202 



Besides this, I was able to ascertain the cocoons of both parasites, 

 the inner soft cocoon for the smaller species, and one specimen 

 of a third species not yet mentioned. It will be agreed that the 

 set is now tolerably complete, ne¥ertheless there are still gaps 

 enough for further investigation, before all the interesting facts 

 concerning these species, can be considered as finally settled. 



After the original paper by Messrs. Smith and Packard, published 

 ten years ago in the Proc. of the Boston N. H. S., I am not aware 

 that Columbia is spoken of, except in a notice by Mr. W. Couper, 

 of Montreal, and a detailed paper by Mr. G. J. Bowles, of Quebec, 

 with a figure of the female, all in the Volumes I and III, of the 

 Canadian Entomologist, and a notice by Mr. Chas. V. Riley, in his 

 fourth Report. 



Concerning first the imago, the question of the validity of Colum- 

 Ma as a distinct species, is answered in the affirmative by all the 

 authors except Mr. Riley, who states it to belong to Cecropia 

 (1. c, p. Ill) in the words, " Cryptus Samiae and Cr. Smithii infest 

 the form that has been described as Samia Columbia." 



The question whether Columbia is a species or not, a question 

 which I believe is not to be considered as settled, until an exhaustive 

 knowledge of all stages by successive breeding is made, has occu- 

 pied me during the present year at several times. If Columbia 

 should happen not to be a distinct species, it must be either a variety 

 of some other species, or a hybrid of two species. 



With regard to the first hypothesis (adopted by Mr. Riley, if I 

 understand aright his expression "form" as equivalent to "variety") 

 I can only state that in the very large number of specimens of Ce- 

 cropia, either bred by myself, or present in our and other collections, 

 a number exceeding two hundred specimens, I never saw a variety 

 agreeing Avitli Columbia. One small and very dark colored male, 

 also presented by Mr. Smith, from the same locality, I considered 

 first to be an intermediate form, but on comparing carefully the 

 details, I find it to be Cecropia, although a someAvhat remarkable 

 variety. The conclusion I would draw from my materials is, that 

 Columbia cannot, at least until the contrary is proved by evidence, 

 be considered as a variety or form of Cecropia. With regard to 

 the second eventuality, a hybrid form, of course it is as yet merely 

 a conjecture. Still, as I feel myself bound to frankly express my 



