44 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb., '06 



been misled by wrong interpretation of the meaning of an 

 earlier writer. I am also at loss to understand why he sinks 

 tranquebarica Hbst. as a synonym, giving precedence to the 

 much later name vulgaris Say. If we are satisfied that the 

 name tranquebarica was applied by Herbst to this species, the 

 fact of the habitat being wrongly attributed is, under present 

 laws of nomenclature, no valid excuse for its rejection. 



It is not my intention to propose new names for any of the 

 numerous local forms, readily enough separable by an ex- 

 perienced eye, though possessing no positive definitive char- 

 acters ; but rather to call attention to some of the districts 

 over which these imperfectly differentiated forms are distri- 

 buted and the manner in which they again subdivide and inter- 

 grade. In general it may be said that the following rules 

 hold good with the aggregate known as C. tranquebarica (or 

 vulgaris} and its varieties, race or subspecies. Exceptions oc- 

 cur, of course. 



1 . The specimens from the extreme southeastern portion of 

 the range are small and nearly dead blackish, with scarcely any 

 trace of cupreous on the upper side. A series from North Car- 

 olina (given me by Mr. Edw. D. Harris) and from Mississippi, 

 runs only about .50 inch in length. The markings in this form 

 are narrow, the humeral lunule shorter and more transverse 

 than usual. 



2. In the upper Mississippi valley, the Middle States, New 

 England and Canada, occurs a larger form, with the upper 

 surface obscurely bronzed or nearly black, the markings 

 broader and better developed, the humeral lunule longer and 

 less transverse. In size the average is about .60 inch. This 

 is presumably the type described as vulgaris by Say, and is so 

 called by Mr. Leng. 



3. In the more northerly portion of this range, is found 

 occasionally a form more bronzed and a little hairier, called by 

 Mr. Leng, C. horiconensis. This name, I think unnecessary, 

 the abberation being illy defined and not a geographical race 

 in the true sense of the word, occurring side by side with the 

 blackish specimens. It also passes insensibly into the next, 

 and I should follow Dr.W. Horn in relegating it to synonomy. 



