174 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



water, it takes up, through the pores of the skin, a considerable quantity of 

 it ; when on land, in a dry place, the absorbed water serves to keep the skin 

 moist for a considerable time ; for the skin is so thin, that, on exposure to a 

 to a dry atmosphere, rapid evaporation takes place ; and since aeration can 

 can only be affected through a moist medium, too long exposure to dry air 

 will kill a frog. 



This cutaneous respiration also enables a frog to remain under water 

 longer than any other lung-breathing vertebrate. 1 have seen them under 

 water for two hours, and there is no doubt that they can remain under for a 

 very much longer time ; and as they hybernate at the bottom of ponds, it is 

 solely through the skin that respiration can be effected during their winter 

 slumber. 



(To be continued.) 



THE NEW FOREST ZYG^NA MELILOTI. 



By W. H. TUGWELL. 



I had no intention of again intruding this subject in the pages of this 

 journal, but as Mr. C. A Briggs states that I misquoted Mr. Doubleday's 

 words in what he calls an important particular, when I quoted from Ento- 

 mologist, Vol YI. page 185, " This most certainly is meliloti Esp.," and 

 states that I had added the word Esp., " the importance of which will be at 

 once seen," I feel bound to reply. 



I deny in toto that the addition of the word " Esp." in any way affects the 

 question. From beginning to end of this discussion the only insect intended 

 when meliloti has been mentioned, has been meliloti, Esper, and no other ; so 

 how the addition becomes here important I fail to see. It is well known 

 that in 1872, when specimens of the New Forest Zygmna were first sent to 

 the late H. Doubleday, he at once diagnosed it as Z. meliloti, Esper, i.e. as 

 the species known under the name of meliloti on the continent. This opinion 

 I have never seen challenged until now. Mr. Doubleday told me so with 

 his own lips, and also in his letters to me on the subject in 1872-3. That 

 this opinion has been generally accepted, I should say almost universally so, 

 is proved by all the writers on British lepidoptera since 1872, who always quote 

 our New Forest Zygana as meliloti, Esp., vide South' s Synon. list, Robson 

 and Gardner's list, the reprint of Berg by W. F. Kirby, &c, &c, and I do 

 not think Mr. Briggs can show an instance since 1872, where, when meliloti 

 has been named, that the small Burnet with the particularly oval 1st, 2nd, 

 and 3rd spot has not been intended. Of course if Mr. Briggs is going to 



