On some Causes which seem to operate in the production of 

 Varieties in Lepidoptera. " — Mr. Mosley's ably -written and interesting 

 article on the above subject will be welcomed by experimental entomolo- 

 gists who have tried, but failed, to elucidate any bona fide results from 

 their own personal observations in the matter of causes of variation. The 

 species of lepidoptera which he classifies under the head " constant " we 

 should naturally suppose would come in that category, as in order to form 

 themselves into varieties they would have to reveal a tendency for 

 changing entire colours or shades, rather than individual patterns — the 

 markings, in contrast to most of the other families, being limited in 

 quantity (vide Sesidce, Procridcs, Lithosidm, and Zygcenidce. In the latter 

 (say filipendiUce, yellow var.) the tendency appeared to be more towards 

 changing the entire colour. I imagine atmospheric conditions are an 

 important item in either forcing or straining variable peculiarities. In 

 the low and warmer spots of the North Welsh woods Larentia olivata 

 appears much darker than in the more elevated and cold situations ; like- 

 wise Gnophos ohscurata — those I have captured on the bleak Orme's 

 Head being much paler than those from the Conway vale. Mr. Mosley 

 attributes this variation to natural selection or local race. The close 

 proximity of the Conway vale to the Orme's Head would not point to a 

 localisation of species. The dark caja which I bred some years ago (now 

 in Mr. Porritt's collection) was reared in a kitchen, and at a high temper- 

 ture. Is it not a fact that rearing caja with lettuce for the food-plant, 

 instead of its ordinary fare, makes it considerably more prone to 

 variation 1 — S. D. Bairstow, Woodland Mount, Huddersfield. 



Podiceps minor at Sheffield. — I received on the 6th instant a living 

 specimen of the little grebe {Podiceps minor), taken on the Sheffield canal. 

 I believe the occurence of this bird is not frequent in the neighbourhood. 

 — E. Howarth. 



Arachnids near Selby. — During September last I beat out specimens 

 of the following spiders at Bishop's Wood : — Epeira quadrata, E. scalaris, 

 E. angulata, and E. diadema. They may be worth recording. — Chas. 

 Smethurst, ISTov. 25th. 



Coleoptera near Leeds. — I collected some fine specimens of Coccinella 

 IJf-guUata, also C. ohlongo-guttata, at Horsforth on the 25th of August 

 last. I am not aware of any previous record of their occurrence in this 

 district. — Chas. Smethurst, 25, Chatham-street, West-street, Leeds, 

 Nov. 25th. 



Flora of Surrey. — Mr. A. Bennett, of High-street, Croydon, Surrey, 

 has favored us with a printed list of the plants reported to occur in the 

 five counties adjoining Surrey, but not certainly known to occur in that 

 county. It is published as a first step towards a proposed supplement to 

 the flora of the county, and with the wish that those botanists who may 

 be able to help will kindly do so, either in confirming by specimens, any 



