CURRENT NOTES. 
35 
account for the variation of certain groups or species, should 
be done with extreme caution, but the main line of argument 
on which Mr. Tutt continues his series of papers on ‘ Melanism 
and Melanchroism in British Lepidoptera ’ is well supported 
by the same natural causes and effects in New Zealand. Where 
the variation of any species in a given direction develops under 
certain conditions, we may safely assume that it is due to 
certain natural causes operating in the direction the form of 
variation assumes. The result of my experience with variable 
New Zealand lepidoptera so far favours the moisture theory of 
melanism” {In litt., Feb. 25, 1891). 
( ' 1 0 be continued.) 
HURRENT NOTES. 
The “ Special Index,” which we have been at much trouble and 
expense to produce, and which our subscribers d > not seem to under- 
stand is very comprehensive and complete, will be a distinct financial 
failure unless our subscribers take it up more generally. It consists of 
24 pp., contains every reference to each species mentioned in the 
volume, and has occupied a great amount of time in its production. It 
will be sent free for 12 stamps by Mr. A. J. Hodges, 2, Highbury 
Place, N. 
The Annual Exhibition of the South London Society reflected great 
credit on the Society, and brought together a number of rare species 
and instructive exhibits. A photograph of the committee of manage- 
ment appeared in the Sportmg and Dramatic News for April 25th. 
Another of the very old collections (that of the late Mr. W. Bennett) 
came under the hammer on April 29th. Chrysophaniis dispar tirought 
the following prices : --male, £2 15s. ; male, £2 los. ; female (nearly 
perfect), ^3 ; pair (damaged), ^3 los. ; pair (much damaged), ^^3 ; 
male (underside), £2. A dark var. of Venilia maculata whth the yellow 
spots only on the outer margin, was sold for i8s. 
Mr. T. I). A. Cockerell has, w^e hear, been appointed Curator of the 
Museum of the Institute of Jamaica, at Kingston, Jamaica, and leaves 
us in about three months. 
The Report of the South London Entomological Society for 1888 
and 1889 has now' been published, and those entomologists who are 
not members of the Society cannot do better than send 3s. 6d. to the 
Secretary. They will find a great deal of interesting and useful matter. 
It is to be hoped that those few members of the Council called the 
“ Report Committee” will soon justify their existence by commencing 
on the 1890 Report. 
