mite Donna, itotoralisi : 



A Penny Weekly Magazine of Natural History. 



No. 39. 



JULY 24th, 1880. 



Vol. 1. 



ON LABELLING A COLLEC- 

 TION OF LEPIDOPTERA. 



( Continued.) 



WE have already mentioned that 

 most of insects arc darker in 

 the north than in the south, hut Fir 

 donia piniaria is one of these that are 

 lighter colored in the north. Another 

 species to which attention may he 

 directed is also a comparatively com- 

 mon insect, Gnoplim ohscarata. When 

 Btainton's Manual was issued, the 

 variation of this insect was so little 

 understood that he describes two 

 (species, obscurala and pullata, which 

 I are now known to he only forms of the 

 [same species from different localities. 

 Obacurata is a species that sits on the 

 ground, and is an excellent example 

 of the working of what is termed 

 Natural Selection." On the chalk it 

 is very pale colored; on clay, a muddy 

 brown; on peat, nearly black; vary- 

 ng in hue according to the color of the 

 ground on which it sits. This being 

 doubtless brought about by the speci- 

 mens which were nearest in hue to the 

 place they were on, being most likely 

 :o escape detection by birds, or what- 

 3ver preyed on them, is called "Natural 



Selection." A good series of G. oh- 

 scurata should embrace specimens of 

 all these varieties, and a good collec- 

 tion of Lepidoptcra will contain speci- 

 mens of all similar varieties of each 

 species. Besides containing the speci- 

 mens, the collection should be labelled 

 so as to show all these matters on 

 inspection. It is not enough to have 

 white and yellow piniaria ; light, dark, 

 &c, specimens of obscurata, following 

 in unbroken succession in the row, 

 separate labels should be used to dis 

 tinguish them, which should also 

 contain as much information as to 

 where the specimens was taken and 

 when, as will serve to identify its 

 peculiarities. Wc are aware that no 

 printed labels exist on which this could 

 be given, but a demand for such an 

 article would soon cause a supply to 

 be forthcoming. There are printed 

 botanical labels, but many botanists 

 prefer to write them. The following 

 are samples of printed botanical labels, 

 showing species and variety : — 



ROSACEA. 



Crataegus oxyacantha, L. 



Whitethorn.— Hedges and Thickets. 

 Loe. 



Tem. Col. 



