THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 



positive evidence of such a thing in nature, I do not remember to have 

 heard or read of it.* 



It would not seem very likely that a colony of hybrids, so numerous as 

 to allow of catching three individuals in one district, would be discovered. 

 Now, I have a female Papilio, taken in Arizona years ago by one of the 

 Wheeler expeditions, that must be of the same species as these males 

 from Colorado. The hindwings are wholly wanting, but the forevvings 

 are good and agree with Bairdii ; while the body is exactly like these 

 males, allowing for the difference of sex. This specimen had always 

 been a puzzle to me, and I looked for light on its peculiarities to come 

 some day. I do myself a pleasure in naming this Papilio after my dis- 

 tinguished friend, Dr. Holland. Mr. Bruce will probably get eggs from 

 the female of this species next summer. 



*Under the heading of "Hybrids" in index to Butt. N. E., I find five pages 

 referred to. On p. 283, we read " that hybrids occur between this species ( Astyanax,^^ 

 (i.e. Ursula ) "and Archippus" [i.e. Disippus) " is rendered probable by the remark of 

 Mr. Mead, who found an Astyanax on whose upper surface the bhie was supplanted by 

 fulvous," etc.; and also of Grey, who says, Can. Ent., XL, 17, he possesses "a 

 melanitic form o{ Disippus with all the markings of Ursula on the under surface." Now 

 these may be cases of hybridity, and may not. The American species oi Limenitis are 

 so closely allied that they would seem to be ])ut one remove from a common parent, 

 and as probably as not one of the black species is nearest that parent. These variations 

 in occasional individuals of one species in the direction of another species may be cases 

 of reversion or niere sports. Hybridity is conjectured, not proven. 



On p. 289 et seq. , is a discussion of the supposed hybridity by wholesale of 

 Limenitis Poserpina (between males of Artheinis and females of Ursula, and vice 

 versa). I have shown the improbability of this mixing up in Can. Ent., XXHL, p. 

 49, et seq., and that all the phenomena may be accounted for in a different way, with 

 no violation of probabilities. 



On p. 445, we read : " Mr. H. Edwards describes a hybrid between Pyrameis 



Atalanta an 1 Carye ." " The under side is that ol Atalanta.'' Mr. Scudder adds here : 



"Hybrids among butterflies are of extreme rarity." Cases of copulation between 



butterflies of different species of the same genus have several times been observed and 



recorded, even of different genera. I reported one in C. E. recently between two of 



different families, viz., a Melita;a and Chrysophanus. But I do not know of instances 



(though such there may be) where such copulation has led to eggs from which the larva; 



were bred to pupie and butterflies produced. In only this way could we be sure of 



hybridity. 



 ..... 



On p. 1212, we read that a Pieris Raptc paired with a Pieiis Protodice (these at least 



belong to different subgenera) and the female laid eggs which hatched. But the larvK 



all died, and so nothing came of this conjunction. 



On p. 1363, under Papilio Asterias ( /'olyxcnes ), we are told : " No hybrids are 

 known"; after which it is related that "Mr. Edwards possesses an hermaphrodite " 

 specimen, etc. I conclude, knosving Mr. .Scudder's habit of thorough research, that no 

 other instances of possible or probal)Ie hybridity have been reported among American 

 l)utterflies. 



