THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



No. 53.] APRIL, MDOCOLXVIII. [PaiCE 6d. 



Variation in Lepidoptera. By Mr. C. S. Gregson, 

 (Continued from vol. iii. page 13). 



Cerura vinula. Two perfect specimens, measuring only 

 one inch eight lines in expansion of wings. 



Petasia nubeculosa. One specimen, a fine male, ash- 

 coloured or gray, reminding one of a large Acronycta Menyan- 

 thidis or A. Aceris. 



Notodonta camelina. This species varies much in size 

 and colour here, from light ochreous yellow to deep rich 

 brown : I possess vernal specimens averaging one inch two 

 lines, whilst the autumnal broods below them average one 

 inch six lines. 



N. dromedarius. This species is plentiful upon the Lan- 

 cashire mosses upon birch, in the larval state, in August, but 

 these larvae invariably produce the variety subfuscata of 

 authors, of a deep rich dull brown : I possess a few of the 

 insect, bred from larva? gathered in Hampshire, which seemed 

 not to differ from our own local larvee, but which produced 

 a fine, rich, deep red-marked typical dromedarius. 



Pygsera bucephala. Of this constant species I possess one 

 fine male, the dark portion of the wing wanting the silvery 

 gloss peculiar to this species, and curved round the apical 

 blotch both above and below, so as to clasp it, as it were, 

 almost to the apex, giving the blotch a somewhat pointed 

 appearance : this specimen is the only aberration I have 

 ever seen worth naming, though I have repeatedly seen an 

 allied species placed as a variety of it. 



Cymatophora flavicornis. Of this insect thousands have 

 passed through my hands or under my eye ; and though it is 

 not esteemed a very variable species, I have collected about a 

 score for my collection, all of which differ from each other in 

 colour or marking, but to describe the peculiarities of each is 

 not desirable ; one has a deep black-brown head, thorax, 



VOL. IV. B 



