216 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



spots are only connected by a thin dash, and a similar dash unites the 

 central spots with the outer one. This modification is represented by 

 Hiibner's figure 166, and appears to be a combination in part of the forms 

 c and d. 



I have taken one or more specimens of each of the above forms this 

 year in Middlesex. Besides the aberration in markings the species also 

 varies in colour. 



/. Hind wings and spots on fore vpings yellow. Mr. Christy discovered 

 several specimens of this form (which, I believe, had not been previously 

 observed) in West Sussex this year. I understand that they were found in 

 company with ordinary coloured specimens, and that they exhibit a tendency 

 to vary in the same way as typically coloured trifolii. 



g. Hind wings and spots on fore wings orange-red. I have two examples 

 of this colour, and some others of a slightly deeper shade. All these were 

 taken in Middlesex this year, together with a specimen of the orobi form, 

 in which the lower spot of central pair is yellowish red. 



The blue-black border of hind wings varies greatly in width; it is often 

 narrower in the typical form than in var. orobi, but some examples of the 

 latter have the hind wings more narrowly bordered than typical trifolii. As 

 a rule, modification in the width of this border appears to be quite indepen- 

 dent of variation in the markings of fore wings. — Richard South; 12, 

 Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood,^ N.W. 



Note on the Larva of Acronycta alni. — On the 12th of August, 

 last year, I was fortunate enough to take, near Cardiff, a single larva of 

 Acronycta alni, and on the 25th inst. I had the satisfaction of seeing a fine 

 female imago emerge. A few notes which I made respecting this larva 

 may be of interest, and I venture to send them to you. The colour of the 

 larva is sooty black, the surface of the body being dull, while the head and 

 legs are very glossy and like jet. The head is about as broad as the second 

 segment. On each segment is a raised sulphur-coloured patch crossing the 

 back transversely, and terminating abruptly without reaching the spiracles ; 

 these patches have rather the form of a blister, and are depressed in the 

 middle in the direction of their length ; they vary in size, and those on the 

 llih and 13th segments are absent or nearly so. The larva carries a 

 remarkable series of black appendages, each of which may be compared to 

 a feather stripped to the quill, excepting the tip ; they are soft, and proceed 

 from the ends of the dorsal patches ; there are three on each side of the 

 2nd segment and one on each side of the 5th to 10th inclusive, and of the 

 12th. The 12th segment is rather more prominent than the others. I 

 found this larva feeding at about sunset on the broad-leaved sallow, at a 

 height of about 10 ft. from the ground and resting on the upper surface of 

 the leaf; in fact, the mysterious appearance of its black head and six an- 

 terior appendages in motion at the edge of the leaf it was eating was what 

 drew my attention. When disturbed I found it to have a habit of swinging 

 the head round to the side of the body, and taking up the posture so 

 remarkable in its near relative, A.megacephala; much annoyance only caused 

 it to crawl away quickly. I should be glad to hear whether it has been 

 found that this larva has the power of emitting any odour. A tin box in 

 which it was confined was perfectly sweet before it contained it, but in a 

 few hours afterwards I found it smelling quite putrid. I tried to trace the 

 odour to the larva, but could not with certainty, and for the few remaining 

 davs of the latter's existence it remained. The larva then descended to 



