OF WASHINGTON. 253 



In discussing this paper Mr. Schwarz said that the Coccinel- 

 lidae are separated by extremely feeble characters. The Austra 

 lian genera are therefore closely related structurally to American 

 genera. He believes that the Australian species are therefore 

 not more susceptible to bird and insect attack, but that, in the 

 case of the English sparrow particularly, the habit of feeding 

 upon ladybirds is an acquired character. In introducing a spe 

 cies from one part of the world into another, we should bear sev 

 eral facts in mind. If the relationships of the proposed introduced 

 species to forms already existing are obvious, the success of the 

 importation becomes probable ; if not, the result cannot be pre 

 dicted. Experiment must be the test. The point of Gray's law 

 regarding east and west coasts should always be borne in mind. 

 European species can be taken to California with better hope of 

 success, while Asiatic forms can be taken to the eastern United 

 States. As a rule, Australian species are weak and cannot stand 

 competition, judging from the fact that they do not well resist 

 the inroads of plants and animals. Mr. Fernow rather contra 

 dicted the last speaker, and stated that many entirely foreign 

 genera had been introduced into England with success, and, 

 further, that many European trees have been introduced into the 

 eastern United States and flourished there better than in their 

 original home. 



Dr. Gill said that the Gray coast law must be modified in 

 many respects, since the west-American forms are really more 

 closely related to those of east Europe and northern Asia than to 

 west-European forms. Mr. Schwarz said that with the Coleop- 

 tera the old rule will hold, and Dr. Gill stated that he knew of 

 many supporting instances, but also of many contradictory in 

 stances. It is simply a case of a fascinating idea which has 

 taken hold of scientific men generally, and all the supporting in 

 stances had been brought forward, but almost no one has taken 

 the trouble to bring up the contradictory instances, which, in his 

 opinion, are quite as numerous. Mr. Schwarz said that for 

 many years Mr. Hubbard had been attempting to introduce into 

 Florida all sorts of plants from all parts of the world. He has 

 found, however, that the European plants do not flourish ; they 

 die out. So do the insects which are accidentally introduced 



