The Systematics of some Lepidoptera which 
resemble each other, and their bearing on 
general questions of Evolution, 
by Dr. KARL JORDAN, Tring (Herts). 
The subject matter of this address being given as including the 
systematics of certain Lepidoptera, I am afraid that some of the 
members of this Congress may have been frightened away. 
Classification, as we know, has the reputation of being as dry as 
are our cabinet-specimens — if not mouldy — and of having an 
interest only for those who work at the special group of Animals 
classified. There are even biologists of fame who, in their misguid- 
ed wisdom, scoff at systematics and look down upon this kind of 
work as more or less fruitless. As the Entomological Congresses 
should be and, I trust, will be supported to a very great extent by 
those who are occupied in describing Insects, unravelling their 
synonymy and life-history, and trying to bring the immense mul- 
titude of diverse forms into natural order, I take the opportunity 
which this First Congress of Entomology offers of stating empha- 
tically that sound systematics are the only safe basis upon which 
can be built up sound theories as to the evolution of the diversified 
world of live beings. 
In medical and economic entomology it is considered a matter 
of course that research must primarily be directed to studying the 
distinctions between the various possible forms that may be the 
cause of some certain disease in Animals or plants, so as to enable 
us to lay our hands on the actual culprit. Haziness in the discrim- 
ON 
2) 
