THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
93 
learn in respect of geographical distribu- 
tion from knowing that Agrolis lucernea 
is found at Edinburgh, in Wales, at Ply- 
mouth, the Isle of Wight and Dover, 
and not at intermediate places? Are we 
to suppose that it is restricted to these 
localities, or that it exists in others but 
has not yet been found? It seems to 
me that the most we can do (at any rate 
at the present time) with regard to a 
species, is to ascertain its range from 
South to North and from East to West, 
noting the peculiarities of elevation, tem- 
perature, soil and vegetation existing in 
the several localities. By such means 
only can we learn anything of circum- 
stances necessary to the existence of a 
species, and not by saying that it occurs 
w'ilhin certain wide and arbitrary areas, 
though it may be only in a small portion 
thereof. For it must always be borne in 
mind that animals are formed for and 
adapted to the circumstances in which 
they are to live, as is exemplified, for in- 
stance, in the Marsupiata, whose structure 
and economy are strikingly suited to the 
arid regions to which they are confined. 
Thirdly, supposing we could approxi- 
mate to a complete table of the range of 
species in this our strip of land, which, 
considered with reference to Europe, is 
in all respects exceptional, what should 
we have done towards a knowledge of 
the geographical distribution of Lepi- 
doptera or the causes which govern it? 
Clearly, we could deduce from our 
labours no general law, and we should 
be able to do very little more than to tell 
the collector that if he went to a certain 
place at a certain time, he might meet 
with a certain species, although — from 
the well-known variation with respect to 
numbers in the appearance of many 
species — this information could be only 
conditional. 
Let the Lepidopterists, if they will, 
prepare lists of the range of our species 
of Lepidoptera, but let them not proceed 
upon an arbitrary and unnatural prin- 
ciple, nor call the facts accumulated an 
example of the general geographical dis- 
tribution of species. To accomplish such 
a work would require data collated all 
through Europe, and I fear that the 
attempts now making in our restricted 
limits will only convey the idea of how 
narrow are the views entertained by our 
British Lepidopterists, and to which I 
have otherwise, on a former occasion, 
alluded. 
I am, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
A. 
REMARKS ON LASIOCAMPA QUERCUS, 
Lin. (L. CALLUNiE, Palmer, var.) 
BY MR. EDLESTON. 
For years past it has been the custom 
with northern collectors in want of this 
species to visit the Moors and Bogs 
(called “ Mosses” down here) in spring, 
collect the larvae on heather, and feed 
them on hawthorn till they assume the 
pupa state ; what remain unchanged are 
thrown away. If a female is bred, she is 
taken to the Moors or Bogs, and the 
males are attracted in great numbers. 
Those pupae which do not come out are 
kept till the following season ; hence the 
idea gets abroad, “ It is a heather-feeder, 
two years to come to maturity, and 
various months given for its appearance 
in the perfect state.” 
During the last two years I have paid 
some attention to the subject, as regards 
the district of Bowdon, which is four 
miles from Carrington Moss. We have 
