364 LEPIDOPTERA. 



having a large flat white triangle close to the anal angle, 

 which more rarely extends itself into a white stripe along 

 the dorsal margin. Northward and westward an opposite 

 tendency shows itself, the colour becoming more uniformly 

 umbreous, sometimes absorbing the central dark shade, in 

 others giving it a blacker tint; and the general colour 

 becomes intensified in various degrees until a deep rich black 

 is attained, which, in some individuals, occupies the entire 

 surface of the fore wings ; in others is blotched with brown, 

 or assumes various shades of rich black-brown ; in the majority 

 the pale edges of the transverse lines are visible, and in a 

 still larger number the W in the subterminal line — indeed, 

 this is sometimes traceable when the rest of that line has 

 disappeared — but, as already remarked, there are specimens 

 smoothly-black without even this relief. These black 

 varieties in various degrees seem to commence to appear in 

 the northern Midlands, and are common in South Yorkshire, 

 while in the Scottish mountain districts they become pre- 

 dominant, though the brown forms are never absent. Some 

 of the most beautiful of the aberrations are found in Suther- 

 landshire — velvety-black -brown, or with the central band and 

 marginal cloud black, and white transverse lines in a rough 

 umbreous surface ; purplish brown with pale lines ; and in 

 one specimen belonging to Mr. F. J. Hanbuiy there is even 

 a tinge of grey in the brown. This is the only specimen of 

 this species which I have ever seen having any tinge of grey 

 in its colouring. An example in the collection of JMr. Robert 

 Adkin, otherwise of the uniform dull umbreous variety, has 

 conspicuous whitish-brown blotches before the apex and anal 

 angle, and is of a very unusual appearance ; it is from the 

 south of Scotland. In the north of Ireland specimens of 

 dark red-brown and chocolate colour are found with those of 

 uniform umbreous; in the west of that country the vast 

 majority are dark-brown shading to black, but everywhere 

 accompanied by the more normal forms. Occasionally, 

 though rarely, an individual is met with of not more than 



