230 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 112 



The pronounced geographic variation in color pattern obtaining 

 in Cherokia imposes a higher premium on knowledge of the living 

 colors in this genus than in most other. Much of the material of C. 

 georgiana latassa — with which I have had little field experience — was 

 sent to me by Leslie Hubricht soon after collection, with the colors 

 still fresh. Of C. g. georgiana and C. g. ducilla, which intergrade exten- 

 sively, I have been most fortunate in being able to collect living 

 specimens at more than 30 localities, chiefly through two summers 

 of residence at the Highlands Biological Station. This first-hand 

 knowledge of subtle color details has facilitated numerous inferences 

 about microevolution which could never be made from faded speci- 

 mens. Most of the work with color characters was done during the 

 summer of 1958 through the aid of a National Science Foundation 

 grant administered by the Highlands Station. Special thanks are 

 due its director, Professor Thelma Howell, for her continued interest 

 and material aid during the past decade of my summer investigations 

 at Highlands. 



For the loan of material, I am indebted to Dr. Ralph E. Crabill, 

 Jr. (USNM), Dr. Willis J. Gertsch (AMNH), and Drs. Henry S. 

 Dybas and Rupert L. Wenzel (CNHM). Those who have generously 

 donated specimens are named in the lists of material examined, 

 but special mention must be made of the outstanding contribution 

 of Leslie Hubricht, whose superb collections form the basis of this 

 revision. 



TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS 



The most casual inspection of Cherokia specimens from different 

 parts of the generic range reveals a remarkable amount of geographic 

 variation in bod} 7 form, shape of the paranota, color pattern, and de- 

 tails of the gonopods. In addition, there is considerable individual 

 or sporadic local variation in tergal sculpture, convexity of the dorsum, 

 shape of the caudalmost paranota, and size of the coxal and prefemoral 

 spines, but these low order variations may for the present be subordina- 

 ted in favor of those which are correlated to some extent with dis- 

 tribution. Although clear cut and easily defined, such characters are 

 by no means easy to analyze. As will become apparent, only infre- 

 quently do we find that two or more characters coincide, a fact which 

 renders their utility in the recognition of taxonomic groups somewhat 

 subjective. 



Body form: Perhaps the most striking variation observed in 

 Cherokia is in body form — e.g., the ratio of greatest width to length. 

 Specimens from the Great Smokies are so different from lowland ani- 

 mals in this respect that without knowledge of the intermediates which 

 occur, one would naturally assume full specific distinction. The 

 narrow graceful body of a specimen from the Smokies is in strong con- 



