54 



which was deposited a number of eggs that in appearance 

 closely resembled those known to hepennaria, but the posi- 

 tion in which they were deposited appeared to be such 

 an unlikely one that I determined to rear both lots. From the 

 larvae it was soon evident that both batches were alike, and 

 the series exhibited to-night are a fair representation of the 

 resultant imagines. On comparing the one with the other 

 it will be seen that there is a considerable amount of varia- 

 tion. The prevailing character of the males from Abbott's 

 Wood is a blackish clouding of the primaries in longitudinal 

 patches, while in the lighter specimens the usual transverse 

 markings are only faintly indicated, and the females are 

 fairly uniform in ground colour. In the New Forest series 

 there are only very slight indications of any black clouding, 

 and in the lighter specimens, some of which have quite a 

 bright yellow ground colour, the usual transverse markings 

 are strongly produced ; the females also show considerable 

 variation in depth of ground colour, some being pale greyish 

 yellow while others are of a reddish-brown, the transverse 

 lines showing in strong relief. The differences between the 

 two series are, however, such as would lead to the supposi- 

 tion that the variation is the result of heredity rather than 

 that the insect is in either case assuming a local form, but 

 in the absence of the parent moths no definite opinion on 

 this point is possible." 



Mr. Adkin read the following note on Ardia caia, L., from 

 Mr. Thornhill :— 



'^Series 0/27 bred from larvse found in this district ; fed 

 on dead-nettle and lettuce; 12 males, 15 females. Killed 

 in cyanide bottle. 



Black Margin to Hind Wing. 



1 (J a dark one, black margin all round. 



2 ? black margin in patches all round. 



8 (4 (^, 4 ? ) black margin on outer angle, marked (i) 

 in diagram. 

 16 no sign of black margin. 



27 



White Margin to Upper Wing. 



3 ? 's have a white margin in patches all round. 

 24 no appearance of white. 



27 



