THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



scarcity of papilionid/e in nova scotia and new brunswick. 

 Dear Sir, — 



Daring the months of July and August last I visited several places in 

 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and was everywhere, alike, surprised at 

 the scarcity of Papilionidae this year. Where last summer there were 

 swarms of Argynnis aphrodite, Colias philodicr, Nymphalis arthemis, 

 ncphele, a lope and Pieris rapce, I did not see two dozen examples in all. 

 The only arthemis I have seen this year is one obtained from a mature 

 larva I picked up on the side-walk near my own residence. I have one 

 disippus taken near St. John, July ist. This species I think is rare here 

 at any time ; turnus is also rare. Melitaeas have been about as abundant 

 as usual ; Vanessa antiopa much less numerous. The commoner kinds 

 of moths which enter our houses at night are remarkably scarce. 



In Nova Scotia I found large numbers of the larvae of Cynthia cardui, 

 and later here I have seen the imagines very abundant. Huntera is much 

 less common. At Parrsboro', N. S., I found on cultivated grounds several 

 young maples quite defoliated by the larvae of Orygia leucostigma. A 

 careful search failed to discover any on the larch, poplar, willow, moun- 

 tain ash and other trees and shrubs which were planted thickly around. 

 On the opposite side of the street I saw a small apple tree swarming with 

 these caterpillars, but they do not appear to do as much injury to the 

 apple as to the maple tree. I suggested to the owner of the apple tree 

 that they might be picked off and destroyed before they commenced 

 spinning, but he evidently thought it would be too much trouble. There 

 will likely be a good crop of these caterpillars next year. 



Caroline E. Heustis, Carleton, St. John, N. B. 



Dear Sir, — 



For some two or three years back there has been no little discussion 

 of the question, " What constitutes a genus ? " The opinions of many 

 of our lepidopterists and others have been given to the gain of us all. We 

 each had our opinions before the reading of these articles, but now are 

 able intelligently to give a reason for our opinions. And probably the 

 majority have been convinced that the creation of genera upon minute 

 differences is not only unnatural, but ill-advised and unnecessary. 



