126 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 244 



Another observation concerning 0. kirbyi that should be mentioned 

 involves the apparent circular transition in general appearance of the 

 three species 0. abbotii, 0. kirbyi, and 0. townsendi. In the south- 

 western United States, specimens of 0. abbotii and 0. tovmsendi are 

 abundantly distinct, and the two species apparently are allopatric. 

 However, as pointed out previously, the morphological distinction 

 between 0. abbotii and 0. kirbyi in the West Indies is vague, and 

 there appears to be a transition of one into the other. Through the 

 Lesser Antilles, South America, and a major portion of Central 

 America the typically large and dark form of 0. kirbyi predominates. 

 In Mexico a similar phenomenon occurs as witnessed in the Greater 

 Antilles: the dark phase of 0. kirbyi extends along the eastern coast 

 as far north as the state of Veracruz, becomes lighter in the higher 

 altitudes, and merges in appearance with 0. tovmsendi mexicanus, 

 which in turn changes to an even paler form northward, represented 

 in the United States by 0. t. townsendi. 



The possibility that Oiketicus kirbyi is a single polytypic species 

 encompassing both 0. abbotii and 0. tovmsendi may be suggested by 

 the above information, but such a conclusion does not seem reasonable 

 because the larval cases are apparently diagnostic for each species. 



Material examined. — 180 cf cf , 8 9 9, 35 cases: 



CENTRAL AMERICA 



Costa Rica: Specific locality unknown, cf, Nov. 25, ZSBS. Guapiles, cf, 

 Nov., USNM. La Emilia, cT, Nov. 16, ANS. Palmar, 2 d" d", March II, 12; 

 5 d^cf, 2 99, USNM; cT, May 23, FSPB. 



Honduras: La Cambre, cf, March 20-22, BM. 



Mexico: Colima, 2 cf c?', USNM; cf, May, BM. Cuernavaca, cf, May, BM; 

 4 d^cf, May 11-14, DEI; 2 d^cf, May; d', June; d', July, USNM; d", May, 

 SNG; 2 d'd^, May, ZSBS. Guadalajara, Jalisco, 2 d' d'. May 10, 24, AMNH; 

 3 d" d', June 4-20; 2 d'd', 9, case, May 24, USNM; &, 1500 m., PM. Jacala, 

 Hidalgo, d', June 21, MCZ. Mexico City, &, USNM. Misantla, Veracruz, 

 2 d'd', PM; 3 d'd', USNM. Orizaba, d^ (type, 0. orizaba), USNM. Villa 

 Juarez, Pueblo, d^. May, ZSBS. Zacualpan, d^, May, DEI. 



Panama: Almirante, d", June 5; 9, 12 cases, USNM. Canal Zone, 2 d^ d", 

 July, CM. La Chorrera, d^, April, USNM. 



WEST indies 



Antigua: 11 cases, USNM. 



Cuba: 2 d'd^, ANS; d', PM; 6", ZMHU. 



Jamaica: Kingston, d', Aug. 27, USNM. Montego Bay, d", Dec. 24, BM. 

 Mt. Mansfield House, Gordontown, d", July 12, CM. Runaway, d", Feb. 24, 

 BM. Sandy Gully, St. Katherine, d', March 27, AMNH. 



Puerto Rico: 2 cases, ZMHU. Mayaguez, d". May 14, USNM. 



Santa Lucia: d^, BM. 



Tobago: 2 d'c^, BM. 



Trinidad: d', USNM. 



