1S80.] 
119 
pounded: “Has the Jura range a peculiar Lepidopterous Fauna?” and “Have 
Lepidoptera, which were originally alpine, in descending to lower elevations under- 
gone modifications, transforming them to other species ?” 
Instances are given which would seem to answer the latter question affirmatively ; 
but, just as the reader is charmed with the field of speculative thought he is entering, 
the Professor abruptly closes the subject : “ Here we quit the onticing field of hypo- 
thesis. We turn to the more sober facts. We bring forth our Catalogue.” 
r l he following note to Melitcea Dictynna, at p. 29, will not be without interest 
to many of our readers : 
“ The Melitcece, which begin with Dictynna, belong to one of the most difficult 
sections of Lepidopterology. In the year 1878 I again devoted to it much time and 
labour. Through the kind aid of my friends and correspondents, Messrs. A. Schmid 
ot Ratisbon, B. Moschler and J. Scliilde of Bautzen, L. Caflisch of Chur, W. M. 
Schoyen of Christiania, and others, with Staudinger’s friendly assistance, I had before 
me for comparison and examination upwards of 300 specimens from the most 
varied localities. According to my opinion, only one species is sharply separated, 
namely, the old primary M. Asteria, Fit., belonging to the glacial epoch. From it 
next proceeded M. varia, Bi., which developed into Parthenie, H.-S. From the 
same alpine type M. Aurelia, Nickerl, is likewise derived. Both ( varia and Par- 
thenie) pass into the long-known M. Atlialia, and, judging at least from northern 
specimens, there is no sharp demarcation between Athalia and Dictynna. I possess 
intermediate Swiss specimens. Between Athalia on the one hand and Parthenie 
and Aurelia on the other hand, with Sclioyen’s great mass of interesting material 
from Christiania and the Dovrefjeld, our usual differential characters founded on 
German specimens are left more or less in the lurch. In the meanwhile, in accordance 
with the usual system, I adopt the habitual list of species.” 
Zoological Classification : a handy book of reference, with tables of the 
Sub-Kingdoms, Classes, Orders, &c., of the Animal Kingdom, their characters and 
lists of the Families and principal Genera: by Francis P. Pascoe, F.L.S., Ac. 
Royal 18mo, pp. 328, second edition. London : John Yan Yoorst, 1880. 
At p. 258 of Yol. xiii of this Magazine, we had occasion to notice the first 
edition of this work, and to point out how really useful it would prove as “ a handy 
book of reference,” a recommendation since abundantly justified by our own experience. 
The welcome with which the first edition was received, and the rapid advancement of 
Zoological science, have prompted the author to slightly re-model the first edition, and 
to bring out a second, in a much enlarged form, in which is shown how closely 
he has kept himself ait courant with the literature of the subject, although there 
is too much evidence of inclination to follow one or two authors who, however 
eminent they may be in their special subjects, can have but little knowledge 
of the whole. Touching the Insecta, for to these our remarks must (as on a 
former occasion) be confined, we in some respects prefer the arrangement adopted 
in the first edition. We know not what induced the author to revert to the 
old intimate association of the true lice with the bird-lice, and in this respect 
consider his former ideas much to be preferred. We could object to other points 
in sequential and ordinal position ; but we are fully alive to the multitudes 
