The Zoologist— April, 1867. * 719 



by Mr. Frederick Smith. The new species were eight in number, four of the ranis 

 Cryptocerus from South America, three of Meranoplus from West Australia, and one 

 of Cataulacus from Borneo. • 



" On Species and Varieties," by Captain Thomas Button, F.G.S. Afler referring 

 to an assertion by Dr Bree in 'The Field' newspaper, February 4, 1866, that the 

 dent.ty of the species Attacus Cynthia and A. Ricioi Ms proved bv their breeding 

 together, and by the produce after three or four generations having a tendency to" 

 return each to Us separate type, ' an opinion in some measure endorsed by Dr Wallace 

 who was « inclined to agree with Dr. Bree that there is but one species, modified by' 

 cl.mate, food, and domesticity," Captain Hutlon continued as follows :- 



mn " J ha ;, **!? °f ^ are evroneous wi "> 1 think, become apparent when we 

 consider that Bombyx Huttoni, which cannot be domesticated, and the cultivated 

 Bombyx Mon o f Ch.na, two undoubtedly distinct species, will likewise breed together, 

 and produce prolific eggs, as is the case with several other species, so that Dr. Bree's 

 op.n.on at once meets with a substantial refutation ; besides that there being, as he 

 says, a tendency to return each to its separate type, is a contradictory admission that 

 the .nsects belong to distinct species, since if they belong to separate types they 

 clearly do not belong to the same specific type. Were they of the same species there 

 would be no tendency to revert, because there would be nothing to revert to, and 

 Attacus R,c.n. when uncrossed by A. Cynthia shows no tendency to revert to that 

 species The very fact of there being this tendency to revert shows that the species 

 are distinct, and that the cross being contrary to the laws of nature, an effort is Lin- 

 rnade by her to cast out the cross and return to the original and separate types. Bu°t 

 the mere fact of species breeding together is to be accepted as a proof of identity 

 then does Dr Bree very satisfactorily prove that the horse and the ass are of the same' 

 spee.es, and that the apparent degeneracy of the latter is, according to Dr. Wallace's 

 view to be attributed to modification by climate, food, and domesticity. It may how! 

 ever, be objected in this case that the progeny are not prolific inter se, which Litly 

 a ters the case; nevertheless the progeny are prolific if crossed again either by the horse 



the near ^n-'r' 7™*"' ° "^"T ^ ^ "^ ° f *™* off W is »<* "«" «« 

 the ne a a ffi nity of specles . but , g ^^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 



wTinoutthM Sa ™ e /—' , » ustnec --'i'y possess the very same structural model 

 Without the least reference to or interference with specific characters. But if Attacus 

 Cynt ,a and A R.c.n, are to be regarded as one and the same species, mod.fied by 

 .mate food and domesticity, how comes it to pass that specific characters have been 

 obl.ter.ted and others acqu.red ? Diminished brilliancy of coloration might doubt- 

 ess be .nduced by climate, food, and other causes, but there would be no change of 

 typical or spec.fic characters, while colour, under an alteration of treatment mi e ht 

 easdy he restored; but I would ask, if A. Ricini be only a modified varied ) . A 



and the'eov! ' r i ^ ° f ""* ?"* °" fl ° ,arTO ° f U ' e ,atte '- become ^ted, 

 and the covering of white down on the body of the imago of A. Ricini been acquired ' 



For these black spots are not merely superficial and evanescent marks, which, like the 

 wh.te p OW ier the b dy of lhe ]ar7a> ca „ be re|noved) ^ ^^ actuai Jtoft. 



ma ks and colourmg of structure, and are no more capable of obliteration than are the 

 spots and roses of the leopard and other species. Climate and food could exerc se no 

 .ufluence over such marks, because they are imprinted by nature in the epTdermbas 



