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breed freely in confinement. The reproduction of varieties in this 

 way might be termed artificial employment of natural laws, and is 

 analogous to the operations of the poultry, pigeon, or stock breeder. 

 It is, however, performed by nature herself, but by the much slower 

 process known as " Natural Selection." In nature, the forms of a 

 species most nearly assimilating with their surroundings, or those 

 which most successfully imitate other objects, escape their enemies, 

 while the less protected forms of species fall victims, and a long 

 continuance of this process will not fail to gradually, but surely, 

 eliminate those less favoured forms, thus leaving the protected forms 

 free to increase and multiply. These remarks do not apply to 

 " hybrids," or certain phases of deformity. Hybrids are the result 

 of unnatural union between opposite sexes of distinct species, and 

 the offspring are sterile. Deformities are due either to accident or 

 influence of some atmospheric condition. 



In conclusion, I may say, that protective coloration of Lepidoptera 

 is not a favourite subject with Entomologists generally, but I trust 

 that the few remarks I have had the honour of reading before you 

 this evening may induce those of you who do not already give 

 attention to the matter, to take note of those moths you may find at 

 rest in their native haunts, and see if you cannot trace some similarity 

 between the insects and their resting-places, or some natural object 

 adjacent thereto. 



Now that the breeding of Lepidoptera from the egg is so generally 

 practised among Entomologists, many good opportunities must occur 

 for obtaining information upon the following points : — If of a species, 

 more or less constant in colour and markings, a female differing 

 from the normal type has been captured and fertile ova obtained 

 therefrom, it would be interesting to ascertain to what extent the 

 variation was reproduced in the offspring of that female. 



In the case of a variable species, male and female known to be 

 of different forms, as for instance, female type of B. repandata paired 

 with male of the form conversatia. How many of the offspring 

 favour the male ? How many the female ? How many of the 

 brood are unlike either parent ? 



When the male and female are of identical form, as for example, 

 var. combusta of Xylophasia ruria. What proportion of the offspring 

 are of the parent type ? 



There is a wide field for experimental research in this direction, 

 open to those Entomologists who are willing to sacrifice their rarer 

 varieties in the enterprise. 



