296 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



history of series or groups of specimens. The following is an 

 example : — 



. 1. C. 8. e 



N. 5 a. Gen. 1 



The key to the above is as follows : — 



The first line refers to the Geographical Distribution. The 

 Eoman numeral indicates the Zoo-geographical Eegion (I.^Palae- 

 arctic Eegion). The first Arabic numeral indicates the Zoo- 

 geographical Subregion (1 = North European Subregion). The 

 capital letter indicates the Province of the Subregion (C=West 

 Central Europe). The second Arabic numeral indicates the 

 Subprovince (8=France and Switzerland in the Basin of the 

 Ehone, except the portion of the former country in the Basin of 

 the Meuse, and a narrow strip along the Mediterranean littoral 

 in the Basin of the Lower Ehone, which belongs to the Zoo- 

 geographical Subregion 2 of A. E. Wallace). The small alpha- 

 betical letter indicates the District (e= Basin of the Upper 

 Ehone) . 



The second line refers to the Climatal {or Vertical) Distribution 

 and Generation. N. & S. mean North and South of the Equator 

 (N. = North of the Equator). The first Arabic numeral indicates 

 the Climatal Zone or its equivalent Vertical Zone (5 = Cold 

 Temperate Zone or Eegion of Deciduous Trees). The small 

 alphabetical letter indicates the Sub-Climatal Zone (a=the Vine 

 Zone). Gen. is an abbreviation for Generation, and the Arabic 

 numeral following indicates the number of the generation in the 

 season. 



All the above numbers and letters, as I have already in- 

 timated, correspond with the maps and tables which I have pre- 

 pared, and which furnish the key to the labels employed, and 

 form the basis upon which the collection is being built. 



The other subject which shares my attention is Variation. 

 My object is to study and investigate the connection between 

 Morphology and Climate (Latitude, Longitude, Altitude, &c.), 

 and Local Conditions (Geology, Flora, &c.). Under the heading 

 of climate special attention is directed to seasonal dimorphism 

 and local variation, the latter coming also under the second 

 category of local conditions. 



To assist in more intelligently comprehending the relative 

 value of the different degrees of variation to which Ehopalocera 

 are subject, in order to arrange them in their proper position in 

 the collection, I have found it necessary to formulate a series of 

 rules for their classification ; but they are practically only pro- 

 visional ones at present. For my purpose therefore I classify 

 the different forms of Ehopalocera as follows : — 



