8912 Insects. 
It may be thought, from the theory that I have proposed, that 
I hold the opinions of Mr. Darwin. This, however, is not the case: 
I am one of the old school of naturalists, with regard to the per- 
manence of species, and it will be seen, from what I have said, that 
I am inclined (at present and until further evidence) to regard 
I. Geryon as an offshoot of J. Statices, differing in nothing from the 
original stock, except size. 
I would anticipate one objection that might be made against the 
theory advanced above, by eliciting information from the readers of 
the ‘ Zoologist’ as to any other instances which may have come to 
their knowledge (for I am persuaded that this of I. Geryon cannot be 
a solitary one) of diminutive races among Lepidoptera. Mr. Wol- 
laston, in his work on the ‘ Variation of Species,’ before alluded to, 
mentions several British beetles that have suffered in this way, and 
one foreign butterfly, Vanessa Callirhée, as being permanently smaller 
in the island of Porto Santo than in Madeira. The only other pro- 
bable instance that I can call to mind among British Lepidoptera is 
that of Peronea potentillana, which Mr. Doubleday considers to be a 
small variety of P. comparana; but perhaps there are others which 
more experienced entomologists can supply, and their doing so will 
tend much to throw light on this interesting subject. 
Since writing the above, I have examined the hind wings of both 
insects under the microscope, and I find the fact to be the direct 
contrary to Dr. Staudinger’s statement. The scales, which are black 
and of precisely the same shape in each case, are scattered much more 
thinly over the transparent space in I, Statices than in I. Geryon. 
The number of scales appears to be about the same on the wings of 
both; but, as I. Geryon is smaller, the scales are closer together, 
which is just what one would expect in a dwarfed specimen, and 
is strongly in favour of the identity of the species. 
E. Horton. 
Lower Wick, Worcester, 
November 20, 1863. 
Ptilodontis plumigera in November.—On the 27th of November I found a newly 
bred specimen of Notodonta-Ptilodontis plumigera in one of my breeding-cages. Is 
not this a very unusual period for the appearance of any of the Notodontide? The 
room in which the insect was bred has no fire-place, and is rather calculated for 
retarding than forcing insects—W. O. Hammond; St. Alban’s Court, near Wingham, 
November 30, 1863. 
