Morley : N^otes on Lepidopterous Variation. 49 



them, leaving- the other parts a very pale straw colour. All the 

 stagfes linking- this fine form with the ordinary type have been 

 taken during- recent years, and now apparently the species 

 g"enerally is leaving- the ming-led brown-coloured form that 

 obtained a few years ag-o, and taking- on this well-defined type 

 of markings and coloration. It may be of interest to note that 

 the dark variety piceata, which occurs in some parts in the 

 north of the county, has never been recorded here. One would 

 almost expect to find that the dark form would be the natural 

 variation of the species in this district, where melanism pre- 

 dominates in comparison with any other variation, especially 

 when it is remembered that the dark piceata type is by far the 

 commonest form of extreme variation in these islands. How are 

 we to account then for the neig-hbourhood of Skelmanthorpe 

 producing- specimens of perhaps the very brig-htest type to be 

 found in Britain ! 



Another very singular instance of extreme and widely 

 differing variation came under my notice during- the season of 

 1903. Having- previously noticed the frequence of Xanthia 

 cerago ab. Jiavescens at heather bloom, &c., I determined to 

 breed the species. According-l}', while collecting- for Tcenio- 

 campcp at sallow during- the spring-, I carefully picked up all the 

 catkins that fell down upon the sheet, hoping- that some mig-ht 

 possibl}' contain the young- larvae of the species desired. When 

 the bloom had passed away, and the catkins had become 

 withered, I went for more. From the number of _small larvae 

 they were infested with, it was evident that cerago would be 

 present among- them. When they g-rew larg-er it proved to be 

 that cerago and A', silago had been obtained plentifully by this 

 simple method of collecting-. Later, when the same sallows 

 came into leaf, the \-Av\?e^ oi Epiinda viniiiialis were found plenti- 

 fully, and a good supply was taken, which during July gave 

 good reward for the little work and care spent on their behalf 

 by coming out into the perfect state, invariably almost black. 

 The result, however, was expected, for this species seems to be 

 a perfect example of melanism locally. During August the 

 Xanthias began to make their appearance also. X. silago 

 gave thirty-three moths, all more or less of one type, and so 

 far as I know quite ordinary. A', cerago, on the other hand, 

 came out very variable ; of the nineteen moths bred, twelve 

 gave a good range of variation from the type to almost ab. 

 Jiavescens, and the remaining seven were of that very pale 

 form. 1 have no idea what percentage may be expected of this 



1906 February i. 



