104 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the varietal name. So he will not recognize red specialis as entitled to a 

 varietal name in contradistinction with olive-coloured Wilsonii, and yet a 

 more glaring contrast in appearance can hardly be found. It is generally 

 characteristic of varieties that they intergrade, and of species that they do 

 not. Non-intergrading varieties would seem to be on the road to species. 



AGROTIS SEMICLARATA. 



I believe, eventually, that this form will be found to represent a dis- 

 tinct species from my A. Vancouver ensis. The hind wings beneath are 

 distinctly half-pale Mr. Smith says : " The figure in the Illustrated 

 Essay is very characteristic and recognizable, and renders determination 

 easy. Butler says it is the $ of Vancouver ends, but I have seen both 

 sexes of the form." Well, if Mr. Smith has seen both sexes of senii- 

 clarata, how can it be treated as a mere synonym of A. vanco7tveretisis, 

 Grt. ? One would think that it must be a variety at least. I expect, in- 

 deed, that time will show that vancouverensis (^agilisl)^ se^niclarata, 

 clodiana, all three tiirown together as one in the Revision, will prove to 

 be, as I stated originally, three distinct species. In several cases its 

 author has been obliged to change his decisions. Tin's happens not un- 

 frequently in this world when one has little consideration. 



AGROTI.S DOCILIS. 



I had only a single $ type of this species expanding 48 mil., from 

 Professor Snow, Colorado. This is referred as a variety to perexceliens, 

 Grt., in the Revision, p. 144. Prof. Smith says : " Docilis is based on 

 a large specimen in which lilac predominates. The fine series before me 

 proves its identity with the normal form of perexcellens in which the pale 

 colours are gray and yellowish." I have not the slightest hesitation in 

 accepting this reference as correct. I say in my description : " Large 

 sized, resembling perexcellens (etc.) in the markings. Lilac gray over 

 blackish fuscous," etc.. Bull. Geol. Surv. VI., 259. I never had but the 

 one specimen, and if a specimen of another species of Agrotis bears the 

 label " docilis " it is the result of accident, at the moment unexplainable 

 by me. At the time, and just because I only had the one specimen, 1 

 had my doubts about its distinctness, but the colour was so different that 

 I concluded I had to do with another species. Docilis should thus be 

 referred as a colour variety of Perexcellens. 



