Note 187 — STUDIES IN THE THEORY OF DESCENT

[The genus Vanessa (in the wide sense) appears to be in a remarkable condition of what may be called phyletic preservation. Thus, the group of species allied to V. C.-album passes by almost insensible steps into the group of butterflies typified by our “Tortoiseshells.” The following is a list of some of the intermediate species in their transitional order:—I.-album, V.-album, Faunus, Comma, California, Dryas, Polychloros, Xanthomelas, Cashmirensis, Urticæ, Milberti, &c. Similarly, our Atalanta and Cardui are connected by a number of intermediate forms, showing a complete transition from the one to the other. The following is the order of the species so far as I am acquainted with them:—Atalanta, Dejeanii, Callirhoë, Tammeamea, Myrinna, Huntera, Terpsichore, Carye, Kershawii, and Cardui. R.M.]