‘\ 
NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 129 
VARIATION IN THE GENUS Scoparra.— Whilst collecting in 
the neighbourhood of Deal, in the early part of July, on a 
beautiful day, when Micro-Lepidoptera were swarming and it was 
difficult for a comparative beginner at the study of the micros to 
determine what to take, I found a Scoparia flying rather freely, 
late in the afternoon. From their white appearance and the 
time of the season I at once concluded they were 8. ingratella, 
especially as I had taken S. dubitalis some three weeks before in 
the neighbourhood of Rochester, and knew that by that time the 
species must be over, or very worn, while the bulk of these were 
in fine condition. As I had been hard at work some hours I had 
but few boxes left, and consequently took home but few 
specimens. I noticed, however, flying among the others, two or 
three specimens apparently bleached, and thinking they were 
very wasted I did not take them. However, noticing one at 
rest, and remarking that it looked comparatively fresh, I boxed 
it, and on arriving home and looking over my captures was 
surprised to find a remarkably pure white Scoparia, whose 
species would, at least, have been exceedingly doubtful; however, 
taking the surroundings of the insect into account, I think it is 
more than probable that the insect 1s a white form of S. ingratella, 
Showing the specimens to my friend Mr. Coverdale, some time 
after, and telling him where it was captured, he told me that he 
had one, taken the previous summer at the same place ; but that, 
I believe, was the only one he saw. His, however, shows the 
markings, although very indistinctly, and seems a sort of con- 
necting-link between mine and the type. From its general 
appearance I should say Scoparia ingratella was only a form 
of S. dubitalis, but its constant appearance about three weeks 
later would make this questionable, unless the nearness of the 
sea to the coast districts where S. ingratella occurs makes a 
difference in the time of its appearance. If this were to make a 
ditference, I should think it should be in the opposite direction, 
and the coast specimens would occur, if anything, earlier. It is 
worthy of remark, I think, that some of the Scopariz have a 
tendency to vary towards the two extremes, “white” and 
“black.” S. cembre, S. igratella, and S. pallida seem especially 
to lean towards pale forms; while S. mercurella is specially 
inclined toward black, although its var. portlandica is much 
paler than the type. I have some very dark specimens also 
ENTOM.—MAY, 1886. Ss 
