On Variation in the Weasel and Hedgehog. 243 



f88G)r—Yjs8S0— -Hakodate, VIIL. 1886 (Leech). Hondo— 

 Yokohama 1 . Kiusiu (Leech, 1890) — Satsuma, V. 1886 

 ( Leech) . 



This is not a true Argyroploce, as it does not possess a 

 thoracic tuft ; it cannot be referred to Enarmonia, as at 

 present constituted, since veins 3 and 4 of the hind wino-s are 

 connate, not stalked. 



[To be continued.] 



XXX 1 1 1. — Note on Variation in the Weasel and Hedgehog. 

 By G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 



I HAVE read with much interest the two notes by Dr. Einar 

 Lonnberg which appeared in the 'Annals' for May and 

 June 1900. In these days of much writing and little atten- 

 tion it is pleasant to find that one's work attracts notice, 

 even if that notice be critical or condemnatory. It is doubly 

 valuable to receive criticism from one who resides in Scandi- 

 navia, a country whose climate and configuration lends itself 

 in a very peculiar manner to the formation of local subspecies 

 of mammals, or, in other words, to variation. 



Before noticing Dr. Lonnberg's remarks I may say, by 

 way of preface, that in my studies of European mammals 

 my main object has been, first to record, and secondly to 

 throw light, however dimly, upon the origin of the numerous 

 variations which occur. The making of species or subspecies 

 is therefore to me of quite subsidiary importance, and i care 

 not a jot whether the forms upon which 1 find it necessary 

 to bestow technical names be styled species, subspecies, 

 races, forms, or phases. On the whole 1 incline to the latter 

 word; but the use of the term subspecies is now so general 

 and, I had thought, so well understood that 1 have found it 

 convenient. No one who works for any little time at such 

 matters can fail to meet with numberless difficulties or to 

 notice the inequality between the various subspecies. That, 

 however, is the fault of the system, or, if you like, of the 

 animals themselves, which refuse to accommodate themselves 

 to any scheme which man can invent, and which conse- 

 quently excite the frequent protests of those who fail to see 

 the troubles which must beset any system of minute inquiry. 

 Even, however, if I were to find that I had made numerous 



