244 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



is a noticeable feature, but the greater extent of variation of both 

 colour and pattern of marking of such specimens is even more 

 striking. I cannot think that food has much to do with the 

 matter. This question of food as a factor in the coloration of 

 Lepidoptera and its influence — if any— in causing variation is 

 one that I cannot well enter into here. I hope shortly to return 

 to this subject in a paper on protective coloration of Lepidoptera. 



Melanippe tristata. — New to me in North Devon. Several 

 specimens, together with M. montanata and M. galiata, disturbed 

 from the bushes, &c, growing on stone walls. In a former paper 

 (Entom. xiv. 155) I have referred to the North Devonshire walls. 

 They are the only kind of boundary used for fields, &c. ; and 

 the bountiful and varied vegetation which adorns their sloping 

 sides and crowns their summits affords excellent harbour and 

 sustenance for many species of Lepidoptera. I captured and 

 examined a large number of M. montanata, with the result of 

 obtaining a nice series of interesting forms. 



Anticlea badiata. — One specimen in good condition on June 

 11 th. This is the latest date I have ever observed this species 

 on the wing. 



Cidaria russata. — Some examples of this species were cap- 

 tured as late as June 20th. Many of them were not, however, in 

 the best possible condition ; at the same time they were not by 

 any means worn out. From four females taken between June 16th 

 and 20th I obtained batches of eggs, from thirty-eight to fifty-two 

 in a batch, or an average of forty-two deposited by each female. 

 These all duly hatched, and the larvse were fed on rose and 

 strawberry at first ; but on my return to London I added young 

 leaves of sallow to their bill of fare. The boxes containing these 

 batches of eggs were each marked with one or other of the first 

 four letters of the alphabet in the order of capture. Considering 

 the batches A, B, C, D were deposited and also hatched within a 

 day or so of each other, the broods of larvae, although supplied 

 with the same food and subjected to exactly identical circum- 

 stances in every respect, evinced great disparity in the rate 

 of feeding up, both in the broods collectively and in individuals 

 of the same brood. Brood A from the first was much further in 

 advance of B, C, D than the slightly earlier date of birth would 

 seem to warrant. Again, the specimens bred from A larva? are 

 larger than any yet bred from either of the other broods. On the 



