92 



and from the 150 collected no form of note emerged, except a 

 very small-spotted form. The main interest was in the 

 captured specimens, which were all taken on the same 

 limited area, and probably the most interesting specimens 

 must have emerged from the " ground " cocoons in this area 

 or have arrived from some other, which was not discovered 

 by him. Moreover, no empty exposed cocoons were found 

 except at the first visit, when two were met with, one having 

 been raided possibly by a bird, and the other had a parasi- 

 tised larva. This was sixteen days before any emergence 

 took place, when four hours or more had been spent in 

 completely searching the ground. Six cocoons were spun 

 on grass or dead sorrel stems, about two feet above the 

 ground. The selection exhibited was from some 1200 or so 

 specimens examined, and an endeavour has been made to 

 establish the species in three likely localities by putting out 

 ova and larvae. The most strikingly aberrant forms obtained 

 were three melanic forms, ab. obscura ?, and three six-spotted 

 forms, ab. hippocrcpidis, all of which appeared to have just 

 emerged when found. They were resting low down, with 

 fore-wings half-spread laterally in one plane with the fore- 

 wings covering the hind-wings, as is the usual second position 

 of drying, and they bled freely when pinned. The last six- 

 spotted form was taken at 6.30, after some seven hours' 

 continuous hunting, and after four systematic searches all 

 over the locality had been carried out. The days were in 

 July, 1907, and were dull, inclined to rain, with scarcely a 

 gleam of sunshine ; even Apliantopus (Enodia) hyperanthus did 

 not willingly fly. The bulk of the specimens bred and 

 examined were liberated either on the ground or in two or 

 three apparently suitable localities. 



Mr. A. Scollick exhibited the following variations of 

 Abraxas sylvata {iilmata) : 



One exceptionally broad-banded and dark specimen, the 

 band being unbroken and extending from the costa to the 

 inner margin of the front-wings, the markings being slightly 

 different on each wing ; 



One smoky form with an almost entire absence of mark- 



in & s; 



Four pale varieties approaching var. pantaria ; 



Four slightly suffused with a smoky tinge ; 



Two small specimens, from one of which the ochreous 

 markings were absent. 



Mr. H. Moore exhibited a sparrow, captured in Deptford, 

 with a curiously lengthened and enlarged beak. 



