228 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of these came from America. The two species are much more distinct 

 than Vanessa cardui and V. Atala?ita, and I cannot imagine even the 

 veriest tyro, if a field naturalist, considering them identical, and still less 

 do I follow that the only reason for making them separate is that they do 

 not " come from extra European localities " (what a condition the extra- 

 European species in the British Museum cabinets, as recently re-arranged, 

 must be in, if named on these lines, I must leave the " extra-European " 

 naturalists to imagine !) whilst it is to be noted that the only differences 

 which Mr. Butler sees are " the generally more prominent pale longitu- 

 dinal streak above the median vein of the primaries " and " the better- 

 defined black markings," when, as a matter of fact, it is difficult to find a 

 point of similarity, — the thoracic crest in straminea, the differently shaped 

 wings, the sexual variation in the hind wings, development of the pale 

 nervures, etc., all pointing to complete distinctness, and all this muddle 

 about two species which swarm on the Thames' marshes in the south-east 

 district of London, only a few miles, as the crow flies, from the British 

 Museum, and which have different larvae feeding at different times in 

 different ways on different food-plants. 



I cannot say how extremely sorry I was to find this condition of affairs 

 in our National Museum, but it is a most serious matter, and the condition 

 of the collections in the British Museum is a matter for the consideration 

 of scientific men all over the world. 



Two things I would ask American entomologists to do. (i) To take 

 nothing published on the Nocxu^ in the British Museum for granted, and 

 to be sure to verify each individual statement. (2) To insist, in season 

 and out of season, that collections left by eminent men shall be left intact, 

 so that specialists may form their own conclusions. The lumping process, 

 which results in the production of such a condition of affairs as I have 

 pointed out at length ia the Introduction to Vol. IV. of my British 

 NoctucR and their Varieties^ is a matter for the consideration of every 

 scientific man. 



