THE CANADIAN KNTOilOLOGlST. 



to an extent constant and local ; many more could be cited, but these are 

 sufficient to show — 



First, that ground color cannot be exclusively relied upon as specific 

 distinction, either in Colcoptera or Lepidoptera. 



Second, that maculation, except where it completel}" changes a pattern, 

 is not in itself a specific character. 



Third, that species which are widely distributed vary, and the variations 

 are often local, and constant. 



In reference to this last proposition, it is a recognized fact that in 

 Coleoptera the most common and widely distributed species show the 

 greatest variations. Pterostichus lucublamhis may be cited as an instance. 

 That the Atlantic coa^t fauna is very widely distributed, many species 

 ranging from Maine to Texas, and westward beyond the Mississippi. That 

 further west the faunal character changes. The Hcteromerous type 

 becomes most prominent ; often apterous and usually slow in motion, and 

 living in crevices, the species do not travel much, and well marked forms 

 are often locally common, but not elsewhere found. In the great canons 

 and valleys of the Rocky Mts. and the Sierras, nearly each has its own 

 peculiar fauna, poor in species, but rich in examples, and owing to the 

 natural barriers to the habits of the predominant types, species become 

 fixed, local, and very constant, showing little or no variation. 



To the Lepidoptera these natural obstacles do not form as complete a 

 barrier, because of their powers of flight ; still we find a tendency to local 

 variation. The Agrotes afford good examples of that. 



Now in an admitted case like the variation of Cic scuiellaris and 

 Satyrus nephelc, by what term shall we designate these forms ? Not as 

 species, for they differ only in characters which are inconstant, yet the 

 characters are locally permanent. Sub-species conveys an indefinite and 

 inaccurate idea \ variety is applied also to forms which occur mingled with 

 the type form, and not exclusively applicable to such local forms as I have 

 cited. 



An analogous case exists with the highest of beings — man. The best 

 authorities agree in saying that notwithstanding the immense structural 

 differences between them, there is yet but one species of Homo. The 

 various forms arc termed races. Why not apply the same terms to such 

 forms as nephele and alope i They are admittedly one species, and yet 

 locally breed perfectly true to themselves, and except in localities where 

 they intergrade, they are easily distinguished. Pegale occupies a similar 



