170 



difficulty in the extreme uniformity of colouring in all the fulvous or vernal 

 specimens : they are certainly not all of one sex." 



This difficulty may be met by stating that the underside of the male and 

 female of the autumn brood differs greatly. On the other hand, the summer 

 brood is so constant in its appearance, that Mr. Robson has called it Uutch- 

 insoni, in compliment to that lady whose liberality has enriched so many 

 cabinets with specimens. 



There is also an extraordinary variation in the outline of the wings. In 

 some specimens the incision in the outer margin of the fore-wings (extending 

 from the first branch of the median vein to the main branch of the post-costal 

 vein) is so deep that it forms nearly a semicircle, whilst in others it is scarcely 

 more than a sextant : the other indentations being equally varied. Mr. 

 Haworth alludes to this in his " Lepidoptera Britannica," observing, 

 " Femina paullo pallidior et subinde minus laciniata." 



Petiver, in his " Papilionum Britannicse Icones," 1717, gives four kinds 

 of Comma, viz : — 



" Suhtus fusca. The Silver Comma." 



" Subtus pallidior. The Pale Comma. This below is of an oker marble, 

 and paler than the last." 



" Alls magis laceratis. Jagged winged Comma. These wings are deeper 

 cut and more vivid ; it is finely marbled underneath, with small greenish eyes, 

 speckt with black." 



" Minor. Small Comma. It is very dark below, and in all parts less." 



A variety occurs in Siberia with the spots confluent, as is the case with so 

 many boreal forms : this has been called F-album, by Esper. I have in my 

 own collection a singular variety taken near Doncaster, given to my father by 

 the Kev. F. 0. Morris, in which all the black spots on the hind-wings are run 

 into one large patch ; and there is also a very dark specimen in Mr. Howard 

 Vaughan's collection. 



The egg is somewhat elliptical, standing on end, the lower, which is the 

 largest, being flattened underneath : it has ten projecting ribs. It bears very 

 much the appearance of a miniature gooseberry ; and is of a bluish green 

 colour, the ribs being of a whitish green. 



The caterpillar is of a dark brown on the underside ; on the upperside it is 

 fulvous to the seventh segment, then white to the middle of the twelfth seg- 

 ment, which is so remarkably distinct that the caterpillar may be known by 

 this mark, which looks as if a drop of white paint had just fallen on it, and 

 was still wet and shining. The head is of a dark brown, and is distinguished 

 by two minute tubercles with small branched spines, looking like horns. 

 The whole of the body is covered with similar branched spines, which are of 

 a fulvous or whitish colour. 



