of a Hybrid Smer'mthus. 201 



six different times. Hence, M, Audouin considers that the result 

 of an accidental copulation between two species is most commonly 

 that the female is unfecundated, and, hence, that nature by this 

 regulation maintains the constancy of the species. (Ann. Soc. 

 Ent. d. France, vol. i. p. 2.33.) But as Smerinthus poptdi and 

 ocellatus are not more nearly united together by affinity than are 

 Coccinella bipiinctata and dispar, it must be evident that some 

 other circumstances, rather than a want of fecundation, caused the 

 eggs of the latter to be improductive. Nature will, of course, 

 throw every obstacle in the way, not only of the fecundation of 

 the female during such an act, but also of the development of the 

 young in cases where fecundation has even taken place. More- 

 over, should the latter reach the imago state, the facts before us 

 will, I think, sufficiently warrant us, even without reference to the 

 analogy of the higher groups, in considering that the powers of 

 reproduction are not possessed by the results of such copulation. 

 The dissection, however, of such an individual in a recent state, 

 especially with reference to the condition of its generative organs, 

 and those of its parents, will most clearly settle this question. 



With respect to the effects which these observations will neces- 

 sarily have upon the question of the specific right of many insects 

 to be regarded as distinct species, the subject is of too extensive 

 a nature to be discussed in all its bearings in so short a paper as 

 the present. One thing however is clearly proved thereby, 

 namely, the decided insulation, except on some unnatural occa- 

 sion, of the various species of insects. We have heard it asked, 

 whether it was to be supposed that a pair of Carahi, for instance, 

 previous to coupling, stopped to count the number of punctures 

 or of striae upon each other's elytra to ascertain that they were 

 the proper individuals between which such an act ought to take 

 place ; but we learn that by the law of nature it is only between 

 those particular specim.ens which constitute the same species that 

 in a state of nature copulation takes place. There are, doubtless, 

 many insects in our cabinets which have remained unique, and it 

 does not now appear improbable that they may have been the 

 result of a copulation between allied species, wliich a careful in- 

 vestigation would, as in the case of the red and yellow winged 

 specimens of Zygcena ephialtes mentioned above, enable us to 

 detect, so far at least as conjecture would permit. 



I may farther observe, that this question is quite distinct from 

 that of the existence or non-existence of permanent varieties 

 induced by climate or geographical distribution ; and that I trust 

 that as the facility for observations has been clearly shown to exist 



