THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



at least till the contrary is proved. And the proof must be actual, not 

 imaginary, facts, not guess work." 



Mr. Edwards' definition is very good, but it leaves open the question. 

 What is a "marked character" ? That this is a question of opinion will 

 hardly be disputed, and we are thus left as far as ever from a definite reply 

 no our question. I shall not attempt to offer any new definition of a 

 species ; but shall in the present essay confine myself to a few instances 

 tending to show that the breeding true to itself is no test of a species, and 

 further that characters to separate species must be sought in other points 

 than color and maculation. 



In the Coleoptera no family offers better examples than the Cicindelidae, 

 and from this family my instances shall be drawn. 



The variations of Cic. 6-guttata have been recently noted in the 

 Canadian Entomologist. My own series of the species consists of 31 

 specimens, ranging from the immaculate form, blue and green in color, to 

 the patruele form with complete median fascia, humeral and sub-humeral 

 spots. The variation in this species is very wide, and is found every- 

 where, except that the patruele form is not found eastward. 



A more interesting species is scutellaris, of which my series comprises 

 35 specimens. 



In the far west — Kansas, Ind. Terr, and thereabouts — we find the type 

 form of a beautiful metallic red bronze, the scutellar space green, macu- 

 lation indistinct. It is the only form found in the far west, and is perfectly 

 separable from the following. 



In the Eastern States (N. Y., R. I., Md. and Mass., according to my 

 collection) we find a form with similar markings, which are, however, 

 much more distinct, but the ground color is a sordid green. This form is 

 also perfectly distinct from any other, and is recognizable at a glance. 

 With similar markings we find an insect locally in N. J. and Pa., which, 

 however, has the ground color black. It is taken year after year in a 

 small spot near Jersey City, and never shows any approach to the preced- 

 ing or following. It breeds absolutely true to itself ; none of the other 

 forms are taken where it flies. In Northern N, Y., Mass. and Can. we 

 find the same form as to markings, but the ground color brown red with 

 the maculation often connected at margin. 



In the Southern States we find the same form green or blue without 

 markings, and in Georgia and perhaps in Va. we find an insect obviously 

 the same, but entirely black. AVe have therefore a range of color variation 



