1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 123 



the reasons for this are obvious. Collecting dates back to much 

 earlier times, and a very large proportion of existing species have 

 been repeatedly bred. Not only is the population far greater 

 than in this country, but the proportion of collectors amongst 

 them is greater also. The latter fact is perhaps due to hobbies 

 being more encouraged, and more people having leisure and 

 opportunities for their pursuit. Access to the best named 

 collections is easier, and there are far more well illustrated books 

 on the subject. From all this it follows that there is a wider 

 interest taken in the study of lepidoptera by those who have a 

 taste for the science, and there is less diversity of opinion as to 

 correct names. On this continent the scarcity of illustrated 

 literature, and difficulty of getting any expert opinion at all, 

 owing to the distances which specimens have to be sent, at con- 

 siderable risk and trouble, is in itself some deterrent to the few 

 interested, not to mention the time which must elapse before 

 receiving any opinions at all, the difference of opinion received 

 from different quarters, or at different times frbta the same 

 quarter it may be even on the same specimen besides the toll 

 sometimes levied for opinion given, all tend in some degree to 

 discourage the hobby. 



The variation in some well known European species of 

 lepidoptera has, by careful breeding from known parents, been 

 proved to be enormous. Some closely allied species which may 

 perhaps be almost exactly alike, show certain slight points of 

 difference which neither ever exceed. In other instances, the 

 prevailing forms of two species may be entirely dissimilar, yet 

 one or both may ordinarily develop varieties looking, to the 

 untrained e}^, not only exactly like the other, but like several 

 other usuall}' quite dissimilar species. In a country like England 

 it is rarely that a specimen is found which cannot be recognized 

 by an expert as a known form of some species, notwithstanding 

 its greater resemblance in very many points to other species. 

 It sometimes happens that a species does not possess any 

 characters, whether of color, individual markings, or even shape 

 of wing, which do not vary to apparently well within the limits 

 to which other species extend. Particularly is this the case in 

 the genus Euxoa, or Paragrotis, as some authors call it. In 

 general, however, such species have, to those familiar with them, 

 something by which the relationship, may be correctly discerned, 

 it may be either by a character, or combination of characters, 

 or by the general appearance so confusingly like, yet, in some 

 indefinable way, as a whole, disassociable with, another species. 

 Yet occasionally specimens occur which puzzle even those who 

 know the species best. 



A special study is made by many European collectors of 

 local variation. Some species seem to appear in the same form 

 wherever they exist, scarcely varying at all in any essential 



