100 TUK CANADIAN KNTOMUIXKilST. 



where Prof. Smith makes seven species. The discrepancy is due to an 

 ernmeoiis assumption by I*r«)f. Smith, that any slight difference in the 

 genitalia indicates a different species. This is not so. I do not belittle 

 the importance of the male genitalia in the Noctuida". They are 

 im|Mirtant lUit the siruciures are very Hexible from an evolutionary point 

 of view, and slight modifications in them are not necessarily indicative of 

 5))enfic separation, but of racial sejjaration only, especially if correlated 

 with geographic distribution. Thus, the hibisci form extends into Colorado 

 an i the Northern Rockies, as far at least as Rossland, B. C., whence I 

 have it. Here it becomes the form latirena Dod. The genitalia are 

 unchanged. Hut on tiie west coast the race quinque/aiciata prevails, 

 with a slight modification in the genitalia. This race has crossed into the 

 Western Rockies, producing the form tiubilata, which constitutes an 

 incipient species. 



It is necessary to notice two nonienclatorial errors of Prof. Smith. 

 l''ii-»i, lie gives instabi/is I-'iich (1856) precedence over hibtsci Guenee 

 (1852), which is wrong. It doe> not matter whether hibisci is an aberra- 

 tional form or the U"<ual one for establishing the name. Only the dates of 

 publication count. Second, there is no such species as instabilis Kitch. 

 Fitch used Sch ffermiiUcr's name in error for the .\merican representative. 

 Misidtntifications cannot be made the basis of any new name. 



This synonymy will stand as follows. It is as given by Mr. l).>d. 

 with Prof. .Smith's new synonyms added. 

 Grai'Hii'HOR.x miiisci Guen. 

 lOnJluens .Morr. 

 var. i.AiiKKNA Dod. 

 brucei Smith. 

 maloi a Smith, 

 var. ()UlN(jUEFASClATA Smilb. 

 iiiflata Smith. 

 inherit a Smith. 

 probii Smi'h. 

 .^G. NUiiii.AiA Smith. 

 G. i'A( in' A Harv. 



NOTI'.S ON I. in; HISTORY OK .ANISOrA SKINNKKI, HIKh. 



BY WILLIAM HARNICS. M. D., AND J. .MC DUNNOUMI, PH. D. 



In the original description of this species (Knt. News, XIX, 77) a 

 very brief ace iunt of the larval stages is given, but as far as we know no 



IV.-tnUf t<)|ll 



