92 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



fact that the posterior margin of the metapleura is nearly truncate, being only 

 slightly sinuate. The posterior lateral angles of the metapleura are broadly 

 rounded in these two forms, while in the other species they are more or less 

 produced and not receding from the lateral margin of the abdomen. There are 

 other characters, such as the transverse suture of the pronotum ending in a 

 loop, which Hambleton gives for separating these species, but the author con- 

 siders the difference in structure of the metapleura to be of the most importance. 

 C. viridicatus is smaller and lighter coloured than crassicornis, and does not 

 have the range of distribution that the latter has. With further biological 

 data the writer suspicions that viridicatus will have to be considered a variety 

 of crassicornis, or may even be forced into synonymy with the latter. 



C. crassicornis occurs over the entire northern portion of the United States, 

 and in the west it is known to extend north into Canada and south into Mexico, 

 It also occurs in Europe and Asia. Viridicatus has been recorded only from 

 Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. 



The writer disagrees with Hambleton's opinion that "the nature of the 

 dorsal sutures between the third and fourth, and fourth and fifth segments 

 of the abdomen is quite constant." The advisability of using this character in 

 the separation of species is certainly risky. The characters of the genitalia 

 should only be used in the separation of but few species. 



For a full description and complete bibliography of each species reference 

 should be made to Hambleton's paper and to Van Duzee's recently published 

 and most excellent catalogue. 



In closing the writer wishes to acknowledge the generous loan of speci- 

 mens from Messrs. H. G. Barber, J. R. Bueno, C. J. Drake, R. W. Leiby, W. L. 

 McAtee, and Rev. M. Wirtner, all of which greatly facilitated the study which 

 in turn permits these preliminary remarks. These collections wnth that of the 

 National Museum afforded long series in each species. 



A NEW RACE OF PLEBEIUS ICARIOIDES 

 FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND. 



BY WM. BARNES, M.D., AND J. McDUNNOUGH, PH.D., DECATUR, ILL. 



This variable species seems to have developed on the southern portion of 

 Vancouver Island into a local and very characteristic race which, on the under- 

 side, has so much similarity to pheres Bdv. from the San Francisco region that 

 it has frequently passed under this name, and is probably figured by Holland 

 in his Butterfly Book (PI. XXX, Fig. 37) as this species. 



The most characteristic feature of this new race, however, is found in the 

 colour of the blue scaling of the upper side; this is a distinct silvery-blue, much 

 as in saepiolus, and easily distinguished from the violet or lilac-blue of the other 

 icarioides races; we have at various times had single specimens before us for 

 examination, but this year through the efforts of Mr. E. H. Blackmore, of 

 Victoria, B.C., we have secured a fine and, in general, very constant series of 

 both sexes; we take much pleasure in dedicating this interesting form to its 

 discoverer, and describe it in detail as follows: — 



P. incarioides blackmorei var. nov. 



cf. Upper side brilliant silvery-blue; primaries with a blackish border, 

 2 mm. broad, along outer margin; secondaries with vague dark marginal spots, 



April. 1' 19 



