290 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



South Lancashire where birch is found, but does not seem to be 

 abundant in any of its localities, among which may be men- 

 tioned Delamere Forest, the woods near Hale Bank on the 

 Lancashire side of the Mersey, Knowsley Park, and the Mosses 

 between Prescot and Ormskirk ; indeed, in some years not more 

 than an odd specimen or two are taken. 



What one may regard as the local type is scarcely darker or 

 more irrorated with black than specimens from other parts of 

 England, although now and again one finds an insect with a little 

 more black scaling, yet not enough to form a distinct intermediate 

 between the var. melanocephala and the usual form occurring in 

 the district. It is curious that any darkening which may be 

 found is first apparent in the hairs of the thorax, which in the 

 variety are quite black. It is very difficult to estimate the pro- 

 portion of the variety to the type, which at present is very low, 

 although the ratio seems to be on the increase. Several attempts 

 have been made to obtain ova from this dark form, but without 

 success, so far as I have been able to learn — certainly my own 

 endeavours have failed ; and, .as the experiment results in the 

 absolute ruin of the moth as a cabinet specimen, one is natur- 

 ally reluctant to repeat the sacrifice with the one or two insects 

 obtained at the cost of a great deal of hard work. 



Acronycta leporina, L., var. melanoce'phala, var. nov. — Differs 

 from the type as follows : — Fore wings in both sexes strikingly 

 suffused with fuscous, and with all the normal markings in- 

 tensified. Thorax black ; abdomen blackish, not so dark as the 

 thorax ; hind wings as in the type. Types (male and female) 

 in coll. W. M. 



The photograph, here reproduced, is by Mr. Hugh Main, 

 F.E.S. The right side of the upper figure represents the melanic 

 form ; the left fore wing should be exactly as dark as the right 

 fore wing, but the camera has failed to show this. The lower 

 figure of a specimen of the usual form is shown for comparison. 



ENTOMOLOGY AT BAEMOUTH. 



By J. Arkle. 



The railway ride from Chester to Barmouth, in Merioneth- 

 shire, lies among some of the finest scenery in North Wales. 

 Through the celebrated Vale of Llangollen, and along the side of 

 Bala Lake, the Great Western keeps to the Valley of the Dee. 

 Through the trees, which fringe both river and railway above 

 Llangollen, an occasional glimpse can be had, on the river- 

 reaches, of the Ancient British wicker-made coracle. Still 

 onwards and upwards, and leaving Bala behind, we find the 

 geography books of our youth were wrong in ascribing the source 



