Morley: Notes on the Variation of Abraxas ulmata. 393 
wing ray, the ground colour being pure white. On some of 
the very lightest specimens another very curious feature of 
variation begins to appear, and leads on to a very distinct 
variety. Some specimens have the yellow spots slightly 
blurred, the colour being faintly suffused onsthe wings outside 
the ordinary limits of the spots. The suffusion becomes more 
pronounced in other specimens until the ground colour becomes 
rust coloured, this colour being most pronounced in the region 
of the spots. But I regard these as only approaches to what I 
found of the extreme yellow suffused forms, which have the 
yellow spots very blurred and undefined, and the ground colour 
very dirty and greasy-looking. Perhaps the strangest feature 
about these yellow suffused forms is the fact that not one of them 
has all the wings equally affected. In one or two specimens 
an almost complete suffusion obtains, but generally the fore- 
wings are the most affected, and both sexes are subject to it. 
Another very plentiful form, darker than Newman’s figure, 
seems to make another distinct variation. The brown spots 
are very much darkened; indeed, in some cases they are 
almost obliterated by a thick lead colour. The transverse sets 
of blotches are united and form broad deep leaden bands 
across the wings. The central blotches become enlarged also, 
and are usually confluent. It is worthy of note, however, that 
this form has the spots well defined, and even in the most heavily 
marked examples what remains of the ground colour is white 
and not suffused. 
A few of the deep leaden varieties were obtained, with pretty 
examples intermediate between them and the type. The first 
has only the outer half of the left forewing affected, the narrow 
smoky line on the outer margin and the leaden blotches being 
almost washed out, the area between them lead colour. It is 
worthy of note that although the brown spot on the inner 
margin is enveloped in the smoky cloud it is well defined and 
full coloured. The next specimen has all the wings equally 
affected; all the spots and blotches show out plainly, the 
ground colour being pale leaden grey more or less shadowy, 
but with no white showing. The remaining specimens of the 
leaden type seem to vary only in intensity of colour, with the 
cloudy blotches less apparent as the colour becomes deeper. 
Judging from this series it would seem that two quite 
distinct forms of variation are developing in this locality, and 
although it may be premature to come to that conclusion, the 
fact remains that where a yellow suffusion obtains it is at the 
1907 November 1 
2C 
