'250 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



punctulate, with very faint traces of the sutures ; metathorax 

 punctulate, pubescent, with two central, parallel, longitudinal 

 caringe, between which is a narrow depression ; mesopleurae smooth 

 and shining. Segment 1 of the abdomen laterally longitudinally 

 striolate with two carinae which disappear before the middle, the 

 space between smooth (in the males the carinas are somewhat 

 indistinct). Segment 2 irregularly striolate with a curved transverse 

 impression. Segment 3 with a similar curved transverse impression, 

 striolate at base but apically smooth ; other segments smooth and 

 shining. Terebra rather more than half as long as abdomen. Length 

 <5j mm., expands lOi^ mm. 



(To be continued.) 



ON SOME VAKIATIONS OF APHANTOPUS 

 IIYPERANTHUS. 



By the Eev. H. D. Ford, M.A. 



A. liyperantlius is common in many parts of this district, and 

 in two or three restricted localities those variations of the under- 

 side, known as arete and coeca, are, comparatively speaking, not 

 rare. During the past four years my son and I have given con- 

 siderable attention to these forms ; altogether we have captured 

 and examined between 120 and 140 specimens, and as we estimate 

 that these variations are in the proportion of about 4 or 5 per 

 cent, to the typical form, the task has involved the capture and 

 examination of about 3000 insects. 



But these variations are almost endless; hardly any two speci- 

 mens are alike; they merge almost imperceptibly from the typical 

 into the arete or coeca form, and, further, these two forms are 

 combined together in a number of sub-variations which constitute 

 a most interesting study. And accordingly, after much consider- 

 ation, we have, for our own convenience, divided the series in 

 our collection into five main groups. 



These may be described as follows : A. type + arete ; B. type 

 + coeca; C. arete; I), arete -^ coeca ; E. coeca. It is a short 

 description of these difterent groups which is to form the subject 

 of this paper. 



The typical underside of A. hi/peranthus is, of course, well 

 known. On each side of the insect eight ocelli are to he found, 

 which are divided into three groups : the first, on the fore wing, 

 consists of three ocelli ; the second, on the hind wing, of two 

 ocelli ; the third, also on the hind wing, of three ocelli. These 

 ocelli follow the marginal outline of the wings, though the second 

 group, consisting of two ocelli, Nos. 4 and 5, is set a little further 

 inwards from the outer margin than are the other two groups. 



But even in the typical form there is a tendency towards the 

 •diminution in the size of the ocelli, which ultimately finds 



