178 [January, 



that there is nothing constant in Nature ; and I rather object to the 

 use of the word "never" as applied to neuration or to any other character. 

 Each case must be judged on its own merits. That which may be of paramount 

 importance in one species, genus, or family, may be of the slightest importance 

 in others. I could produce instances in species of which I have probably ex- 

 amined 500 examples with a neuration that so far might be styled " absolutely 

 constant," but in which the 501st showed a condition of neural structure that 

 might be termed " gone mad :" in such a case to have made a new species, genus, or 

 family, on the neural condition alone would have been monstrous ; it was the indi- 

 vidual that was monstrous ; but in a closely allied species variation in neuration 

 might not be monstrous (within certain limits), but natural. Correlation of charac- 

 ters is, in my opinion, the aim of all systematic writing, not the seizure of one special 

 character too often taken from insufficient materials. Even the term " monstrosity " 

 is open to objection. It might be allowed where one individual in 500 bIiows 

 extreme abnormity, but its application is open to question where one in ten shows 

 it. — R. McLachlan.] 



ON THE EXTENSION OF EUROPEAN LEPIDOPTEEA TO JAPAN. 

 BY E. MEYRIOK, B.A., E.E.S. 



Having recently had the opportunity of examining a good deal o£ 

 Japanese material, I was somewhat surprised to find how many well- 

 known European species occurred unchanged in that country, and 

 thought a note on some of these, which are apparently not sufficiently 

 recorded, might be of interest. In none of those here mentioned is 

 there any difference worthy of notice between the European and 

 Japanese forms, except that, when the species is variable, the Japanese 

 form varies more in the direction of development of the dark markings 

 than the reverse. This has not, however, preserved them from being 

 described as new species, as will be seen from the synonymy. 



GEonistis quadra, L. ; O. dives, Butl. Redescribed by Butler on a slight indi- 

 vidual variation. 

 Lithosia deplana, Esp. 



Lithosia griseola, Hb. ; L. adaucta, Butl. ; Collita cegrota, Butl. Normal pale 

 greyish form. 



Cidaria sordidata, E. ; Oporabia sexifasciata, Butl. Somewhat larger than usual. 



ClDARiA RIVATA, Hb. ; Melanippe supergressa, Butl. Normal. 



Cidaria albicillata, L. ; Melanthia casta, Butl. Normal ; variable in size. 



Cidaria procellata, P. Melanippe inquinaia, Butl., should apparently be re- 

 garded as a geographical form of this, but opinions might differ ; it varies a 

 good deal, and some specimens are very different looking, but 'others do not seem 

 distinguishable by any character of value. 



Cidaria cortlata, Thnb, Normal. 



Cidaria teesata, Hb. Slightly larger than usual. 



