VARIATION. 67 



and, when obtainable, rose. A ? appeared on January 16th, but 

 unfortunately remained a cripple ; the second is still a pupa, and, of 

 the remaining larvae, one is apparently quite fullfed, and seven others 

 nearly so. As it is, I believe, not usual for this species to produce 

 " forward " larvae, even in confinement (the larvae have been kept in a 

 living-room), I thought it well to put this fact on record. — A. M. 

 Cochrane, Lewisham. Jannari/ SOtli, 1908. 



Pericallia syringaria at Sunbury-on-Thames, with a note on its 

 LARVAL HABITS. — I liave, this autumn (1907), found the larvae of this 

 species occurring very commonly in my garden here. I have never 

 taken or seen the perfect insect in this locality, and it was only by 

 accident that I found the caterpillars, whilst searching for other kinds. 

 In published descriptions of this larvae, I read that it is easily alarmed 

 and immediately drops to the ground, especially if the branches of the 

 foodplant are shaken. My experience is exactly the opposite. All 

 my larvae I found hanging suspended from a single silk cord, from 

 which they resolutely refused to be parted. Frequently when chipping 

 them (which on account of the difficulty in inducing them to let go of 

 the cord, I found the most convenient way of taking them) they were 

 jerked out of the chip-box. The favourite position of the larva appears 

 to be the pendant one on the silk cord. All those I have in captivity 

 are invisible during the day, but, at dark, they all hang suspended, in 

 the very curious doubled up square position, looking very much like 

 little spiders, which they appear to imitate. Indeed, the casual searcher 

 would undoubtedly pass them over as spiders. The habits of this 

 larva may alter after hybernation, but, at this season of the year, I find 

 that they are very easy to secure, and not easily alarmed. — S. G. C. 

 Russell, M.I.E.E., F.E.S., The Corner House, Sunbury-on-Thames. 

 December 29th, 1907. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Gynandromorphic example of Saturnia pavonia (carpini). — I bred 

 a curious specimen of this species this year (1907), from a batch of ova 

 obtained from a female reared from larvae found at Ottershaw in 

 Surrey. The following is a rough discription : — 



Head : Typical female. Antenn.e : Typical male. Body : Typical female. 

 Eight upper-wing: Typical female. Left upper-wing: Typical female. Eight 

 uNDER-wiNG : Typical female, except that a yellow line crosses the wing (just above 

 the ocelli) in the direction of the head. Left under-wing : Typical male. Size : 

 Considerably larger than ordinary male, and smaller than ordinary female. 

 This is a very curious specimen. The feathered antennae look very 

 out of place on the large head and body. The predominating sex I 

 should take to be female.— S. G. C. Russell, M.I.E.E., F.E.S., The 

 Corner House, Sunbury-on-Thames. December SOth, 1907. 



W^ ARI ATION . 



Epirrita (Oporabia) autumnata, Boric, at Tilgate. — As very little 

 is yet known of the range of this species in the south of England, 

 where, at the best, it must certainly be quite local, it is very interesting 

 to be able to record that my friend Mr. L. A. E. Sabine, of South 

 Norwood, has taken some beautiful forms in Tilgate Forest, quite as 

 well-marked and variable as the Scotch. He has kindly furnished me 

 with the following details : " October 27th, 1907, 1 <? ; November 2nd, 



