Insects. 7521 



H. contigna. Abundant at sugar. 



Aplecta nebulosa. Scarce at sugar. 



A. tincta. In swarms at sugar. 



A. occulta. Came freely ; all the black variety. A. tincta sips the 

 sugar with its wings quivering like Thyatira Batis, and drops the 

 moment the light approaches. A. occulta sits as if glued to the tree, 

 with wings flat almost as those of Triphuena pronuba. Neither species 

 will remain quiet when boxed; they must be killed as taken to secure 

 fine specimens. 



Lencania impura, Agrotis porphyrea. 



Psodos trepidaria. Abundant on the summit of Craig Cross, but 

 time did not allow us to make the ascent. 



Scodiona Belgiaria. 



Larentia csesiaria. In thousands. 



L. flavicinctaria. Not uncommon. Sitting on rocks. 



L. didymata. 



Dasydia obfiiscata. On rocks at considerable elevations, but both 

 scarce and wild. 



Geometra papilionaria. At light. 



Fidonia quinquaria. Abundant among brake fern, but local. 



Coremia munitaria. In every water-course. 



Acidalia fumata. Disturbed from among heath. Common. 



Emmelesia eiicetaria. In profusion on the hills. 



E. blandiaria. 



EUopia fasciaria. Beaten from pines. 



Scopula alpinalis. Abundant. 



Crambus pinetellus, C. margaritellns, Penthina pra^longana, P.ochro- 

 melana, Tinea ochraceella, Depressaria ciniflonella, Cetonia aenea. 



Trichiiis fasciatus. On flowers of Orchis. 



Pissodes pini, Rbagium indigator, Serica brunnea. 



I was much struck with the great variation from ordinary southern 

 forms of many of the Rannoch Lepidoptera, and take the present 

 opportunity of urging closer attention to the influence of locality, food, 

 &c., on specific distinctions, believing that much of the causes and 

 limits of this variability may be learned by careful observation. 



Mr. Darwin's theory seems to have few friends among entomologists, 

 and perhaps his happiest illustrations are not from our branch of 

 Science ; but how few of us have really studied the question, and can 

 say what Entomology does teach on the subject of specific variation ! 



Why should the colours of Lepidoptera be usually darker in Scot- 

 land and Ireland than in England ? Why should Aplecta occulta be 

 VOL. XIX. 2 G 



