10 
selection of trees maj^ be a protection to the moth. The trunks of the 
large beech trees are very smooth and clean, and a large moth like this 
is conspicuous on them; but the little trees are rugged and covered 
with knobs, large in proportion to the size of the tree, where branches 
have been taken off to make the tree grow shapely. Fagi, as it sits 
closely pressed to the tree, carefully balanced to the perpendicular, 
with its wings folded in a triangular shape, the hind wings projecting 
beyond the fore wings, after the fashion of Gastropacha quercifolia, 
looks wonderfully like one of these knobs. The blackish variety in par¬ 
ticular is so like a knob on the tree, that a close examination is needed 
to detect it.” This question of protection again assumes, I think, rather 
a different aspect in our Forest of Epping. On some of our large grey 
trunks, the ordinary form of fagi is admirably concealed, better indeed 
than the blackish form. On many of the smaller trees, however, the 
dark var. is certainly the better protected. Five of six specimens of the 
black var. which we have taken (three $ s, two $ s), have been on the 
smaller trunks, leaving only a single specimen ($ ) from the larger and 
greyer trunks. Not a moth was taken from a well-grown unpolled tree, 
which have as a rule, very smooth bark, and offer fewer opportunities 
of concealment than either the small ones, or the old rough-barked 
polled ones. The “ spear ” trees correspond I should think, with the 
larger ones of which Mr. Holland speaks. This habit of sitting on the 
smaller trunks, sticks, etc., on which the darker forms are the better 
protected, may, perhaps, I think, be suggested as one of the causes 
(advantages ? J. W. T.) of melanism in this species. Any darkening 
of the trunks, etc., by moisture, or in Epping Forest by the smoke 
from London, would also, I suppose, tend to produce the same effect. 
Mr. Battley (as is known to the members of this Society) exhibited some 
few meetings ago, one or two specimens from the New Forest, which 
were considerably paler than our usual Epping Forest form. Perhaps 
the pale lichen-covered trunks of the New Forest, may have something 
to do with this. I have seen no records of the blackish var. from the 
last-named locality, but Mr. Holland thinks that probably dark ones 
will be found there, when larger bags of the species are made. At 
present, I believe, the only localities from which this form is recorded, 
are Marlow and Beading—practically in the same belt of country—and 
Epping Forest. Perhaps, some gentleman present, can tell us of the 
occurrence of the variety elsewhere. In Epping Forest, we get a larger 
proportion of dark vars. than are taken at Beading. The other point 
which Mr. Holland raises in the above paragraph, viz .—the position 
in which it sits, is also interesting; they sit perfectly upright, the 
under wings projecting beyond the upper ones ; the pattern of the fore 
wings being indeed continued on the front margin of the inferior wing. 
They also stretch out the front pair of legs beyond the head, which is 
deeply buried between them. Flight :—Now as to flight, Mr. Holland 
says ( Ent . Mo. Mag.) that fagi is a “ strong flier,” but not much of a 
wanderer, and considers that the “ lethargic female keeps the males 
near home ” from its habit of “assembling,” and remarks that “ where one 
moth is found, others are generally near the spot.” He records having 
taken four or five from one small tree, and eight or ten from a clump 
of young trees. We have not had the good luck to find more than one 
on a tree, but once found three within a few trees of one another. I 
heard, however, of one gentleman who found four one day last year, 
