ARCTIIDAt. 267 



frequently extends into a blotch whicli reaches the costal 

 margin ; but the inner row constantly varies in size and 

 number either by coalescence or disappearance ; but all 

 sometimes unite and spread over the wing ; or the three 

 outer unite and form a broad constricted band of intense 

 blue-black ; or all dwindle, or become faint, leaving the hind 

 wings almost entirely scarlet. Another regul ar form of 

 variation is where yellow is substituted for scarlet in the 

 colouring of the hind wings and body ; this usually occurs 

 with the markings of quite normal character, and seems to be 

 an extension of the ordinary yellowish edging of the black 

 spots. Intermediate specimens of a pale scarlet are not 

 unfrequent. Perhaps the strongest tendency, however, is to 

 darker forms — extension of the brown or brown-black of the 

 fore wings and of the blue-black spots of the hind, so that 

 many specimens have been reared entirely of a smoky black, 

 but strangely enough, the large majority of these have been 

 cripples, of which the wings have never properly expanded. 

 Dr. Mason has a specimen of which the fore wings are 

 whitish-drab and the usually darker portions merely outlined 

 with brown, and another of darker brown colouring, similar 

 markings and the hind wings black-brown with black spots. 

 Also, reared by Mr. Geo. Baker, a wonderful specimen of which 

 the fore wings are red-brown with a dusting of suif used pale 

 spots, one wing darker than the other, and the hind wings 

 reddish, suffused unequally with blue-black, obscure black 

 spots and orange margins, but neither fore wings nor hind 

 wings are uniform ; another has dark brown fore wings with 

 the pale stripes reduced to mere lines, the hind wings brilliant 

 blue-black except the base and dorsal margin, and the hind 

 margin deep black. The late Mr. E. Hopley had one with 

 the fore wings wholly cream-white, the hind wings rosy- 

 crimson, and the spots orange-yellow. In Mr. S. J. Capper's 

 collection is one with the fore wings white except the edge 

 of the apex and a dark central spot ; another having the 

 hmd wings smoky black with the usual spots blue-black ; 



