Insects. 891] 
but which is very little distinction, if we allow that yellow to be 
“greenish yellow” with Guenée. 
4, The black border along the sinuous exterior margin of the 
yellow stripes, which might very well be the same as “the series of 
black oblong spots along the subdorsal line” noticed by M. Guenée 
in I. Statices. A sinuous black line might easily, to another observer, 
have the appearance of an interrupted black line, or, in other words, 
“a series of black oblong spots.” 
Tn the descriptions of the pup of the two insects (Zool. 8608, 
8695) there is no marked difference except a “longitudinal series of 
darker dots” in I. Geryon, not noticed indeed in I. Statices, but not 
therefore necessarily wanting in that insect. 
The egg of I. Geryon is pale yellow, but that of I. Statices is not 
described. 
In habits the two insects exactly agree, as far as is known. The 
egg is laid about the same time. The larvez of both hybernate (I have 
just ascertained this with regard to I. Geryon). They double up and 
fall off the food-plant when touched in the same way. They are full 
fed at the same time, remain the same time in pupa, and emerge 
together into the imago state. 
I offer these remarks with great respect for the authorities named, 
and not at all in a controversial spirit, but merely for the sake of 
nature and of truth. My position is this, that there is no greater 
evidence at present in favour of the diversity than of the identity of 
the two insects. Good entomologists have adopted either opinion, and 
the instance mentioned of H. Lederer (Zool. 8403), who, from a very 
strong opponent of Ochsenheimer’s view, afterwards became its advo- 
cate, ought not to be forgotten. We are naturally prone to hasten the 
settlement of all difficult questions; we do not like suspense. But in 
the study of nature especially, impatience is to be checked. “Most 
haste worst speed” is nowhere more true than here, and it appears to 
me that to adopt I. Geryon as a distinct species on the evidence 
examined above is a very hasty proceeding indeed. Let the living 
larvee be examined together at different stages of growth. This can 
easily be done next spring. Let the experiment of interbreeding be 
tried with the two insects. Let I. Statices be fed on Helianthemum 
and J. Geryon on sorrel. Let it be ascertained by entomologists 
residing near localities of both races whether they are ever found in 
company, or at what distance from each other. These are all 
interesting subjects of inquiry, and their elucidation will doubtless 
contribute something towards the true solution of this question. 
