1 895-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 37 



the faithful agent* of evolution and the future student who may 

 take up the difficult task, by aid of fossils, of trying to explore 

 the original species may be able to find out how many varieties 

 have formed into good species, in the course of centuries. 



Dr. Henry Skinner writes thus: Your questions are great puz- 

 zles, and have been agitating the scientific mind for years, and 

 volumes have been written on the subject, and yet nothing defi- 

 nite or fixed has been accomplished. I doubt whether absolute 

 definitions can be given for the terms you mention as the whole 

 thing is one of individual opinion. Of course you do not expect 

 me to write a treatise on the subject, and I will give you my ideas 

 in a very brief way. 



The three terms are gradational, and represent individuals, 

 more or less removed from the specific form. The greatest de- 

 viation in structure is a monstrosity. The next farthest removed 

 is an aberration, the next a form and the least removed a variety. 

 I would define an aberration as a well-marked deviation, occurring 

 at rare intervals such as Vanessa antiopa lintneri. I think the 

 word form should be limited to well-marked deviations which are 

 either sexual, seasonal or geographical; as illustrations of the 

 sexual class I would cite Papilio glauais, and the white forms 

 of Colias. Of the seasonal the forms of Papilio ajax; of the 

 geographical, the female insular forms of Papilios found in the 

 East India islands, etc. 



Under the head of varieties I would put the least deviations or 

 those not comprised in the first two classes. 



In regard to the other question I think it would be best not to 

 name varieties when there is no question as to what the species is. 



Prof, Packard replies: A variety is usually regarded as an in- 

 cipient species not yet fixed, but varieties are of different value 

 in different groups and species. The word form, is a general 

 one, to denote a species or variety, or even a genus. An aber- 

 ration is an abnormal specimen not generally subject to heredity; 

 it is a sport. I should not give a name to either of these if I 

 could possibly help it, but a name may be given to a variety if it 

 is a local or climatic one, such as appear year after year in one 

 place. Under such circumstances it is well to give a name, a 

 local one. But one should try to keep synonyms down, not 

 multiply scientific names, as they are a grievous burden to science. 



