86 Prof. J. 0. Westwood on 



in the solution of the question of the evolution of natural 

 objects, than whole volumes of details of experiments 

 made upon domesticated, or semi-domesticated animals, 

 which appear, from their very nature and position in the 

 general scheme of the economy of the Creation, to have 

 been endowed with a great degree of plasticity, to fit 

 them for the changes of existence to which man would 

 subject them. 



If we look at most of the insects described below, and 

 indeed at many of those which have lately been described 

 by our leading Lepidopterists, we find these local varieties 

 distinguished by some modification in the size or position 

 of the markings of the wings ; or, very rarely indeed, by 

 some actual variation in form. If, indeed, we possessed 

 a knowledge of their transformations, we might be better 

 able to judge of the proper weight to be accorded to 

 such variations; but it is hard to understand how the 

 fact of a butterfly transferring its location a certain 

 number of miles, should be attended with an alteration 

 in its markings which can in no wise aifect its means of 

 living.* It is not difficult to suppose that a change of 

 locality, attended possibly with a supply of food of a 

 more or less nourishing quality, might effect an altera- 

 tion in the size of the specimen, but that it should result 

 in a few, more or less, of the scales in the wings being 

 differently sculptured, thereby producing a correspond- 

 ing difference of colour, is not so intelligible ; experiments 

 as to the capability of these local varieties breeding to- 

 gether would be very decisive, but in the present state 

 of science, it seems quite impossible to determine the 

 limits of these varying species, and we, consequently, 

 have the same author in one place regarding each sub- 

 species as distinct, and in other cases giving them under 

 one specific name ; thus, in the last Catalogue of the 

 ' Diurnal Lepidoptera, ' recently published, Mr. Kirby 

 gives all the sub-species of the Priamus group as varieties 

 of Orn. Priamus, whilst those of the Paris and Helena 

 groups are treated as distinct species. 



Papilio Buddha, nov. sp. PI. III. fig. 1. 

 P. alis nigris basi viridi-atomosis, fascia lata communi 

 caerulea vel aureo-viridi (secundum situm) ad costam pos- 



* These observations were written some months before the appearance 

 of Mr. W. H. Edwards's memoir on Papilio Ajaw, in which two supposed 

 sub-species have been satisfactorily shown to be seasonal variations, such 

 as are well known to occur in some of our English moths. 



