JOURNAL OF VARIATION. 



No. 7. Vol. I. October 15th, 1890. 



MELANISM AND MELANOCHROISM IN BRITISH 

 LEPIDOPTERA. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



{Contiimed from page 125.) 



HAVE heard it suggested against this theory, that 

 the insects from marshes and similar situations 

 are pale coloured, and, as instance, the Leuca- 

 NiD.E have been given, on the assumption, I 

 presume, that all insects from such localities should be 

 dark, but this does not appear to me to militate in any way 

 against the theory. I, fortunately, have been able to study the 

 actual habits of some of the species of this family in a state of 

 nature, and, as they sit head downwards, with their wings 

 folded closely to the edges of the reed on which they usually 

 rest, the appearance they have so closely resembles the nodes 

 in a reed culm, that it is hardly possible for a trained eye to 

 detect them, and we may be certain that the peculiar colour, 

 which is so advantageous in enabling them to escape their 

 enemies and thus perpetuate their species, is as directly depen- 

 dent on " natural selection," as is the darker assimilating colour 

 of those species which rest on the ground, fences, or other 

 dark objects. As well say, because some particular genera of 

 marsh frequenting moths are pale, that all should be pale, as, 

 that because some Rannoch species are white, all should be 

 white. An argument of this kind would be ridiculous until we 

 know the particular habits of each species. But with regard 

 to the pale, marsh-frequenting genera, I have specimens which 

 prove distinctly that even these species vary according to 



