144 THE entomologist's record. 



every intermediate form between the type with white ground colour 

 and distinct markings and pure spotless white." A description of 

 certain forms follows, and I suggest that Knaggs' addition — iniiratclla, 

 Zell.— can be nothing but dubitalis, i.e., that (hditalis — 'uKjratella = 

 pijralt'lla. I also point out that there appears to be a considerable 

 difference in favour of Cuxton compared with Dover in the time of the 

 appearance of the insect. All these references, and others referring 

 only to ovdinnry inijratdla, yveve collected by South in 1890 (Ent., 

 xxiii., p. 273). Even Knaggs, in his original note introducing S. 

 inip-atella, Zell., as British, says fE. ^f. 21., iv., p. 61) that " the black 

 markings may be absent or very faint." 



Reference to Entom., x., p. 92, would have prevented another 

 statement from Mr. Fryer which runs: "Until the larva has been 

 found and the species (?) bred, I am afraid I must rest content with 

 having taken a variety only," &c. We read there that " Machin 

 reared S. iwiratdla from larvffi in the roots of sorrel collected at Folke- 

 stone in April, 1874." We wonder why South says " 1867 " in the 

 Ent., xxiii., p. 273 ! 



I have kept throughout these quotations the term" variety," where 

 it has been misused for the term " aberration." To prevent this white 

 aberration of Scojiaria dubitali-^ being again forgotten, we propose in 

 future to designate it Scoparia dubitalis ab. alba, n. ab. 



Collecting Lepidoptera in Jamaica. 



By W. J. KAYE, F.E.S. 



In a previous note {ante, p. 57) I have given some account of the 

 lepidoptera of Trinidad. After collecting in such a rich island as this, 

 the number and variety of insects to be met with in Jamaica are dis- 

 appointing. Although only about 8° further north, the whole aspect 

 is changed. The number of butterflies has fallen from something like 

 220 species to, roughly, 80 species, although the island is over three 

 times the area of Trinidad. The vivid colourings also have, for the 

 most part, given place to the more sombre tints of the species belonging 

 to the Nearctic region. Before a definite statement is made one needs 

 further proof, but I am strongly of the opinion that Jamaica is one of 

 the points where the faunas of the sub-tropical and Nearctic regions 

 overlap. In the neighbourhood of Kingston, butterflies are rare, but 

 the Heterocera make up the deficiency. If there is any garden with a 

 good show of flowers, particularly jasmine blossoms, one can be pretty 

 certain of plenty of sport at dusk. Enormous hawk moths of the 

 genus t'dci/tiiis, accompanied by numerous other species of this family, 

 are sure to be hovering over the jasmine, which to me appeared to be 

 quite their favourite resort. I doubt if it has been remarked before, 

 but, to me, the most interesting feature of the lepidoptera of the island 

 was the number and diversity of the Sp1iin(jidac. In the present state 

 of our knowledge it is difficult to estimate the number of species, but 

 we ourselves took 19 species on as many nights. Besides being taken at 

 jasmine, they are, on warm cloudy nights, a source of great annoyance 

 to householders who have their windows open, as they constantly come 

 in and put out the light. My stay in the Kingston district was only 

 of three days' duration, but it was sufiicient to give one an idea of 

 what was to be met with. By the roadside that wholly New World 



