386 DR. F. LEUTHNEE ON THE ODONTOLABINI. 



was originally suggested by a controrersy which took place at a meeting of naturalists 

 at Bern in the autumn of 1878, when Prof. Heer maintained the permanency of 

 species in opposition to the views of Brunner von Wattenwyl, Carl Vogt, and others. 



Whilst the theory of evolution has taken firm root in the higher schools of science, 

 and is diligently studied and developed by anatomists and morphologists, it is frequently 

 ignored, if not condemned, by systematists ; though if all naturalists were to work in 

 the same direction, it would be much to the advantage of science. 



I long desired personally to investigate a question of such great interest and import- 

 ance, and to study variation, the formation of races, &c., with the help, of a sufficient 

 amount of material, not derived from domesticated organisms. An unexpected oppor- 

 tunity soon presented itself. Herr Gustav Schneider, a dealer in objects of natural 

 history at Basel, received a large series of a very variable Stag-Beetle from Manilla, 

 the males of which were represented in four very different forms, which could all be 

 connected together by intermediate variations. This insect proved to be OdontoJahis 

 alces, Fabr., and the various forms had been previously regarded by authors as 

 belonging to three distinct species. On examining the literature, it appeared that 

 since the time of Burmeister much difference of opinion has existed on the subject. 

 Even the nearest allied species from North India stood in the catalogues under 

 incorrect names. I studied the allied species, and found that they confirmed the con- 

 clusions at which I had arrived with regard to 0. alces. As I could not find sufficient 

 material in the Museums of Basel, Geneva, Vienna, &c., 1 decided to visit London in 

 order to pursue my investigations with the aid of the rich collections which exist there. 

 I had expected much from the English collections, but they far surpassed all my expecta- 

 tions. The collections and library of the British Museum are placed at the disposal of 

 visitors from abroad in the most liberal manner. Materials constantly accumulated 

 from all quarters, and I was specially encouraged to continue my efforts by Mr. H. W. 

 Bates ; and gradually brought the present Monograph of Odontolabini to a conclusion. 

 The great variation of form in this group renders the question of species unusually 

 interesting, but at the same time extremely difficult ; and this convinced me that no 

 reliable results could be attained without the study of an enormous amount of material, 

 and the formulation of definite laws of variation. I therefore visited the Museum at 

 Paris, and studied Vollenhoven's types at Leyden, and the types in the Hope Collection 

 at Oxford ; but my labours were most facilitated by the kindness of Major Parry and of 

 Herr van Lansberge (ex-Governor of the Dutch East Indies), both of whom generously 

 placed their rich collections of Odontolabini entirely at my disposal. The latter 

 collection includes the types of Counts Mniszech and Castelnau, as well as some of 

 those of Messrs. Deyrolle and Parry. I was also fortunate in obtaining rich materials 

 from the private collections of Messrs. Bates, Distant, Forbes, Janson, Meldola, Moore, 

 Newcombe, Pettigrew, Oberthiir, and Swierstra. The amount of material thus placed 

 at my disposal was the most extensive which could be brought together for the purpose 

 at the present time. 



