NOTES ON COLLECTING. 205 



does suit many female specimens of icanin from India and the East. 

 Dr. Verity may possibly argue that fiavis does not suit, nor yet nir/ris : 

 the large spots of many female icarits are quite a different and paler 

 colour from the fascia riifa of aigiis and no doubt the great 

 author saw the difierence, though I must admit I doubt whether a 

 comparison ever occurred to him. Again, nUiris instead of fuscis — 

 without doubt the latter would be more accurate, bat we find the same 

 learned author two or three pages previously (p. 485, no. 167) 

 describing vialvae as ni(jyis albo-macnlati:^: but instead of charging him 

 with inacc iracy we should remember that his object was not a mere 

 description of species, but rather, the enormous work of classifying all 

 the known animals of the world. 



I trust I have said enough to show that I was in no possible way 

 " offensive " to that learned observer ; and I may say that I probably 

 yield to no one in my respect for the great departed one. 



The other point is the question of types. Types as we know them 

 were quite unknown in those days. Dr. Verity says " Anyhow I should.' 

 deem it wise to accept as typical any single specimen bearing a name 

 in the handwriting of its author." I regret I am unable to follow Dr. 

 Verity's lead. We have absolutely no evidence that the description 

 was drawn up from that specimen. We knoAV that he, Linnaeus, was- 

 in constant correspondence with the naturalists of his day, specimens 

 were travelling to and fro between them and we have evidence that he 

 described specimens from figures, etc. Under these circumstances the 

 label in the author's handwriting signifies nothing more than that he 

 considered the specimen to be a certain species, and cannot be accepted 

 as indicating that it was the type. 



In conclusion I would say that I hope nothing said at any time on 

 this matter shows " wrath " or anything approaching it. I differ from 

 the Doctor very decidedly, but that is all. and even as he, so am I 

 entirely content to " leave it to a jury of authorities to give its verdict 

 on." 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Attack on Triph.ena pronuba by a Sparkow. — At 1.20 p.m., on 

 July 9th, I saw a specimen of Triphaena pronuba flying in bright 

 sunlight in Kings Road, Chelsea. While I was watching the insect a 

 sparrow espied it and gave chase. The moth flew down an area 

 closely pursued by the bird, which appeared quite unable to detect the- 

 moth when it had settled with closed wings on the cemented floor of 

 the area, although it was clearly visible to myself at a distance nearly 

 twice as great as that between the insect and the bird. The moment 

 the moth started to fly, however, the sparrow again caught sight of it 

 and renewed its pursuit. I did not see the finish of the chase as both 

 the pursuer and the pursued were lost to view among the traffic. — 

 A. Bacot (P.E.S.). 



JS^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



The Killing of Anthrooebids. — At a recent meeting of the South 

 London Entomological Society, Mr. L. W. Newman introduced a very 

 effective method of killing Anthrocerids, Burnet-moths, by immersing- 



