BUTTEHFLIES COLLECTED IN CALIFOENIA. 463 



Doubleday." Of the subsequent collections forwarded by M. 

 Lorquin, it would be impossible to guess the exact number of 

 species ; but the list of them, published by Dr. Boisduval in 

 1868, enumerated 62 species, probably representing those received 

 since 1852. Although the rapid growth of entomological science 

 in America rendered it improbable that the present collection 

 would contain novelties, it is none the less valuable scientifically, 

 since it has rendered, necessary the reexamination of many 

 species which in past years had been too hastily identified. 



One of the principal difficulties which the Lepidopterist has 

 to deal with in the determination of bis specimens arises from 

 the fact that the students of this branch of entomology are not 

 agreed as to what constitutes a species or variety. Thus the 

 genus Hypolimnas may be allowed to vary in every possible way, 

 and to have a range extending from Nepal to South Australia ; but 

 the genera Pedaliodes and Ithomia cannot be permitted to vary 

 at all, even in the same locality — nay, in characters which the 

 dividers of species would never dream of regarding as more than 

 chance sports. 



It may be urged, and to a certain extent it is true, that some 

 genera are more liable to vary than others, owing to the fact tliat 

 intermediate gradations between the species have not yet been 

 wholly eliminated ; but this is, I believe, the exception, and not 

 the rule ; and it is often the case that where nearly allied species 

 are asserted to be conspecific, breeding from the egg proves them 

 to belong to difi'erent sections of their genus : as an instance, I 

 may refer to Vanessa comma and V. satyrus, pronounced by Dr. 

 Staudinger to be both races or varieties of V. c-album, but proved 

 by breeding to belong to distinct subgroups of the genus. 



The following is a list of Lord Walsingham's captures, some 

 few of which, having passed into the collection of Mr. Godman, 

 that gentleman, with his usual courtesy, has kindly put it in my 

 power to examine with the remainder of the collection : these I 

 have added in their natural position in the paper. 



NTMPHALIDJE. 

 Danain^. 



1. Danais plexippus. — Papilio plexippus, Linnceus, Mus. 

 Lud. JJlr. p. 262 (1764). — Papilio archippus, Fahricius, Ent. Si/sf. 

 iii. 1, p. 49 (1793) ; Smith, Allot, Lepid. Insects Georgia, i. pi. 6 



