MiscellaneoKS. 



187 



Btate." It was presumed a priori that, as there was gain of matter in 

 the larval state and loss during the pupal, the size of an individual 

 of any species "would be, cceferis ixtribw^, inversely proportional to 

 the ratio of the pupal to the larval period, or directly proportional 

 to the ratio of the larval to the pupal period." 



Mr. Meldola attempted to test this theory by tabulating the state- 

 ments of ^Ir. Edwards concerning tlie durati(m of the stages in the 

 different polymorphic forms of Aja.v ; and he found " that there was 

 a relationship, but exactly the reverse of that which would be anti- 

 cipated from the conclusions previously set forth." 



The three forms of ^/r/.r have been called by Mr. Edwards Walshii, 

 Telamonides, and MarceUiis ; and these increase in size in regular 

 ratio and succeed each other in season in this order. The following 

 table represents the duration of the several stages, and is taken by 

 ;Mr. Meldola from Mr. Edwards's work : — 



Chrysalis. Total. 



14 davs. 43-51 davs. 



11-14 ,; 30-36 J 



11-14 „ 27-38 „ 



The next table is Mr. Meldola's attempted tabulation of the facts 

 by which he comes to the above conclu.sion : — 



"It is here seen," says Mr. Meldola, " that the size of the variety 

 is directly instead of inver.^ely proportional to the ratio of the pupal 

 to the larval period, and vice verstd.^' Unfortunately for this con- 

 clusion the figures given by Mr. Edwards, or their reduction by Mr. 

 Meldola, refer in each case to the pror/enij of Wahhii, Telamonides, 

 and Marc ellu.'i, and do not bear upon the question ; in every instance 

 given in the tables the progeny or resultant is Marcellus ; Wcdshii 

 and Tela mo aides are the produce of wintering chrysalids, and there- 

 fore by Mr. Meldola's rule should be, as they are, smaller than 

 Marcellus, which, on the other hand, is always the result of short- 

 lived summering chrysalids. Unless, however, some unknown factor 

 plays a part, Telamonides should be smaller than Walshii, because 

 produced later in the season from wintering chrysalids ; but hero 

 the opposite is the truth. 



Mr. Edwards apparently overlooked the fact that Wahhii and 



