SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



exactly to insects. I intend here to make use of the 

 definition proposed by Mr. Philip Lulley Sclater, 

 Ph.D., F.R.S., secretary of Zoological Society of 

 London, in his article on "The Geography of 

 Mammals" ("Geological Journal," 1S97, p. S4). 

 He divides the Region into fuur groups, viz. — 



I. Panarctic Scb-region. 

 " Comprising the extreme northern part of Russia 

 and Siberia as far as Behring Strait, the southern 

 boundary of which is the northern limit of trees, 

 corresponding, though by no means accurately, with 

 the Arctic Circle. This part of the old world, 

 tc^ether with the most northern portions of the new 

 world, will form one sub-region." 



II. EfRoPAsiAN Sub-region. 

 " Containing the whole of Europe, with perhaps 

 the exception of the steppes of Russia, Siberia north 

 of the great mountain ranges and south of the Arctic 

 sub-region as far as Kamtschatka in the north and 

 northern Manchuria in the south, together with the 

 island of Saghalien, and perhaps the Japanese island 

 of Yezo. In this sub-region must also be included 

 Asia Minor, the Caucasus and the Elburz mountains." 



III. EkEMIAN SfB-RE(;!0.\. 

 " Including the north of Africa, northern Arabia, 

 the greater part of Persia and Afghanistan, and the 

 great desert of Central Asia, e.\tending from the 

 steppes of Southern Russia as far as Manchuria." 



IV. Manxhurian Sub-kegio.n. 



" Embracing the greater pan of China proper. 

 Southern Manchuria and Japan, extending westward 

 to western Tibhet and the top of the southern slopes 

 of the Himalaya.s." 



Such is Mr. Sclaters definition of the Palaearctic 

 Region as applied to the distribution of mammals. 

 This is a convenient and definite plan which I accept 

 fpr the Butterflies, with the following modifications : — 



StJB-REGlONS I. and II. may be taken in their 

 entirety excepting of the Japanese island of Yezo. 



In SfB-REGlo.N III. we must exclude the south of 

 Persia, Afghanistan, Arabia and Egypt, because in 

 these districts there is too great a preponderance of 

 Indian, or of African types. 



SuB-RECio.N IV. can only be taken in a limited 

 sense. From the eastern extremity of the northern 

 slope of the Himalayas, a line must be drawn in a 

 northerly direction, so as to exclude China proper, 

 where, so far as Butterflies are concerned, there is too 

 large a proportion of Indo-.Auslralian species. For 

 this reason Japan must also be excluded ; though 

 Corea may fairly be admitted into our Region. Syria 

 and Palestine, North Persia, Tunis, Algeria and 

 Morocco, with the islands of .Madeira and the 

 Canaries belong to the Palaearctic Rcgiim. This, on 

 the map, is the doited portion south of Sub-regions II. 

 and III. 



SuB-REGios I. is prolonged into Arctic America so 

 a.s to include Greenland, Labrador, and Northern 

 Canada to Alaska. Southward of these the fauna 

 merges into that of the Ncarctic Region. 



In the vast territory thus indicated, it is ;ieedless to 

 say there is the utmost diversity of climate and 

 physical condition. Vet among the Butterflies the 

 " European " type prevails throughout. We have to 

 reckon with plains, deserts, mountains, table-lands and 

 forests: with the shores of the Arctic Ocean; the 

 Littoral of the Mediterranean and of such inland seas 

 as the Caspian, and lakes, such as Baikal and Aral. 

 We have to include in this region places where winter 

 reigns almost supreme and with lands that arc favoured 

 with an almost perpetual summer. 



The map that is appended for use in the following 

 monograph is adapted from Mr. Sclaters map, 

 illustrating his papsr above alluded to, with the 

 modifications indicated. 



As regards nomenclature, I have determined in these 

 chapters to adhere to that of St.audinger's Catalogue of 

 1S71 ; which is generally adopted on the Continent. 

 This system is also used by Rilhl and Hcyne in their 

 " Palaearctischen gross- Schmetterlinge," published in 

 1895. In doing this, I know I dificr from many 

 English entomologists of repute. At the same time, I 

 avoid the confusion into which we are in danger of 

 falling by the wholly unnecessary, and insular changes 

 many arc seeking to bring into the zoological arrange- 

 ment, and generic and specific nomenclature of Lepi- 

 doptera. It seems to me more useful to follow the 

 method employed in other countries of Europe where 

 entomology is understood, at least as well, as it is in 

 England. Inventing new plans of our <jwn that are 

 no more natural than those commonly received 

 throughout Europe, only adds to our insularity, 

 already more than sufficient in such matters. For 

 after all is said and done, zoological nomenclature and 

 arrangement is but an arbitrary expedient to simplify 

 study ; and we are helped but. little, if at all, by many 

 of the revolutionary changes. Lastly, I think it is of 

 the utmost importance to be in toucliwilh Continental 

 authors. 



Therefore, I hope I may be pard med if I am not 

 willing to accept, for instance, the proposed placing 

 of the butterflies in the middle of the Heterocera, or 

 the change of name of the pale clouded-yellow butter- 

 fly to Eurymus kirhyi from the old name of Colias 

 hyale, by which it was known to our fathers, and to 

 ourselves until recent times. 



The Rhopalocera of the Palaearctic Region are 

 contained in ten families. 



1. Pai'ILIONIIiae (British type Papilio macliaoii, 

 the swallow-tail) containing the genera, Papilio, Seri- 

 ciiius, Lucdcrfia, Thais, Hypermncslra, Dorilis, Par- 

 nassius. 



2. Pieridae (In Britain the whiles, clouded 

 yellows and brimstone). Genera — Mcsaf>ia, Aporia, 

 Pieris, Aniliocharis, Zegris, Lcucophasia, Idmais, 

 Callidiyas, Euremia, Colias, Rhodoccra. 



3. LvcaenidaE (In Britain the hairslreaks, cop- 

 pers and blues). Genera — Ihecla, lolaits, Laeosopis, 

 Thcstor, Cigari/is, Polyommatns, Lyeama. 



4. EkvciN'IDAE (In Britain Nemeohiiisliiiinn, the 

 Duke-of- Burgundy). Genera — Polycaena, Ncmeobius. 



