Feb., 'lO] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 65 



forms from lack of food, and other unfavorable conditions, 

 large forms from abundant food supply and favorable condi- 

 tions. True specific characters are inherent, but modified by 

 the conditions mentioned above. 



Seasonal conditions determine the character of the domi- 

 nant form of sculpturing. Some seasons developing a large 

 per cent, of the smooth form, or a cold, damp season the more 

 strongly punctured and striate forms. Rapid evaporation of 

 the body fluids the rugulose forms. In each instance a varying 

 per cent, of the intermediate forms. 



The progeny of any pair of individuals of either form will 

 reproduce a certain per cent, of all the forms ; all these from 

 eggs deposited by a single female. 



The per cent, of each form produced depending upon the 

 peculiar environmental conditions prevailing during ontoge- 

 nesis. 



The recognition of the above facts will be a check to the 

 describing of slightly differentiated forms as distinct species, 

 when they are not, and cannot be, unless the specimen should 

 represent a new and heretofore unknown specific aggregate. 



If I were to mention an example of a distinct species of 

 Eleodcs, I would name E. veterator. A collector comparing 

 the specimens constituting his catch o>f this species would note 

 that the series is distinctly homomorphic. A similar catch of 

 Eleodcs carbonaria would present a decidedly heteromorphic 

 series. 



Eleodcs nitida Casey is dolosa Blais. Casey's type is a male, 

 and it agrees quite perfectly with my male type of dolosa and 

 my name must be suppressed. Nitida bears the same relation 

 to the carbonaria section that lustrans bears to the quadri- 

 collis section. The female of nitida has the anterior spurs of 

 the anterior tibiae small, while the female of lustrans has large 

 anterior spurs. 



Com posit a Casey looks like a porcata in the character of its 

 sculpturing. The thorax is more transversely convex, the sides 

 especially, so that the pronotum looks narrow. The armed an- 



