NOTES OV LEPIDOPTER.A,. 11 



which, in many recent instances, is evinced by British entomologists; characters 

 which we strongly suspect, from their practical inutility, to depend often on 

 individual variety, or what is not improbable, on imaginary diflPerences. It were 

 well if such do not form a range of mere names destined not to be forgotten, 

 or swept away by the result of more enlarged investigation. In another 

 department of British entomology, that of the Coleoptera, this love of making 

 species has been strikingly evinced — the sure result of that absurd partiality 

 shewn by native collectors for British insects alone, which has called forth 

 upon them once and again the well-merited contempt of continental entomo- 

 logists, whose enlarged views, and more ample opportunities, so well qualify 

 them to take the lead, as they have hitherto done, in this the most difficult, 

 the most philosophic, and the most extensive portion of the animal kingdom. 



In enumerating the following species as indigenous to this part of Scotland, 

 we feel how little has been accomplished towards an accurate investigation of 

 these local productions; and though our present notes merely form but a step 

 towards the desired end, it is with the hope that others, whose opportunities 

 for such pursuits are more ample than our own, may be induced to devote 

 more attention to this interesting field, and further the ends of science, not 

 by collecting a host of objects of natural history, which they know not how 

 to use; but by a patient discrimination of avithenticated species, may thus 

 assist others in their labours in this department of Zoology; and, at the same 

 time aid towards more accurate views of nature's productions — the true, we 

 might almost say the only, use of forming a collection. 



Though we have subjected our local specimens of these little moths to a 

 careful scrutiny, not a few we have been unable to determine with any degree 

 of certainty, and in some cases we are fearful of having fallen into error; still 

 we hope that we have been sufficiently careful to avoid any important mistake, 

 by our rejection of many doubtfully named species which might otherwise have 

 served to swell our district notes. 



The most conspicuous insect amongst the l^ortrices, which we have met 

 with in this district, is the truly elegant Hylophila prasinana. It does not 

 appear in plenty in any locality, but is very generally distributed in many 

 places along both sides of the Frith of Clyde, as well as in different parts 

 of Fife. 



Tortrix vihurnana occurs in the vicinity of moist places near Glasgow, in 

 July, sometimes in company with T. paUeana, though neither of these appear 

 to be common. 



Tortrix viridana is a constant inhabitant of the oaks, occurring in truly 

 beautiful profusion. 



Tortrix Galiana is frequently noticed amongst hedge-rows, etc., in many 

 places near Lanark, 



Lozotcenia Icevigana is abundant in gardens, etc., in July, in company with 

 L. heparana and its variety riheana, rosana, and xylosteana; which latter appears 

 rather later in the season, and is much less abundant. 



