EVOLUTION OF COLOURS IN THE VANESSA. Q7 
sufficient evidence; but most entomologists will agree with me 
that a comparison of original types is generally sufficient. As 
regards structure, surely pectination or serration of the antenne is 
more strictly structural than the hairy clothing of the front or eyes. 
A. G. Burter. 
EVOLUTION OF COLOURS IN THE VANESSA. 
By W. W. Sirn. 
Tue results of Mr. F. H. Perry Coste’s patient researches 
embodied in his “Contributions to the Chemistry of Insect 
Colours,” which concluded in the September number of the 
‘ Entomologist,’ will doubtless give a great stimulus to the study 
of the enchanting subject. Having studied that gentleman’s 
series of papers with care and interest, they seem to me to greatly 
advance our knowledge of the evolution of insect colours, at least 
in the Lepidoptera. With our present knowledge of the genealogy 
of species in some genera, it would be difficult to give their 
descent with accuracy. The New Zealand Vanesse, however, 
seems to me to afford a good example of the evolution of colour 
in the order advanced by Mr. Coste. In Pyrameis itea (probably 
the oldest living ancestor of the Vanesse), the broad oblique 
central band, with the large trifid spot outside the cell, are 
yellow; the secondaries are chestnut-red, becoming pale brown 
at base, and margined with black; two of the four minute discal 
black spots (or extremely rudimentary ocelli) are faintly pupilled 
with lilac. In our form of cardui (var. kershawi), three of the four 
discal spots are pupilled with pale blue; the whole four are 
larger, and are in a stage of development in advance of ttea; the 
oblique band on the primaries and discal area of secondaries, 
although “broken up,” occupy an intermediate stage in tone and 
arrangement of colours between itea and gonerilla. In kershawi 
there are two additional white spots on the primaries ; in gonerilla 
there are four, all more or less suffused with blue. The four 
discal black spots on secondaries of gonerilla exhibit a further 
stage of development in kershawi, and their position is slightly 
altered; the oblique belt on primaries and discal area of 
secondaries are scarlet, on a black ground. 
These crude remarks are only intended to apply to the New 
Zealand species mentioned; but there are many other species 
occurring in different countries which appear to occupy an inter- 
mediate position. I, however, think that itea is one of the oldest 
living representatives of the Vanesse known to entomologists. 
The same may be said of Hrebiola butleri, Fereday, in the 
Satyride. The latter is found only in New Zealand at Alpine 
heights, The former occurs also in Australia. The question of 
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