COLOUR IN LEPIDOPTERA. 15 



feathers '). — I have in my paper demonstrated largely 

 for what reasons 1 can iu no wise accept it with regard 

 to the Lepidoptera. I do not wish to reiterate those reasons, 

 that are fully decisive for me, on this occasion. I only want 

 to point out how Dr. K. Jordan in his above named paper, 

 has exposed Dr. Eimer's assertions in such a vigorous man- 

 ner, that 1 fear they will not readily recover from the blow. 



Concerning the independence of the forms of the colour- 

 pattern, in which matter Dr. Eimer's opinion is directly 

 opposite to that of Prof. Dr. A. Weismann, I declared in 

 my paper (on page 90 and further on) that I sympathise 

 with the opinion of the latter. Dr. Grafin von Linden, 

 from the fact observed by her that iu the ontogenetical 

 development of the wings of Fapilio Machaon L., the scales 

 in some parts of the wings are coloured earlier than in 

 others, tends to the conclusion of a difference between pri- 

 mary colour and colour-pattern ; but in reality nothing is 

 revealed here but the most common phenomenon of the 

 great diversity in which colour-evolution is proceeding, a 

 thing whereby likewise an appearance sooner or later of 

 the pattern on the fore- or the hindwings may be occa- 

 sioned, which she also endeavours to connect with the 

 laws of Dr. Eimer. On the other hand my view was con- 

 siderably strengthened by a special declaration about what 

 had formerly been observed by Dr. Urech concerning this 

 point in the ontogenesis of Fieris hrassicae L., absolutely 

 confirming Weismaun's verdict on that matter, with some 

 small supplementary additions -). 



Now Dr. Grafin von Linden seems so very anxious to 

 adapt her observations to Dr. Eimer's views, and her en- 

 deavouring to do so exercises such a predominating influ- 

 ence on her work, that whosoever intends to make use of 

 the published results has constantly to bear that in mind 



1) Zool. Jahrb. Abth. £. Syst. BJ. XI. Howeser only knowu to me from a 

 report in the Naturwissenschaftliche AYochenschrift, 16 October 1S9S. 



2) Einige Bemerkungen zuin zeitlicheu Auftreten der ScLuppeu-Figinentstoffe 

 von Fieris brassicae (lUustrirte Zeitschrit't tur Entomologie, 1899). 



]Votes from the Leyden Museum, "N'ol. A.X.1I. 



