130 THE KNTOMOLOGIST. 



often taken nearly black (the variety Valezina), and yet in 

 Lancashire and Yorkshire I never heard of a specimen 

 occurring? Some years ago I took near this a very dark 

 female A. Aglaia, but certainly not within miles of either 

 large towns, tall chimneys, or even railways. Again, on the 

 same ground where we take the dark form of Acronycta 

 menyanlhidis we take Epione vesperlaria. Of this 1 have taken 

 during the last twenty years, at odd times, lour dark varieties, 

 and, rather singlar to say, all these were caught within fifty 

 yards of the same spot, though in different seasons. 1 have 

 bred hundreds, nay 1 may say thousands, of the ordinary 

 type, but have never myself reared, nor heard of anyone else 

 rearing, a variety of this species. 



I will now take a case of true melanism. T have for the 

 last eighteen or nineteen years been continually breeding 

 Eupitliecia alhipunctata : about seven years ago I bred one 

 specimen of a smoky black colour, without any markings or 

 white spots, only with a blacker spot in the centre of 

 superior wings ; two years ago another specimen ; and last 

 year (1876) four specimens — all exactly the same form. 

 Although I have taken the larva of this species in many 

 localities, all these cases of melanism come from the same 

 wood. 



We take Xylophasia polyodon near York as black as, 

 and I think even blacker than, any I have seen from 

 Scotland. The dark markings on Arclia lubricipeda are 

 more prone to radiation about York than in any locality 

 I know. Of Abraxas grossulariata we have had all forms, 

 from nearly all black to almost white ; and I bred one 

 two years ago semi-transparent, Cidaria suffumata is 

 sometimes all dark rich brown. I have taken two speci- 

 mens at York of Cirracdia :vera)?ipelina, both of the 

 dark rich Manx form (var. Unicolor). Specimens of Am- 

 phydasis helularia have been bred, both black and inter- 

 mediate, but these are exceptional. Of TiCiiiocampa opima 

 I have specimens nearly black without markings, excepting 

 outlines of stigmata and subterminal line. Epunda viminalis 

 has in some years been very abundant, and most of them 

 nearly black. I could give very many more cases, but I 

 think 1 have named sufficient for my purpose. 



From these facts I form my opinion that soil in its action 



