174 THE CANADIAN ENTOAFOLOGIST. 



be all of equal value, and there are sections again sub-divided into sec- 

 tions. This system is not new, and I believe it to be very useful, allow- 

 ing us to recognize the natural suli-divisions of genera, without being 

 obliged to make genera of them. I have already adopted these section- 

 names in a list of North American land-shells now ready for printing, ;ind 

 have thereby been able to reduce the number of so-called sub-genera 

 without refusing to notice the natural groups they represent. I derived 

 my section-names when convenient from a ]:)rominent species of the group, 

 or in other cases, by adopting a descriptive term, or turning a sub- 

 generic name into a plural section-name. 



Before writing this paper, I wrote to Mr. W. H. Edwards, telling him 

 of my idea for getting out of the present difficulty. He comments favour- 

 ably on the suggestion, and writing of Mr. Scudder's "genera," made by 

 sub-division of Co/ias, etc., he says : "I consider them groups merely, 

 or sub-groups. All Ant/ioc/mris, I think, should be one [genus], all 

 Argyiinis one, all Co/ias one. If numbers can't be accepted, I am per- 

 fectly willing to try the section-names as you suggest * * *. By-and-by 

 I propose to give a new edition of my catalogue, and then I may adopt 

 the plan throughout. It would save us from fifty genera in Painphila at 

 once." (in Hit., May 17, 1890.) 



Should Mr. Edwards decide to adopt section-names, we can hardly do 

 better than leave him to decide about the sections and choose appropriate 

 names; but to illustrate the point I will here treat a few "genera" as 

 proposed : — 



W. H. Edwards. Scudder. Proposed Section-Name. 



Papilio, group V. Jasoniades. Turni. 



Colias, group I. Zerene. Caesoniae. 



•Vanessa, pars. Euvanessa. Antiopte. 



Pamphila, group II., pars. Erynnis. Erynnes. 



Thecla, group IV., pars. Incisalia. Incisalise. 



Lycrena, group V. Rusticus. Rustici. 



Chrysophanus, group III. Heodes. Chrysophanuli. 



As will be seen, the first three names are taken from prominent 

 species ; the second three from the so-called genera, and the last from a 

 character of the group. It may be found advisable, at least as often as 

 possible, to adopt the name from a species ; but some specific names, as 

 poweschiek, pawnee, etc., would be rather difficult to render plural, not to 



