HEWETT : YORKSHIRE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA IN 1 897. 1 83 



siderable number of this particular aberration in the same 

 locality will, I firmly believe, save this fine aberration from 

 the danger of being swamped by intercrossing, and com- 

 pletely refutes Professor G. J. Romanes' statement, viz. : 

 * That the same variation does not occur simultaneously in 

 a number of individuals inhabiting the sam^ area, and that 

 it is mere assumption to say it does.' He further adds : 

 ' If the assumption were granted there would be an end of 

 the present difficulty, viz., the swamping effects of inter- 

 crossing, for if a sufficient number of individuals were thus 

 simultaneously and similarly modified, there need be no 

 longer any danger of the variety becoming swamped by 

 intercrossing.' I do not believe there is any danger of this 

 variety being swamped, but confidently look forward to its 

 occurring in still greater numbers next season, and that 

 intermediate forms will also be much more numerous. 



' Melanic forms of this species have only previously been 

 recorded from Edlington Wood, Doncaster, where they are 

 of extremely rare occurrence. I took one there some six 

 years ago. I am also aware of its occasional occurrence 

 at Drewton Dale, Yorkshire, and have in my collection a 

 specimen of this aberration from that locality obtained 

 in 1895. 



' Unfortunately a large proportion of the melanic forms 

 were cripples, or partially so, especially the left fore and 

 hind wings.' The editor, Mr. Tutt, adds to this : ' Re- 

 corded also from Bamford's Wood, near Rochdale, by 

 Bentley, June 22, 1880.' 



With regard to Mr. Porritt's statement at the Entomo- 

 logical Society of London, on Oct. 6th, 1897, to the effect 

 that 'melanic aberrations were not unusual, but that it was 

 very exceptional for a large number to occur in any one 

 year, as had been the case during the last summer' {Ento- 

 tjwlogists' Record, vol. 9, p. 306). Mr. Porritt assures 

 me that ' the late Mr. W. Prest, of York, used to take 



