1876. J 149 



colour more easily escapes observation, and hence, by natural selection, 

 the propagation of a local variety (probably meteorologically 

 originated) is favoured. 



That melanochroic (or melanic) insects are peculiarly favoured 

 with stronger constitutions and more acute senses, there is not, I 

 think, any reason for supposing. Frequently, in fact, melanochroic 

 (and more frequently, melanic) individuals are of smaller size than 

 the typical form. 



After all, we require many widely extended and repeated ob- 

 servations before we can venture to say that we know anything of the 

 cause of these phenomena. Botanists are aware that the plants of the 

 West Coast are less brilliantly coloured than those of the East ; and 

 I think that it is in the west rather than the north that melauochroism 

 in British insects may best be studied. At the same time I hoj)e that 

 observers in all parts of the country will turn their attention in 

 this direction. 



Perth : November, 1876. 



NOTES ON MR. ATKINSON'S COLLECTION OF EAST INDIAN 



LJSFIDOPTERA, WITH DESCEIPTIONS OP NEW SPECIES 



OP RHOPALOCERA. 



BY W. C. HEWITSON, F.L.S. 



I send a short notice of the Atkinson collection, and of the 

 naturalist who brought it together. Mr. Atkinson had been for 

 fifteen years Director of public instruction for Bengal, and during 

 that time possessed peculiar facilities for the gratification of his taste, 

 himself visiting the best localities — fortunately also the most healthy — 

 during his holiday time. He had thus made the finest collection of 

 Indian Lepidoptera ever brought to this country. He had retired 

 from his educational labours, and had come home with his collections 

 for the future enjoyment of his life ; but before settling down to the 

 pleasures of home, he had most unfortunately gone to Italy, where, 

 after a few hours' illness, he died at Rome, on the 15th of January, 

 1875, at the age of fifty-five. 



His collection was sold, and, by the great kindness of Mrs. 

 Atkinson, came into my possession ; and I regret that illness has 

 delayed me so long in writing this tribute to the memory of a brother 

 naturalist. The butterflies in number and condition far surpass any 

 which have come to Europe from the same locality. 



