BY
T. VERNON WOLLASTON, M.A., F.L.S.
"No compound of this earthly ball
Is like another, all in all."
Tennyson.
LONDON:
JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1856.
"I do not enter so far into the province of the logicians as to take notice of the differencethere is between the analytic and synthetic methods of coming at truth, orproving it;—whether it is better to begin the disquisition from the subject, or from theattribute. If by the use of proper media anything can be showed to be, or not to be,I care not from what term the demonstration or argument takes its rise. Either waypropositions may beget their like, and more truth be brought into the world."—Religionof Nature Delineated, p. 45 (a.d. 1722).
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
TO
CHARLES DARWIN, Esq., M.A., V.P.R.S.,
Whose researches, in various parts of the world, have addedso much to our knowledge of Zoological geography,
this short Treatise
is dedicated.
To make a dry subject entertaining, is impossible;but to render it, at any rate, readable, has beenmy endeavour in the following pages. How far Ihave succeeded in the experiment, it is not for meto decide.
It having been suggested, by several of myfriends, that it might be desirable to bring togetherinto a small compass some of the evidence onInsect variation (with reference to external disturbingcauses) which my researches in the MadeiraIslands have supplied me with, I have been encouragedto do so: and I have added numerousconclusions from other data also, which have fromtime to time fallen in my way,—so as to confer[Pg vi]on the volume a more practical interest, for thegeneral naturalist.
One of my main objects, however, has been tocall attention to the fact, that the Annulosa havenot been hitherto sufficiently considered, in thegreat questions arising out of the distribution ofanimals and plants; hoping that, by so doing,some few of our British entomologists, who havenot looked into this branch of their science, maybe induced to enlist themselves in the cause ofInsect geography.
If such a result be brought about; or if Ibe fortunate enough to open for discussion anyof the topics which have been touched upon, andso lead to a more perfect solution of the problemswhich I have attempted to explain, I shall considermyself more than repaid.
10 Hereford Street, Park Lane, London.
May 10th, 1856.
CHAPTER I.Page
Introductory Remarks1
CHAPTER II.
Fact of Variation7
As a matter of experience8
As probable from analogy...