LABEL LIST OF 



BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



The following list is based upon that issued by the late Henry Doubleday, 

 and the order of that list is followed. This is not intended to imply unquali- 

 fied approval of the Doubleday arrangement, but it is in general use in 

 Britain, and it is very undesirable to attempt any alteration uutil an arrange- 

 ment can be given with the authority of the several entomological societies, 

 or of some person or persons, of sufficient eminence to be accepted as an 

 authority. The present list makes no pretence to be anything but a compila- 

 tion, and is only offered to entomologists for their convenience, until a more 

 satisfactory one is obtainable. I have used my own judgement as to what 

 species should be included or omitted. To have given all that have been 

 proposed, would have hindered rather than helped beginners, and old hands 

 are as able to judge as I am. If I have erred it will be on the side of 

 omission. 



Where the Doubleday name seems to have been properly superseded 

 by another, I give both, with the Doubleday name below. Where another 

 name appears to have been improperly substituted, I give both, with 

 the Doubleday name above. In these cases I am responsible for deciding 

 which name should have priority, and may expect opinions to differ, but as 1 

 give both names no harm can result if I err. Further than this I give no 

 synonomy, as the list is intended for collectors, not students. 



I have had some difficulty in deciding what to do with named varieties. 

 No rule has ever been suggested as to what should constitute a form sufficiently 

 distinct to merit a distinguishing name, and writers have differed considerably 

 in naming them. Some very distinct forms, such as Filipendula with yellow 

 spots and hind wings, have never been named ; while others have been so 

 distinguished from a single aberration. Some hold that no variety should be 

 named where intermediate forms obtain, but with this I cannot agree. The 

 rare intermediate forms in many cases prove the commoner variety to be truly 

 deserving distinction. I have endeavoured to include those names that 

 have been applied to local races, as well as those applied to forms that occur 

 with the type with more or less regularity. I will be obliged for comments 

 and criticisms on this, as well as on other portions of the list, so that I may 

 be able to improve upon it if another edition be ever required. 



The few cases where the named type does not occur here, but the variety 

 does, are distinguished by an asterick. 



There are also a few species that have occurred singly, or nearly so, but 

 under circumstances that do not seem to admit of their being importations. 

 These with a few of more or less doubtful distinctness I have endeavoured to 

 distinguish by ? 



The few species known, or believed to have been indigenous, but that no 

 longer occur here are included within brackets. 



JOHN E. ROBSON. 



