1 895-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 79 



be considered as intergrades between the type and the variety 

 which is farthest removed from the type. 



Now, to continue this story of evolution, the time may arrive 

 when tlie variety begins to breed true to itself. It increases in 

 numbers to such an extent that the individuals mate among 

 themselves, and in time produce others of their kind. It is pos- 

 sible that this occurs gradationally. At first the offspring of the 

 variety would throw back to the type in the majority of cases, 

 but by continued selection of mates of their own kind the variety 

 would increase in numbers until at last it produced only of its 

 own kind. This brings us a new race, and is commonly sup- 

 posed to inhabit a locality different from the home of the type. 

 That there should be intergrades in intermediate territory is but 

 an argument in favor of the theory of evolution; for environment 

 must play as great a part in the departure from the original type, 

 as does the accentuation of individuality. 



But it has been truly said that species breed true to themselves 

 and varieties do not. Then why is this a local race, and not a 

 new species, for we allow of course that Nature by evolution is 

 aiming at new species? 



The local race is distinguishable from a new species only by 

 breeding. The imago being the perfect insect, evolutionary 

 changes show there first, and by breeding true in a local race, 

 we mean merely the reproduction of similar imagos, the eggs 

 and larvae would remain typical. When the eggs and larvae also 

 • were different a new species would have been evolved. My idea 

 of classification then would be thus : 



Species. — Individuals markedly similar, though great variable- 

 ness might exist. Breeding true in all periods of transformation. 



Race. — Local variety, markedly different from the specific 

 type, breeding true in the imaginal period.- 



Variety. — A departure from type of species, occurring in suffi- 

 cient numbers to indicate a permanency of the form; not breed- 

 ing true. Intergrades may or may not exist. When they do, 

 the evolution of the variety is not yet complete. Their absence 

 marks the permanency of the varietal form, and the disappear- 

 ance of the connecting link. 



Aberration is the extremest departure from specific type, with 

 or without intergrades, or with or without intermediate varieties. 

 In the first instance it announces a new variety, and in the second 

 that the evolution of varieties is not yet complete. 



