LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION. 325 



to-day, and have doubtless felt a thrill of patriotic pride at the impor- 

 tant contributions of our own countrymen to its development. We 

 have noted the existence from the earliest times of two conflicting 

 opinions as to the basis upon which classification should rest, one section 

 of authors being content with the superficial characteristics of the 

 imago, whilst another, growing in numbers as knowledge became more 

 profound and extensive, have insisted that a true scientific basis is alone 

 to be found in the entire life history. We have seen that considerable 

 differences of opinion have been manifested as to the order in which 

 the several groups should be arranged, some regarding the Nijinphalklce, 

 others the Papilionidoi, as the most highly developed and therefore as 

 entitled to the post of honour. Most of the authorities have placed the 

 Lyccenidce between the PapHiovidai and the Ni/mjjhalidte, and there has 

 been a very general agreement that the Hesperkhe differ profoundly 

 from the rest, and that of all the Ehopalocera they approach nearest to 

 the Heterocera. We have also seen the single genus of the earlier 

 authors sub-divided into the vast host of the later ones. A genus is a 

 purely artificial creation, and it must needs be that opinions will vary 

 as to its proper limits, some attaching generic value to much smaller 

 differences than do others. In this, as in so many other matters^ 

 probably our safest guide will be the old maxim, " medio tutissimus 

 ibis." 



By a country COUSIN. 



I have been interested in collecting lepidoptera and in observino- 

 their habits in the field for many years, but, until last Aveek, I had 

 never attempted to dive into the mysteries of a sale-room where these 

 beautiful insects became objects of barter, or to analyse the men who 

 collected their insects here, in preference to doing so in the field. 



However, a big sale was advertised, and I thought I would make a 

 few observations on the insects sold and on the people who bought them. 

 When I arrived, some few hours before the sale was advertised to begin, 

 I found busy people already there, earnestly examining the contents of 

 the boxes, and ticking off on their catalogues the " lots " for which 

 they intended bidding. Following the general examj^le, I examined 

 the insects. Truly this was a grand collection. Rarities ! Is there 

 such a thing among the British lepidoptera ? Baplidke, 13 specimens; 

 Lathunia, 20 specimens; Antiopa, 16 specimens; Niohe, Uvo si:>ecim.e-as -, 

 Ads, 42 specimens; Dispar, 31 specimens. Of course dispar used to 

 be common, but who captured all these other sjDecimens ? Let me see ! 

 P. daplidice ; among others, there are specimens taken by Mr. Button 

 and Mr. Edney; niohe, no data given. Were there ever any British 

 specimens except those sent from Canterbury on which Messrs. 

 Newman and Doubleday animadverted so strongly? Latlionia, taken 

 among others by Mr. Parry and Mr. Button, whilst we find Mr. 

 Wigan and Mr. Parry responsible for some of the V. antiopa. The acis 

 are apparently without sponsors. Let us pass on to the Heterocera : — 

 Sphinx lyinaHtri, three specimens ; D. celerio, 10 specimens ; D. 

 euphorbice, three specimens ; D. lineata, 11 specimens ; Sesia andreni- 

 forrnis, two specimens ; S. scoliiformis, 14 specimens ; S. asiliformis, five 

 specimens; Deiopeia ptdchella, eight specimens; Lasiocampa ilicifolia, 



