THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 99 
development can only be the result of long and eontinued 
occupation of that island, and it is particularly noticeable in 
the male, in which the shape, structure and pattern are 
yariable, while in the females the pattern scheme is so very 
close that it required often a detailed structural examination 
to detect the species, In the case of the common and widely- 
distributed form, 7’. priamus, it is only in New Guinea and the 
surrounding islands, including a small area on Cape York, 
that the form with a central green bar in the male occurs, 
while outside this area to the west in the Moluccas, to the 
south in the Cairns and Richmond River. forms, and to the 
east in the Bismark Archipelago and Solomon Islands this 
character is absent. The blue male is found to the eastward 
in the Bismarks and Solomons, and also in the Louisiades, 
which have only connection with the more northern islands 
through New Guinea. A blue-green form appears, according 
to Rippon, to be sometimes found in the Aru Islands. In 
dealing with the females we find a resemblance between those 
of cresus from the Northern Moluccas and euphorion from 
Cairns, while the forms to the west and east of New Guinea 
are much lighter in colour than those of the mainland. As a 
fur her argument that this group has come to us from New 
Guinea, I would point out the diminution in size in the form 
from Northern New South Walez. 
I hope that these few facts that I have laid before you to- 
night, and which might have been illustrated with many other 
species, will cause a desire for the study of geographical dis- 
tribution amongst many of my hearers.. I do not desire to 
indicate that 1 am convinced that it has been conclusively 
proved that New Guinea is a point of origin and centre of 
dispersion of butterflies in the east, but I wish to draw 
attention to that probably being the case. It will be noticed 
that [ say a point of origin. I believe other points of origin 
occur further west. I hope at some future date to extend my 
remarks on the New Guinea origin of some of our butterflies, 
and to deal generally with the origin of all our forms, 
NOTHS AND COMMENTS. 
Kees and Breepina Hasrrs or Fisues.—The lecture which 
Mr. D. G. Stead delivered under the above heading at our June 
meting, and of which an abstract was published in the July 
issue of this Journal, has now been issued in book form. This 
brochure adds another “ Nature-Study” book to our literature, 
and will, we are sure, be welcomed by the teaching profession 
in this and neighbouring States. Of recent years nature- 
study has been added to the curriculum of our public schools, 
