1896.] 205 



Hibernia progemmaria. — A somewhat similar change has taken 

 place in this species in Yorkshire. Mr. G. T. Porritt records in this 

 Magazine (vol. xxiii, p. 10) its occurrence in the lluddersfield district 

 in greatly increased numbers, and increased intensity of blackness, 

 the semi-apterous females in particular having become, in many cases, 

 quite black. The same has more recently been noticed at Kotherham, 

 Sheffield, and elsewhere in South Yorkshire, and to some extent in 

 neighbouring counties ; but the colour assumed is fuscous or black- 

 brown, rather than smoky-black ; the fore-wings are more opaque, 

 and the usual markings obscured or obliterated, but the nervures are 

 not distinctly darker, nor are the hind-wings in the male so strongly 

 darkened. 



In the present remarks I have confined myself to the Geometridce, 

 though well aware that in such species, in other groups, as Xylophasia 

 polyodon and Diuriiea fagella, somewhat similar phenomena may be 

 observed. 



As a pendant to the foregoing remarks, or even as a possible 

 indication of further deviations, it may be well to record that in the 

 cabinet of Mr. S. J. Capper at Liverpool is a smooth smoky-black 

 Boarmia cinctaria, without markings, except the darker nervures, taken 

 some years ago in the New Forest ; that Mr. Sydney Webb has an 

 equally black Boarmia consortaria ; and that, in the New Forest, Cleora 

 glahraria exhibits a distinct tendency in the same direction, several 

 specimens, in the same and other collections, being smoothly clouded 

 with black from the base, and having the markings partially obscured. 



39, LiudtMi G-rove, Nunhead, S.E. : 

 Ju.m, 1895. 



SOME OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH OAK GALLS. 

 BY G. C. BIGNELL, F.E.S. 



Andeictjs amenti — I think it is worth recording that I have 

 bred this species (a single ? ) from a gall obtained at Bickleigh in 

 May; bred June 11th, 1887. The abdomen, however, is black. 

 Having a doubt about it, I sent it with the gall to Dr. Mayr, who 

 returned it with the above name. The only previous records of the 

 species in this country are from Braemar and Kew. 



Andricus Malpiguii. — This gall can be obtained in Cann Woods 

 and Bickleigh in September and October ; in 1890 I collected a few 

 and bred the flies in March, 1892. Of the sexual form, nudus. I 



