VARIATION. 
273 
El’GOMa fuscantaria (Variation of larva). — Having bred, this 
season, a series of the above species, I was particularly interested re- 
garding the great variation in the larval state, not only in colour, but in 
form also. I am aware of the great difference in coloration of many 
larvae, especially among the Geometra: ; but I had not previously 
noticed any variation in form. The larvae pupated very slowly, owing 
to which reason I had some in pupa before many of the late ones were 
an inch in length. The earlier larvae fed up well on ash, in a wooden 
receptacle. They were green until the final moult, thus agreeing with 
the description in Newman ; but, after the last change, decided humps 
were developed and the larvae soon lost their green colouring, and 
(when full-fed) much resembled those of E. erosaria^ but with the 
humps scarcely so pronounced. On the other hand, the remainder of 
the brood were fed up in a large tin, and only a small proportion of 
these were humped, the majority being almost smooth and retaining 
their bright green colour until pupation. There were some intermediate 
forms, but not many. I do not find any marked variation in the 
imagines. — Alfred T. Mitchell, 5, Clayton Terrace, Gunnersbury, W. 
DianthalCia capsophila and D. carpophaga. — I have collected 
D. capsophila in very considerable numbers from time to time, and also 
bred them from the N., S.E. and W. of Ireland, and have seen numbers 
of the Isle of Man specimens ; and there is absolutely no approximation 
to carpophaga that would puzzle any but a tyro. D. carpophaga^ how- 
ever, is a variable species, and sometimes the darkest specimens look 
to an inexperienced eye like worn carpophaga^ but it never, so far as 
I have seen it, acquires the true colour. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton 
Lodge, Kingstown. October 20th, 1891. 
I quite agree with Mr. Kane, in considering it best to treat D. capso- 
phila and D. carpophaga as distinct species. — W. Reid. 
Banded var. of Agriopis aprilina. — I have bred an usually fine 
form of Agriopis aprilma from pupae collected the first week in Septem- 
ber at the base of an oak. It is the finest and darkest of seven or eight 
very large specimens from the same tree. It has the central area 
between the elbowed and basal transverse lines filled in with black, 
making a decided central band. — J. Mason. [I have an exactly 
similar specimen in my cabinet, given to me by Dr. Chapman. — Ed.] 
Dark vars. of Cymatophora duplaris. — I have to-day seen the 
Cymatophora duplaris^ bred by Mr. George Baker, and mentioned by 
the Rev. C. F. Thornewill in the Ent. Eec., vol. ii., p. 220, and I may 
say that I have met with specimens quite as dark in this neighbourhood, 
in fact, the series I possess of this insect and captured here are, taking 
the whole of them, darker than those in Mr. Baker’s collection. — John 
Hill, Little Eaton, near Derby. November iith, 1891. 
Varieties of Lyca:na bellargus. — Whilst collecting near Folke- 
stone on September 13th, I took a very fine variety of Z. bellargus 
{adonis). The specimen was a male, the upper side of a very dark 
slate colour, almost black; and on September 15th I took another 
specimen similar to the first. On September 20th I captured a female 
of the same species, the colour of the male (of a very bright blue), with 
a row of black spots inside the fringe on the upper side of the fore- 
wings, and a row of bright red spots on the margin of the hind-wings. — 
W. J. Austin, Radnor Street, Folkestone. 
