178 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 



gularly emarginate, while in venusta the emargination is deeper 

 and narrowly oval. 



Since formosa and venusta inhabit the same region, and have 

 in fact for several years been taken together by Mr. Knaus, it is 

 reasonable to suppose that if they are merely varieties of one 

 species, intermediate forms would occasionally occur. A letter 

 of inquiry addressed to Mr. Knaus concerning this and some 

 other points, brings an interesting reply, a part of which I quote 

 below. 



" I have quite a large series of duplicates of both /ormosa, and 

 venusta and there is no trouble in separating them. Formosa is 

 uniformly more robust there is quite a variation in the width of 

 the markings, but the middle band is always shorter and less 

 bent downward than in venusta. The humeral lunule in venusta 

 is also invariably less bent and extends further back than in 

 formosa, sometimes almost uniting at the tip with the middle 

 band. I have never seen the two in coitu, but have frequently 

 thus taken venusta. Formosa is stronger in flight, and, if any- 

 thing, more wary than venusta. I have really no evidence that 

 formosa and vemisia intergrade. I have been inclined to the 

 belief for some time that they were distinct species." 



The above remarks are certainly confirmatory of my conclu- 

 sions, and I would only say in dismissing the subject that if any 

 one possesses examples which can fairly be considered inter- 

 mediate, or any facts which indicate specific identity, I would 

 hold it a personal favor to be informed of them. 



Having in the foregoing investigation been incidentally led to 

 make some comparative study of secondary sexual characters, I 

 am prompted to add one or two remarks in this connection. 

 The male characters which have been given as common to all the 

 species of the genus are "Three joints of anterior tarsi dilated 

 with short silken pubescence beneath, sixth ventral segment 

 broadly emarginate, middle tibiae pubescent on the outer side 

 (except pilatei and belfragei}" The degree of emargination 

 of the sixth ventral, while practically constant within specific 

 limits, varies greatly in different species. It appears to- reach its 

 greatest development in circumpicta and togata, where it extends 

 nearly two thirds the length of the segment, and from this ex-- 

 treme it gradually decreases, until in cuprascens, puritana and 

 macro, it becomes exceedingly feeble, or entirely wanting. In 



