64 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 



On p. 459, Chionobas Stretchii, Edw., is excluded from consideration, 

 on the ground that it is the same thing as Hipparchia Ridingsii, " of the 

 same author." As the fact that Stretchii was not a Chionobas has been 

 known for many years, and published in my catalogues, it was not neces- 

 sary to refer to it in the Revision. But I will take this opportunity to 

 say that the types, a single pair, have disappeared. They were returned 

 by me to Dr. Behr, after description, 1870. I did not consider them' 

 Ridingsii then, of course. Now, on comparing the description with that 

 species, I am sure it is not Ridingsii. Nor is it Dionysius, the other of 

 the known American species of Neominois. Mr. Bruce has suggested 

 that it may be a third species of the genus, inhabiting Nevada (whence 

 the types came) and the deserts of N. E. California, a region thus far 

 wholly unexplored by naturalists. Mr. W. G. Wright goes there with a 

 party of botanists and ornithologists the coming summer, and I trust he 

 will re-discover Stretchii. 



The value of publications of the class of the Revision under view 

 depends much on whether or no the author is thoroughly acquainted with 

 his subject, and such acquaintance implies considerable experience as a 

 lepidopterist, and study of the forms he undertakes to speak of He 

 should have an eye for specific differences, and while this comes in part 

 by training, it is largely a natural gift. Some lively workers go all their 

 days without having this originally or attaining it. He should have made 

 himself acquainted with the preparatory stages of as many of the species 

 treated of as possible, for there never will be a final, authoritative revision of 

 any genus of butterflies whatever till these stages in every species of it are 

 known. Species areas clearly distinguished by the form and sculpture of their 

 eggs, by the forms and appendages of the caterpillars, and by the peculi- 

 arities of the pupae, as by the facies of the imago. No man can speak 

 with authority who relies simply on the facies of the imago. This feature 

 has been the occasion of the endless and irreconcilable differences that 

 prevail in nearly all genera up to this day. To proceed further in the 

 same direction is plainly a waste of time. It is a case of the blind lead- 

 ing the blind to undertake to bring order out of the confessed confusion 

 by appealing to facies. Add to the qualifications I have enumerated an 

 acquaintance with the behaviour, habits of flight, and localities of the 

 species, either from personal observation or reliable reports of thoroughly 

 good observers. When an author has this equipment he may with good 

 reason undertake to revise genera, and his decision will be respected. 



