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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



have often asked for it in vain. I have a pair, bred from South coast larvae 

 by the late Wm. Buckler, that agree perfectly with the description given in 

 " Stainton's Manual." These and all others I have seen are greyer than any 

 others. On the West coast, it varies nearly as much as here, but it does not 

 run so large, nor of so rich a hue. A box-full from the Cheshire sand Hills, is 

 before me as I write, all that one gentleman has taken this season, and there- 

 fore a typical lot. They are mostly small, and I think I will best convey my 

 meaning when I say they have a shabby look. I have this year had the rare 

 pleasure of examining a hundred aquilina all taken in one locality, the results 

 of a regular nightly sugaring for them where they were known to occur, and 

 as long as they were out. To show the difference in the abundance of the 

 two species, 1 may say that I would have had no difficulty, in taking as many 

 tritici here every night for a month. These aquilina run considerably 

 larger than tritici, about nine out of ten being larger than the largest of 

 that species, and the smallest being larger than three-fonrths of the tritici 

 from Cheshire. By the size alone, there, they may be distinguished when 

 there is a series of both. Aquilina is more uniform in tone and yellower 

 than any tritici I ever saw. I know colour names rarely convey the same 

 thought to two minds and there does not seem much difference in idea between 

 golden brown and yellow brown. But the golden brown tritici are of a deep 

 rich hue, the aquilina are a yellowish grey brown, colder and duller and paler 

 than the other. Aquilina are more of the hue of South coast tritici with a 

 yellow tint instead of grey. I invite all who are in doubt to send me their 

 series. I will not undertake to name single specimens with certainty, but 

 when a series is sent I think I can do so. Many correspondents speak of 

 having difficulties with nigricans. I have never seen any doubtful specimens 

 of this insect and will be glad to make their acquaintance. 



Strenia Clathrata. 



Common insects like this are so seldom sent out that we are apt to know 

 less about their local variation than we do of rarer species. I have lately 

 seen a specimen from Staines (Middlesex), sent in the Exchange Club box, 

 which had the ground colour pale yellow instead of white. Here the golden 

 scales only occur in the dark latticing, and they seem more loosely attached, 

 for after a few days flight they are all gone, and the insect is white with 

 brown bars. I would be glad to know if this yellow ground colour occurs 

 elsewhere in the South. It reminds me of its near relative, I. j)iniaria, in 

 which the males have a yellow ground in the South and white in the North. 



Setting Diurni and Geometrse. 



The rule of setting the inner margin of the fore-wings at right angles with 



