108 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



cease to be the narrow collectors we are now, and become naturalists in the 

 true sense of the word. Perhaps, however, Mr. Eobson has some such idea 

 as that of mine revolving in his own mind. If so, I wish him every success 

 in trying to bring about a better condition of things, and trust he will be 

 supported in, what is undoubtedly, a growing evil, which' cannot be put on a 

 sounder basis too early. But, if his idea is to get out a new list, not based 

 on Staudinger, and contrary to the accepted condition of things on the Con- 

 tinent, he has, I fear, set himself a task which will never be carried out, and 

 which ought never to come to a head ; and which, in the attempt to carry 

 out, will isolate us still more from Continental scientists, and leave the Con- 

 tinental lepidopterists wondering more than ever " why a nation, with the 

 broadest views in almost everything, and the leaders of every other nation in 

 every enterprize, shows such a prejudice, and narrow-mindedness in this one 

 branch of science, that is totally inexplicable/' This is the opinion of one of 

 the best Continental lepidopterists, who has had much 'to do with British 

 collectors for many years. Perhaps if we were 



" To see oursels as others see us, 

 It wad frae monie a blunder free us 

 And foolish notion." 



And if we could look at ourselves from a Continental standpoint, I think we 

 should pause before we took another step which would isolate us, and prove 

 another stumbling block to our poorer friends, who would thus have one 

 chance less of becoming scientific lepidopterists, and one chance more of 

 remaining mere collectors. 

 Rayleigh Villa, Westcombe Park, S.E. 



THE NEW FOREST MELITOTI. 



By C. A. BRIGGS. 



Pending the settlement of the question whether Z. irifolii var. ytenensis is 

 identical with Z. meliloti, Esp. or not, it will be convenient for the purposes 

 of the present discussion to continue to use the name Meliloti. 



The specific identity of these Meliloti with Trifolii being proved, the next 

 question that arises is the cause of its degeneration, aud this, I think, is not 

 far to seek, namely, the alteration of its surroundings, and the consequent 

 deterioration in either the quantity or quality of its food-plant. I cannot 

 help thinking that, while clearly right in attributing the result to drainage 

 and exposure to the sun, Mr. Webb attaches too much importance to the 

 railway 3 which was I believe made about 1847. It seems to me that a more 

 probable cause might be found in the history of the locality itself. 



