224 S. FRANK AARON. 



It will be seen from the above that the localities^ have nothing to do 

 with the establishment of varieties, and even the forms here given, 

 founded only on relative size, are of little or no value, simply because 

 the gradation throughout is equal and absolutely intact. Violaceum 

 (= asperum) is the medium and representative form. Other slight va- 

 riations are noticeable, which take place entirely irrespective of size or 

 locality, these are the posterior margin of postscutellum being uneven, or 

 rather broken, larger or smaller abdominal punctures, a polished space 

 down the middle of first and second segments, sinuated or angulated 

 margin of third segment, etc. The color also varies in all the forms 

 from emerald-green with brassy reflections to deep blue and purple and 

 very little green. The North-eastern specimens are all dark blue with 

 purple and green, with one exception from Canada (Provancher's collec- 

 tion), which is dark green with a little blue. In the Southern and 

 Western specimens those with dark green and little blue predominate 

 with the blue specimens from every locality. The student will at first 

 readily separate Wiltii from the other forms in his collection, and he will 

 not be able to comprehend its proper relation to them without a large 

 series to show the inconstancy of characters, it appears so remarkably 

 difi'erent. There was, seemingly, good reason for Mr. Cresson to de- 

 scribe Wiltii as distinct from viof.nceiim, its then only described ally, as 

 it is twice the size apparently. On the other hand there is no difference 

 between the type of Wiltii and the type of Lotcisianiae, except the latter 

 being i-i mm. shorter and of a dark green and blue instead of blue and 

 purple and green. The character in Mr. Norton's key as separating 

 these two as species is not a correct one. Wiltii should come under the 

 same heading as Louisianiae, viz. : " postscutellum connecting abruptly 

 with the short dividing ridge of the metathorax." 



Provancher's violaceum is Holopyga ventrnlis Say. 



Hedychrum continunin n. sp. — One specimen emerald-green with 

 bras.sy reflections arid no blue, one specimen with the thorax green and blue, the 

 abdomen blue and purple, three specimens darker green with brassy reflections 

 and more or less blue, and another almost entirely dull purple, a little blue on 

 the abdomen, closely punctured on the thorax : abdomen with the larger punc- 

 tures rather separated, with smaller punctures between, appearing roughened in 

 some specimens; posterior portion of the metanotum below the postscutellum 

 evenly and finely punctured, no median dividing ridge, the postscutellum slightly 

 overhangs the metanotum. In the emerald-green specimen the narrow, smoothed 

 margin of the postscutellum continues around its apex, dividing it from the punc- 

 tured metanotum; lateral margins of the third abdominal segment straight; apex 

 with a broad, shallow sinus in some specimens; 3-4 mm. long. % 9 • 



Nevada, California, Washington Territory ; six specimens. 



