5556 Insects. 



thorax differs very much from that of all other species of the genus: it is an 

 extremely local insect: I searched for it afterwards in vain, never rinding a single 

 specimen, except in that one locality. I travelled on to Inver, on the west coast of 

 Sulherlandshire, and there captured some fine specimens of Plusia interrogationis, 

 Charissa obfuscaria, Coremia munitaria and Crambus ericitellus, of which I had never 

 before seen a specimen. I then travelled across the county to Golspie, to try the park 

 belonging to his Grace the Duke of Sutherland, and as the head keeper delighted in 

 the science of Ornithology as well as myself, I found no difficulty in obtaining liberty 

 to entomologize in the park ; here I took more specimens of Plusia interrogationis, 

 Thera variaria and Eubolia mensuraria: I captured a good number of the ordinary 

 marked specimens, and also some varieties almost black. I then returned to Tain, 

 and near Dornock Firth I secured eight specimens of Xylophasia polyodon, of the 

 beautiful black variety so much prized by our collectors ; they were accompanied by 

 others of the usual colouring: in one locality I have captured dark, light and inter- 

 mediate varieties of Aplecta occulta, Hadena adusta. Calocampa vetusta, and 

 other species. Several theories have been suggested to account for this remarkable 

 variation ; one of these is that the Scottish soil contains much iron, which has been 

 supposed to be the cause of the darkness of some of the specimens ; but let us 

 examine two or three species, to see how that theory stands ; first, Cabera pusaria and 

 some other delicate waves, then Mesoleuca albicillaria and M. rubiginaria ; the white 

 portions of their wings are equally as white as in the same species found in England, 

 so that the supposed iron soil does not affect them ; neither can we prove that altitude 

 makes the differences in question, which must still remain an enigma that requires 

 solution. Returning from Ross-shire along the Caledonian Canal, I landed at Fort 

 Augustus, on the 1st of August : I ascended a high mountain, and captured Olisthopus 

 rotundatus, Omoseus Bulwerii, 0. Orinomum and Steropus iEthiops, and on the base of 

 the mountain fine dark -specimens of Erebia blandina in abundance. I travelled 

 onward along the canal towards Greenock, and passed on to the Tsle of Arran, in 

 hopes of obtaining Erebia Ligea: I had seen two specimens of this insect in the 

 cabinet of the late Mr. Stephens, which were captured by the late Sir Patrick Walker, 

 on the moors at the back of Brodick Castle, when out one day grouse shooting: I was 

 informed by Mr. Stephens that he received that statement from Sir Patrick himself: 

 I have tried that locality three different seasons without finding the insect, still I do 

 not despair. I found E. blandina in profusion, but browner in colour than those 

 taken in the Black Forest, Perthshire : the greater or lesser heat of the sun may 

 perhaps have a powerful influence on the food-plant of those larva? that produce 

 extraordinary varieties amongst butterflies and moths. I ascended to the top of 

 Goat Fell in a fog, and when this cleared off I captured several specimens of Coccyx 

 finitimana and Pamplusia alticolana: at the base I captured the first Oporabia fili- 

 grammaria; I sent specimens to my entomological friends three times over, always 

 receiving them back as varieties of dilutata : I was convinced they were not dilutata, 

 and I sent them to the late Mr. Stephens, who returned them with the name of 

 Oporabia polata, which name they retained some years. I afterwards captured 

 Electra popularia, the first I had seen, and on the ragwort I found a specimen of 

 Graphiphora Dahlii, the richest coloured specimen that I have ever seen: I also 

 obtained the pupae of Dianlhecia conspersa by digging along shore. — Richard 

 Weaver; 25, Per shore Street, Birmingham, February 21, 1857. 



