THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 343 



they are extremely difficult for us. Confusion has arisen from 

 synonymy, loss of types and lack of knowledge as to what is a 

 species or variety in the genus, lack of accurate data, types not 

 fixed or inaccurately fixed, plastic or variable forms, and speci- 

 mens only accidently received through the wanderings of collectors 

 or the accidental habitat of collectors. There are some things 

 that must be done before we can come to a rational understanding 

 of these butterflies. First — a single specimen must be fixed as 

 a type to establish the correct name each species or \'ariety is to 

 bear. Second — to delimit the range olF variation of each species. 

 To do this large series must be studied, and they should have exact 

 locality, date of capture and altitude where taken. 



Herman Strecker^ pointed out the difficulties in 1878. He 

 had an excellent idea of the specific relationships of the forms or 

 species. 



H. J. Elwes^ wrote a revision of the species of the world in 

 1889, and related his experience in trying to get some rational idea 

 of the American species. 



W'm. H. Edwards^ wrote a reply and gave notes on the above 

 revision, and a perusal of both articles gives one an idea of the 

 great confusion and difference of opinion in regard to these insects. 



A. J. Snyder** in 1900, wrote a revision of our American species, 

 and gave some valuable information in relation to the forms of 

 eiirynome Edw., derived from extensive field work in Utah and 

 Colorado. 



• Dr. W. J. Holland ga\'e a series of exceedingly useful illustra- 

 tions in the Butterfly Book, but in many instances onh- figured 

 the upper sid^s of the species, and there is no way of telling whether 

 the\' represent types or the contrary. 



W. G. Wright, in his Butterflies of the West Coast, figures 

 many species, but many of his determinations are erroneous and 

 only lead to confusion. 



Mr. Charles Oberthiir, in his Etudes Sep. Comparee has 

 given some beautiful figures of the Boisduval species and has 



1. Beetles and Moths of N. Am., 1878, p. 118. 



2. Trans. Ent. Soc, London, 1889, p. 535. 



3. Can. Ent., 1890, p. 81. 



4. Occasional Memoirs, Chicago Ent. Soc, 1900, p. 27. 



