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THK ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XXVL] NOVEMBEK, 1893. 



[No. 366. 



VARIATION OP CHRYS0PHANU8 PHLCEAS IN BRITAIN. 



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Fig. 1. 



Although this species is subject to considerable variation 

 within certain limits, the capture of strikingly aberrant specimens 

 is a comparative rare occurrence. Mr. Frohawk, of Balham, and 

 Mr. Sabine, of Erith, have detected, among the numerous speci- 

 mens of C. phloeas occurring in their respective districts this year, 

 some very interesting varieties. None of these examples exhibit 

 anything absolutely novel in the way of aberration above, but the 

 markings on the under surface of the specimens figured (taken by 

 Mr. Sabine) are curiously abnormal. 



C. phloeas, in Europe, ranges in colour from the typical copper 

 towards the dark smoky suffused form, known as var. eleus, Fabr., 

 on the one hand, and in the direction of the silvery white var. 

 schmidtii on the other. Both these forms, together with various 

 modifications of each, have occurred in Britain. The specimen 

 recorded by Mr. Sabine {ante, p. 295) is an intermediate between 

 the type and var. schmidtii. The fore wings are shining pale straw 

 colour; the costa is broadly black along the apical half, and suffused 

 with black along the basal half; the outer margin is also broadly 

 black, and the spots are typical. Hind wings black; marginal band 

 rather broader than usual, and of the same straw colour as fore 

 wings ; base of wings dusted with shining straw-coloured scales. 

 Fringes greyish white. Under surface of fore wings pale straw, 

 but quite typical in all other respects. Hind wings typical. 

 Specimens sometimes occur with one fore wing only silvery 



ENTOM. — NOV., 1893, 2 E 



