( xvi ) 



me by Dr. T. A. Chapman, who obtained them from a larva 

 of Ptjijara ciutnla. This batch of cocoons were so hke a 

 cluster of Maerocentrus cocoons that Mr. Bridgman at first 

 sight could scarcely credit they were those of a Plmpla, 

 which, as a rule, are solitary parasites; but fortunately one 

 male died within its cocoon, which I desired Mr. Bridgman 

 to remove, to make certain that I was correct in my observa- 

 tions, which he did, and he is now able to vouch, if 

 necessary, for the accuracy of my statement. 



Mr. A. G. Butler communicated the following paper entitled 

 "A few words in reply to Mr, Elwes' statements respecting 

 the incorporation of the Zeller Collection with the General 

 Collection of Lepidoptera in the Natural History Museum." 



For the last year or two I have carefully abstained from 

 replying to the observations from time to time made upon my 

 system of working at the Lepidoptera by Mr. H. J. Elwes, 

 considering it better to leave questions respecting the validity 

 of species to be definitely decided at a future time, by those 

 who are in a position to carry out a course of careful 

 breeding, similar to that which has been, and still is being, 

 prosecuted by such indefatigable students as Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards, of the United States. 



In our present state of almost total ignorance of the early 

 stages of by far the greater portion of the Lepidoptera, it 

 seems to me to be nothing short of presumption for anyone to 

 claim to be able to decide finally what shall and what shall 

 not be called a species ; almost every man holds a difierent 

 opinion from his fellow, and, although he who has studied 

 longest and most persistently is most likely to be the best 

 judge, the whole question resolves itself into a matter of 

 individual opinion. 



I should not now consider it worth while to weary the 

 Entomological Society by disputing with Mr. Elwes 

 touching his and my own opinions on the vexed question of 

 what is a species and what a variety ; but the state- 

 ments which Mr. Elwes made at the meeting of the 6th 

 of February appear to me to affect my character as an 

 Entomologist and my right to the position of trust which I 



