68 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



white in the basal area. Rye specimens are plainly typical in this 

 respect, for this latter feature is somewhat a departure from the general 

 rule and at once becomes noticeable. In the " Revision," specimens 

 having a white basal line or a few whitish scales here, together with a 

 more reddish tinge of the median field, are described and show to some 

 extent how to gauge our conception of its variation. 



But this is along the conventional lines upon which variation occurs 

 in the group. The prevalence or absence of white in the basal area, the 

 orbicular, claviform and reniform spots, and finally in the scales at the 

 base of the antennae, is not a point by which any very rigid rule can hold. 

 Examination of a good series of any of the allied species will soon show 

 this, yet individually this variation is not so great — it is in the mixing of 

 the species wherein results confusion. Perhaps the greatest point of 

 specific constancy as we glance superficially at a collection, though 

 apparently a very insignificant matter, is the general hue or tint of the 

 body vestiture (applicable only with fresh specimens), and secondly, the 

 wing outline is important. But, fortunately, we are not dependent on 

 conceptions of varying shades and colours, since individual opinions 

 differ in such matters and colour-blindness exists to a wide degree — 

 rather may we rejoice that these closely-related species cannot always 

 mystify us, but in their larval stages show departures easy of recognition. 



The unravelling of these early histories seems necessarily a slow task 

 and one which often brings the student under, to him, an amusing 

 criticism, since it becomes so necessary to dig and delve in such a varied 

 number of locations — be it the side of the village turnpike or a neglected 

 corner of a country churchyard — and one frequently hears the passer-by 

 remark upon the sad affliction of being " slightly touched on the subject 

 of bugs and all that." But with success as a reward to our efforts, such 

 remarks only elicit a smile, and we are well satisfied indeed if we have 

 but found our quarry. 



The Thirty-first Annual Report of the Entomological Society 

 (1900) has just been published by the Ontario Department of Agricul- 

 ture. In its pages will be found many articles of an interesting and 

 important character, dealing for the most part with entomological subjects 

 of a practical nature. 



The General Index to the Thirty Annual Reports, 1870 to 1899, is 

 now on sale by the Society. Price (including postage): unbound, 25 cents; 

 bound in black cloth, 50 cents. 



