7904 



Northern Entomological Society. 



experiments, unknown to and unassisted by any one, and the results of my experience 

 go to prove most unquestionably that many species may be cultivated into varieties, 

 some of them hitherto not often thought liable to vary ; for instance, Pygcera 

 Bucephala fed upon sycamore is much finer and much darker than when fed upon 

 any other food I know, though it is well known this species never is found on that 

 tree in its natural state. Again, Xylophasia polyodon fed upon heather is always a 

 dark insect, sometimes perfectly black; Hadena adusta fed upon heath is also much 

 darker than when fed upon any other plant; Acronycta Menyanthidis fed on sallow, 

 on the contrary, often produces Curtis's variety, A. Salicis, whilst fed on heath it pro- 

 duces the light specimens of our mosses. Again, Cidaria populata fed on Vaccinium 

 Myrtillus, is always light, whilst when fed upon V. Vitis-Idsea it is always darker, 

 sometimes dark brown without any markings; Hybernia defoliaria fed upon birch 

 gives beautifully marked specimens, whilst those fed on elm are but poor dull 

 coloured forms, almost without markings; Eupithecia venosata fed upon inflated 

 catchily is almost white, whilst those fed on the shore catchfly are much larger and 

 almost lead-colour; Noctua festiva fed upon thorn is a rich red insect, well marked, — 

 fed upon grasses it is light yellowish, and though it attains its full size, yet it is 

 rarely well marked ; and N. triangulum fed on thorn is perhaps one of the richest 

 coloured Noctua? we have, — dark, and its markings well defined, whilst fed on low 

 plants it is a light insect. Eupithecia assimilata fed on wild hop is finer than when 

 fed on black currant. Abraxas Grossulariata feet upou red currant produces a light 

 brood, fed upon blackthorn they are darker; but fed upon bullace, or wild plum, they 

 are darker still, and the white is sometimes turned into yellow. But what will 

 perhaps interest you most to know, and undoubtedly what I know best and have 

 oftenest tried and succeeded in, is that Chelonia Caja fed upon Petasites vulgaris, or 

 upon the common coltsfoot, will produce darker specimens than when fed upon any 

 other plant I know, and the chances are that when fed upou this food one or more 

 will prove extraordinarily dark, but there is a singularity in the fact that the dark 

 specimens so bred rarely expand their wings: the same remarks apply to the dark 

 specimens of the ' pepper moth,' though we know that one Bolton breeder did succeed 

 one year in getting a considerable number of dark ones out perfect; he never stated 

 on what he fed them, but T expect it was on coltsfoot. 



"In bringing this paper before the meeting, I wish it to be understood that 

 I have succeeded in breeding varieties as stated, but not that these are the only 

 species I have practised upon or succeeded with. A sight of my varieties will best 

 show that, but having derived great pleasure from my successful experiments I wish 

 others to follow them up, and so share with me the pleasure." 



Mr. Gregson illustrated the foregoing paper by a box containing specimens of 

 varieties of the following species, all recently added to his collection : — Ephyra 

 orbicularia, Celaena Haworthii, TEeniocampa gothica, Acronycta Menyanthidis, Orthosia 

 suspecta, Noctua triangulum, N. festiva, Cidaria immanata, Abraxas Grossulariata, 

 Liparis auriflua, Chelonia Caja, Hybernia defoliaria, &c. 



An interesting discussion on the paper ensued. 



A vote of thanks to the retiring President brought the meeting to a close. — 

 G. H. W. 



