THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 2? 



I am, however, not prepared to follow Dr. C. V. Riley in his sugges- 

 tion that these two forms should be united. 



The December number of the Canadian Entomologist contains 

 another paper by Mr. Edwards announcing a further reduction of species 

 in this genus by the recognition of C. Edwardsii as a variety of C. 

 Alexandra. This reduction will, I venture to think, be followed by 

 others, which will considerably curtail our list of species in this genus, 

 for in view of all these discoveries it becomes impossible to believe that 

 Occidentalis, Chrysomelas, Emilia, Interior, Scudderii, Pelidne, Palceno, 

 Chippewa and Boothii are all distinct species. 



It would of course be rash to try and indicate in what way the reduc- 

 tion is likely to take place, but I am inclined to believe with Dr. Hagen 

 that Emilia will prove to be a variety of Alexandra, and that Chippewa 

 will be united with Palceno. 



There are, of course, several well-marked forms other than those 

 above mentioned which will probably maintain their positions as distinct 

 species, as for instance Meadii, unless it should prove to be a variety of 

 Hecla, as Strecker has suggested ; Christina, which I believe to be 

 thoroughly distinct, but I do not think that the name Astrcea should be 

 retained at all, as I have a ^ supposed to be that form which I obtained 

 from Mr. Gamble Geddes, whose specimens were determined by Mr. 

 Edwards, and which agrees exactly with what I consider the typical 

 orange female of Christina; Nastes, from which Moina seems to be dis- 

 tinct, but may probably prove to be a variety, and Behrii, which is cer- 

 tainly distinct from any other American species. 



Unfortunately some of these species are only found in very remote 

 localities, and it will, I fear, be many a long day before their life histories 

 are worked out, if indeed, of the arctic ones, they ever can be. Let us, 

 however, hope that the enterprising and hardy race which will result from 

 the colonization of our mighty Northwest Territories may produce 

 scientists who will yet push their way into the arctic regions of this con- 

 tinent in their search after knowledge, and succeed in wresting nature's 

 secrets from her. 



