846 The Zoologist — August, 18C7. 



or race, or variety, forms one of a chain of generations which connects 

 a monad with a man. What I desire is to see a naturalist thinking his 

 own thoughts, making his own observations, and working out inde- 

 pendent results. In England and Europe we have done this with 

 many of our indigenous species, and great is the debt of gratitude we 

 owe to those who have observed accurately, and reflected on their 

 observations wisely : from such observations and reflections I select 

 half a score examples : — 



1. Leptoria diniensis of Boisduval is the autumnal brood of 



L. Sinapis of Linneus. 



2. Pieris Chariclea of Stephens is the vernal brood of P. Brassica; 



of Linneus. 



3. Pieris Mctra of Stephens is the vernal brood of P. Rapae of 



Linneus. 



4. Pieris Napea? of Stephens is the autumnal brood of P. Napi of 



Linneus. 



5. Vanessa Prorsa of Linneus is the vernal brood of V. Levana of 



Linneus. 



6. Zygacna Ephialtes alternates with Z. Peucedani. 



7. Selenia juliaria of Haworth is the summer brood of S. illunaria 



of Hiibner. 



8. Selenia delunaria of Hiibner is the summer brood of S. lunaria 



of the Vienna Catalogue. 



9. Selenia delunaria of Stephens is the summer brood of S. illus- 



traria of Hiibner. 

 10. Boarmia crepuscularia of Haworth is the vernal brood of 

 B. biundularia of Esper. 



It will be observed that these examples are selected from the 

 Pieridae, Vanessidae, Zygacuidac, Ennomidac and Boartmdae, distinct 

 and distant families, with a view of showing how extended are the 

 effects of this law of avism. 



I am sure that to your practical mind the mere enumeration of the 

 names of these familiar insects will be sufficient, but in order to bring 

 the matter more directly before some of those who may not have had 

 your experience, it seems desirable to go a little more into detail, 

 and to select an example for illustration, since the imperfectly 

 informed entomologist might very excusably hesitate to receive my 

 assertion that the two moieties of the species could be proved to have 

 a common ancestry. 



