( xlii ) 



" In the case of b and c respectively, the results are un- 

 satisfactory, because incomplete as regards c especially; but 

 it is perhaps worthy of mention that among the oifspring of 

 pair B are three specimens of an extreme aberration of the 

 conversaria form similar to examples I exhibited here in 1887, 

 when I suggested that such varieties originated in the pairing 

 of male and female conversaria. 



" With regard to brood a, the experiment has been com- 

 paratively complete, and the result shows that the majority 

 of the offspring have inherited the special characters of one 

 or other of their parents. Of the remainder, nine males are 

 almost identical in form, and represent a variety of B. 

 repandata which is not common in the locality from which the 

 original stock came, whilst two individuals appear to be 

 intermediate between the female parent form and typical B. 

 repandata.'' 



Mr, Poulton enquired whether the larvae which had been 

 experimented upon were uniform in colour, or extremely 

 variable, like those in a wild state, 



Mr. South replied that, as regards colour, the larvse in 

 each brood were similar, all being pale brown, but there was 

 some slight difference in the intensity of dorsal ornamentation. 

 The larvffi collected in N. Devon from which the parents were 

 bred exhibited an extensive range of colour- variation, from 

 pale brown through all shades of red-brown to dark almost 

 blackish brown. As has been previously stated, these were 

 found on bilberry and heather, both plants being mixed 

 together in rich masses. When in repose during the day- 

 time the red or dark brown larvae would assimilate well with 

 the heather-stock, and the pale larvae with the bilberry- stem. 

 As they were observed at night, however, when feeding on 

 the foliage of the plants, they did not harmonise well, but, 

 on the contrary, were often in strong contrast with their 

 immediate surroundings. Directly the light from the lamp 

 shone upon them they sought protection by assuming a twig- 

 like attitude, but the ruse was not always successful, as a 

 dark-coloured larva on a whitish brown or pale green twig 

 was not less conspicuous than a pale larva on a dark twig ; 

 their rigid stillness would probably, however, deceive the 

 unpractised eye. 



