110 ACQUIRED CHARACTERS sec. 



Now, the larval stage of tlie cockchafer certainly repeats 

 a stage in the ancestral evolution. And this example shows 

 that the ancestral evolution must have been retarded under 

 unfavourable conditions of temperature or nutrition — in other 

 words, that the evolution of the type \vas, like the individual 

 growth itself, conditioned by w^armth and nutrition. 



Moreover, it seems self-evident that a corresponding effect 

 must be ascribed to warmth alone, as is shown by the influ- 

 ence of temperature on the period of development, in the most 

 various species, not only of larvee, but also of chrysalids, which 

 take no nourishment. I shall shortly have to speak at 

 greater length on the importance of warmth in the modification 

 of species. Previously I have to point out some facts which 

 show still further the influence of nutrition in the process. 



Every boy knows that the butterfly called the "brown bear," 

 Euprepia caja, can be reared in various varieties, according to 

 the different nourishment which is supplied to the caterpillar. 

 Here ac^ain the varieties wdiich arise ■ throusjh chanoe of 

 food are not fortuitous but perfectly definite. For the differ- 

 ences of the markings which numerous such varieties in my 

 collection exhibit are not irregular, but reveal, as in other 

 cases, quite definite directions of modification. 



Other butterfiies are also known on whose colouring and 

 markings the food of the caterpillars has great infiuence. I 

 have special grounds for the conviction that many new species 

 have arisen through the caterpillars having been at one time 

 or another forced to accommodate themselves to a changje of 

 food. In evidence of this is the fact that numerous very 

 slightly differing species of Vanessa, e.g. V. polychloros, xantho 

 melas, 1. album, and urticie, lay their eggs on different plants. 

 It is natural to infer that in such cases the difference in 

 the quality of the food has been the cause of Lhe origin of 

 different characters. 



I have to consider now a special example, which I have 



