43 
The British Day Butterflies, and the Changes in the 
Wings of Butterflies. 
By Prof. A. RapCLiFFE GROTE, A.M. ead September 23rd, 1897. 
Ar this time, when different systematists are spreading their 
classificatory nets over the Lepidoptera, some fixing their webs to the 
pupe like Dr. Chapman, others to the larve like Dr. Dyar, while 
again others, like Mr. Meyrick, adopt what may be called the 
aéronautic plan, and float their fabrications in a general atmosphere 
of opinion, I have thought it of advantage to study the progress and 
direction of the changes in a single organ, and that organ the wings. 
It has so happened that I have been constrained to publish the 
results hitherto reached by me in German; and while glad to 
embrace the opportunity of expressing myself in my native tongue, 
I may do so here at the expense of some repetition, for which I 
apologise. 
And first as to the method employed in bringing out a clear and 
accurately proportioned picture of the neuration. Mr. J. Alston 
Moffat has recently drawn attention to the fact that I commenced to 
publish photographic plates illustrating new species of Lepidoptera 
some three-and-twenty years ago. From these plates, 1874-6, to those 
recently published in the ‘“‘ Mittheilungen of the Roemer Museum,” 
in 1895-6,* there is certainly a great progress, which is commensurate 
with the advance made during this period by the art of photography, 
and the methods of reproduction itself. While there may be some 
question as to the merits of the photographic process over engraving 
when the perfect insect is to be represented, there can be none, 
I believe, where anatomical preparations are to be considered, such as 
the neuration of the wings. If there were any such question, I think with 
deference that it may be considered as settled when we compare, for 
instance, the drawings say of the venation of Co/ias and Pamphila and 
Argynnis, given by Mr. Meyrick in his recently published “ Hand- 
book,” and the photographic impressions in the “ Butterflies of 
Hildesheim,” issued this year. 
From the preparations of the neuration laid simply upon glass, 
enlarged photographs are first made, and then mounted on cards for 
study. After undergoing secondary processes these impressions are 
transferred to zinc or stone to be printed. For my study of the 
day butterflies, the general results of which are briefly given in this 
paper, such photographs were prepared of all the species which I desired 
to study. Of each form I usually had both male and female ; but, 
since sexual differences in the neuration itself (I am not now speaking 
of the swelling of the veins in the males of certain Nymphalids or 
* “Die Apateliden” (1895) ; ‘“‘ Die Saturniiden”’ (1896). 
