754 =- ZOOLOGY. 
- f. 3, which I cannot consult and, doubtfully, “ Catesby” Car. 
2, p. 91, tab. 91.. The species intended by Linné cannot, I think, 
be our Polyphemus. 
In Mus. Lud. Ulr. 1764, p. 369, No. 4, Linné describes in ex- 
tenso B. paphia from eases America, and cites Catesby, 
this time without doubt, as also Petiver and Rumphius. The de- 
scription hardly applies to our species, but this is the only one 
that admits of the probability. Finally in the twelfth edition of 
the “ Systema Nature,” 1767, p. 809, No. 4, Linné cites Catesby - 
again with doubt, and oe Guinea, Asia, as the habitat of his B. 
paphia. ; 
Of his B. paphia (Mus. Lud. Ulr.) Linné says: “ öl prie: a 
moris similes in medio; postice pallidiores versus marginem et 
obsolete undulate,” and “Ocelli utriusque alæ in mare oblonga, 
in femina orbiculati, quorum qui in aliis posticis cincti nigr. vio- 
lacea,” which in part does not agree with our species. 
I think, then, that the B. paphia of Linné’s tenth and twelfth 
editions of his ‘Systema Nature” is not our Polyphemus, while 
that of his Mus. Lud. Ulr. may be. This latter will not affect the 
specific name of our common species, which appears to be con- 
fined to continental North America and not to occur in the West 
Indies.—Auge. R. GROTE. 
N E E 
S 
Tue REVERSION OF THOROUGHBRED AnNIMAaLsS.*—The improve- 
ment in live stock has been greater than in tillage. Ithasbeen 
accomplished by (1) selection of breeding animals, and (2) by 
care of them. Both of these are essential. Starved animals 
not thrive, no matter how well bred, and no skill in care and 
feeding will give from poor breeds the best of animals. Special 
excellences are the accumulated improvements of several genera 
tions. 
It is often claimed that if the care of man be withdrawn the — 
improved breed will retrace the steps of its ancestry and revert to 4 
its original characteristics. “This theory has been made a dogma 
and the basis of deductions regarding the permanence of © 
types and the fleeting nature of acquired characters. The dogma 
finds a place in scientific literature in papers read before learned 
societies, and from these sources the notion spreads through our p 
Li maar literature. It has weight with a class of farmers who {% 
* Read at the Hartford Meeting of the Amer. Assoc. Ady, Science. 
