VOL. XIX. LONDON, OCTOBER, 1887. No. 10 



THE NORTH AMERICAN CALLIMORPHAS. 



BY H. H. LYMAN, M. A., MONTREAL. 



The North American species of the genus Callimorpha are exceed- 

 ingly interesting both from their beauty and from the extreme variations 

 to which some of the species are subject, and which has given rise not 

 only to the creation of numerous synonyms, but also to distinct species 

 being regarded as merely varieties of other forms. 



A very slight study of the literature of this subject is sufficient to show 

 that these forms have been very badly treated by the " authorities," 

 whether "lumpers" or "splitters," who have in this instance been but 

 blind leaders of the blind ; and some of those who during the last two 

 years have endeavored to clear up matters a little, have not succeeded in 

 making confusion less confounded. This confusion is also largely owing 

 to the inaccessibihty of the figure of Boisduval's species, and to the 

 description by subsequent writers of new forms without any illustrations, 

 which is particularly objectionable in the case of a group subject to great 

 variation. 



My attention was first seriously directed to this genus about six or 

 seven years ago, by a paper read before the Montreal Branch of the 

 Entomological Society of Ontario, by Mr. F. B. Caulfield, who advanced 

 the opinion that several distinct species were confused under the all- 

 embracing name of Lecontei. 



At that time the only white and black form which I had seen was the 

 true Lecontei, of which I had an excellent series showing most extraor- 

 dinary variations, and I was disposed to listen very incredulously to Mr. 

 Caulfield's theories ; but an examination of his specimens convinced me 

 that he had some grounds for his views, and I therefore turned my atten- 

 tion to the group, and have studied it as I have had time and opportunity 

 since. 



