SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 
275 
me of an earthworm severely contracted. On close inspection they 
were seen to be segmented, one end of the segment was prominently 
rounded, sloping suddenly to the other end which entered the rounded 
end of the one next it. Here also, as far as I could see, the term 
“ folded ” is not appropriate. The condition of the costal edge of the 
winglet was now clearly displayed, but very difficult to describe. If a 
piece of stiff twine is laid on the table, doubled back and forth in as 
short bends as it is possible to give it, held in place and viewed from 
above, it gives a good idea of the appearance of the front of the winglet 
viewed edgeways ; cut the bends on the side representing the centre of 
the wing, and it forms a strong resemblance to the upper surface of its 
costal edge. Crimped or crimpled would be a suitable term to express 
the condition. These views were obtained, and could only be obtained 
when the winglet was saturated with moisture. 
Kirby and Spence seem to have made their description from observ- 
ations on butterflies. From what we know of insects, we should be 
warranted in expecting as much diversity in this as in other departments 
of their history. 
This is but a meagre outline of views obtained, and thoughts sug- 
gested, by an intensely interesting series of observations, made in a 
direction that offers an almost unlimited field for investigation. — J. 
Alston Moffat, Curator of the Entomological Society of Ontario. 
Protective colour variation of Dianthgecia conspersa. — I 
bred a variety of D. conspersa last year from larvse obtained in Cornwall. 
The white is entirely replaced by buff, with a slight greenish tinge (the 
latter especially noticeable on emergence) in two of the specimens bred, 
and in four others there is transition in all degrees, but with predomin- 
ance of the buff, from the type to the variety. The hills in the district 
are metamorphic, varying in colour from slaty-grey to blackish, and 
they are covered with lichen, especially the yellow lichen. Query — Is 
this a protective variation ? It seems possible if not probable, as the 
larvse were taken from Silene mflata and 6'. inariiima near the coast. — 
W. S. Riding, Buckerell Lodge, Honiton, Devonshire. Oct. 1891. 
Generic position of Polyommatus bcetica. — At a meeting of the 
City of London Entomological and Natural History Society, held on 
June i8th, the proceedings of which were given in the Ent. Rec.^^oX. ii., 
p. 1 1 9, the position of that ubiquitous butterfly which is there called 
Lyccena batica was brought forward, a letter from Mr. Culpin, from 
Brisbane, having been read advocating its exclusion from the genus 
LyccB 7 ia. It would seem as if the idea had then been thought new. 
But it is included, or perhaps, I ought to say, replaced in the genus 
Polyommatus under the name P. boeticus^ by Mr. de Niceville in his 
Butterflies of I 7 idia, Bur 77 iah a 7 id Ceylon., vol. iii., published last year. 
Mr.de Niceville is undoubtedly entitled to be considered an authority 
on Indian butterflies, and he has given the subject of the classification 
of the family of the Lyccenidce that occur in India very careful attention. 
He has recorded, in the work above referred to, his reasons very fully. — 
C. A. Bird, Rosedale, 162, Bailing Road, Hammersmith, W. 
October 2^th, 1891. 
The generic position of Dianth^cia barrettii. — I wholly dis- 
sent from Mr. Buckler in assigning this species a place in the 
gtnm Lupe 7 't 7 ia. Mr. Tutt says {t 7 t ///'/'.) that “however necessary a 
