeply incised broadish grooves, especially the first 

 two, and there is a smooth paler membranous band on the posterior 

 part of segments 5, 6, and 7, edging the deep incisions, that on 7 being 

 less marked. The separation between segments 8-9 is distinct, and 

 the markmgs of the other segments can be distinguished ; segments 8, 

 9, 10 are consolidated; segments 1, 2. 3, 4 are well-marked where they 

 appear between the wing coverings ; the spiracles are distinctly defined. 

 At the anal extremity, which is rounded and shining, two slightly 

 raised knobs, one on each side, with a row of seven or eight short 

 linear projections between them in the centre, are found on the dorsal 

 part, on close examination with a magnifying glass, and below these 

 two longer linear projections in the centre with two slightly raised 

 knobs on the sides nearer together than the upper ones. The segments 

 are closely pitted, especially on the chitinous edges of the deep incisions. 

 A male (probably from the smaller pupa) and a female emerged unex- 

 pectedly on August 12th-15th, and the latter had deposited some ova 

 before she was noticed. She laid 145 ova, mostly in batches in a single 

 layer, but a good many scattered. These ova are pearly-green, difter- 

 ing in this respect from the parent ova, which had only a very faint 

 greenish tinge. 



Variation of Leucania favlcolor. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



In the Ent. Mo. Man., xxxii., p. 100, Mr. C. G. Barrett described a 

 new Leucaniid, four examples of which were captured upon the Essex 

 coast in July, 1895, by Mr. G. F. Mathew, under the name of Leucania 

 favicolor. On June 3rd, 1896, these specimens were exhibited at a 

 meeting of the Entomological Society of London. After a somewhat 

 cursory examination of the specimens made at the meeting I came to 

 the conclusion that the specimens were probably a form of Leucania 

 pallens, with an elbowed line of black dots, parallel with the form 

 L. impura ab. punctilinea, and embodied my opinions in a note pub- 

 lished in the Ent. liecord, vol. viii., pp. 133-135. The differences be- 

 tween L. pallem and the new species were, however, pointed out. Mr, 

 Mathew, convinced of the distinctness of the Essex species, has worked 

 steadily at it ever since, and now, having at last reared it from the egg, 

 and w'orked out its lifehistory, has submitted to me for report an excel- 

 lent series of the insect, in splendid condition, and quite convincing as 

 to its right to be considered a distinct species. The specimens under 

 examination are twenty in number, and exhibit a wide range of varia- 

 tion. In order to bring our knowledge of its variation in line with 

 that of the other allied species, the aberrations of which we have sum- 

 marised, described, and named in British Xoctuae and their Varieties, 

 vol. i, I append a summary of the forms just now under examination. 



Barrett describes the type as being of "a smooth soft honey-colour, 

 or colour of the honeycomb (a shade of buff difficult to describe) ; the 

 nervures faintly perceptible, but not paler in colour; a black discal dot ; 

 the elbowed line indicated by faint blackish dashes." We do not think 

 Barrett's choice of colour tint very descriptive of the actual specimens 

 he examined, but we can apparently devise nothing better. So far as 



