THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 87 



dull stone-colour, instead of reddish brown as in the type, 

 which it resembles, however, in all other respects, as far as I 

 have observed. Is this variety of common occurrence ? It 

 is mentioned in Newman's 'British Butterflies,' but is the 

 first specimen I have ever seen myself, nor have I seen a 

 report of its capture lately. I may add the insect was taken 

 by my brother in a lane near Chatteris. — A. Harold Riiston ; 

 Ayleshy House, Chatteris, February 17, 1875. 



Eupitliecia Knautiata. — Perhaps you will allow me to 

 make a few remarks on the Eupithecia which Mr. Gregson 

 proposes to call Knautiata. In the first place I would point 

 out that Mr. Gregson seems to have entirely overlooked 

 Mr. Johnson's letter published in the 'Entomologist' for 

 January (Entom. viii. 22) ; and to me the information this 

 gentleman gives seems most important. He says, " that in 

 former years heath grew abundantly at Bull's Hill." Now 

 •Mr. Gregson says that he has only found Knautiata at Bull's 

 Hill, where at the present time there is no heath whatever; 

 but at the other localities (Hawkshead, Witherslack, and 

 Formby Moss), which he has visited, both the heath and 

 Knautia arvensis were growing together ; and on the heath 

 only he found the Eupithecia miuutata. From the above 

 facts I gather that in former years both the heath and 

 K. arvensis grew^ together at Bull's Hill (as well as at the 

 other localities) ; but from causes, wdiich Mr. Johnson 

 explains, the heath was gradually exterminated, whereas, 

 apparently, the Eupithecia was not, and, as its usual food 

 failed, it took to K. arvensis ; and hence the slight difference 

 in appearance of both larva and imago. In the second place, 

 as regards the difference in colour, I imagine this would be 

 nothing more than natural from the change in food. In fact, 

 in the colour of the larva? of many Eupilheciae there is 

 scarcely any characteristic difference at all ; and from my 

 experience (although I have not bred them in hundreds or 

 thousands) the chief agency in affecting their colour is their 

 food. Wilh regard to such characters as " stout," " thick," 

 " stumpy," " short," &c., they can have but little value, 

 unless the respective larvas are compared at the same age. 

 As far as I can judge, at present, 1 think Knautiata nothing 

 more than a variety of Minutata ; but if anyone will take the 

 trouble to procure some eggs of Knautiata and feed the 



