THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 405 



STUDIES IN THE GENUS INCISALIA. 



BY JOHN H. COOK. ALBANY, N. Y. 



When I began the investigation of these butterflies some years ago, 

 four species referable to the genus Incisalia were known to occur in the 

 eastern half of the continent, irus^ Henrici, augustus and iiipho7i. It was 

 my aim to breed each from egg to imago, and by a careful comparative 

 study to furnish the biological data which would enable anyone taking an 

 active interest in the group to repeat the observations, verify and 

 supplement the facts, and to correct any errors which I may have 

 made. I hoped also by outlining the life-histories of these four species to 

 furnish a basis for the proper study of the western representatives of the 

 genus, a work which is reserved for that lepidopterist of the trans- 

 Mississippi region who will one day arise to tell us something of the early 

 stages of those species known to most of us in the east as dead and dried 

 '* specimens " only. 



The fact that the species mentioned were the only members of the 

 group which had been recognized in Eastern North America,* lent to the 

 prospective success of the undertaking the added value of a comprehensive 

 study of all the species found over a comparatively wide area. 



Recently, however, a fifth species has been unearthed. It was described 

 in the Canadian Entomologist for June, 1907 (p. 302), as Incisalia polios. 

 The discovery of this butterfly within the territory which I had expected 

 to cover made it necessary to work out its life-history or to forego that 

 degree of completeness which I had planned for my review of the genus. 



The memory of many days of failure preceding final success in other 

 cases did not lend encouragement to the hope of securing the desired 

 information and material during the brief stay which would be possible at 

 the end of a two-hundred-mile journey, but as nothing can be accomplished 

 without an effort, I determined to make the attempt. 



Accordingly, arrangements were made to visit the type locality 

 (Lakewood, N. ].) early in May, 1907, in company with Mr. Frank E. 

 Watson, to whose work the recognition of this species was largely due, 

 and Mr. Chas. H. Sunderland, of Rutherford, N. J., an ardent collector of 

 lepidoptera. 



'^Unless the arsace of Boisduval and Leconte should prove to be entitled to 

 specific distinction. 



December, 1^)07 



