THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



153 



Another remarkable instance relative to this genus is that of filipendulce, 

 var. ochsenheimeri. We all, I suppose, generally couple filipendulce with 

 bleak hill sides and exposed situations, and not with woods and marshes. 

 But a form of filipendulce occurs in these latter places, which is sometimes 

 developed to an enormous size, and has a minor but constant character, which 

 has led many to suppose it to be distinct, viz., a green nervure passing 

 through the lower of the outside pair of spots. I took a remarkable aberra- 

 tion of this variety, with five spots on one anterior wing and four on the 

 other, not larger than an ordinary filipendulce, but in copulation with a very 

 large characteristic specimen of var. ochsenheimeri, in June, 1888. This 

 variety occurs during the first three weeks of J une, before filipendulce, as a 

 rule, is full-fed or ready to pupate. 



That modifications in environment produce great changes in this genus is 

 certain, and that many of our European species are only local forms of other 

 species, seems equally certain, but I find the study of the imagines of this 

 group leads to misleading results, and one wants to study the insects in nature 

 to get any practical result. As far as study of the imagines go, I doubt very 

 much whether our meliloti is identical with the variety or species known as 

 meliloti on the continent. It is a lighter made, narrower- winged insect, and 

 there is a difference in the arrangement of the scales, but my continental 

 meliloti from different localities also vary, and it is premature to make any 

 statement as to this matter. 



THE NEW FOREST MELILOTI. 



By C. A. BRIGGS. 



Although it may be, as Mr. Tugwell says, too late now for any further 

 investigations as to our New Forest insect, yet in 1875, when the fact of 

 typical Trifolii being bred from typical New Forest Meliloti was published, 

 there was abundant opportunity for further investigation by any one who 

 still felt unconvinced of their specific identity. 



Why Mr. Doubleday's opinion that our insect is Meliloti should be, as 

 Mr. Tugwell says it is (p. 131), one of the two obstacles to its being proved 

 to be so, I cannot see, but, up to the present time I have seen no proof 

 whatever, that our insect is Meliloti, Esper. Mr. Tugwell unfortunately 

 mis-quotes Mr. Doubleday's words in a very important particular. Mr. 

 Doubleday does not say (Ent. 6, p. 186) that our insect is certainly Meliloti, 



