Sept., 1907.] Cook: In Defense of Incisalia henrici 123 



specialized habits as Deinocerites, is incomprehensible. Moreover a 

 mosquito which has similarly elongated antennal segments but belong- 

 ing to a distinct group, the Sabethinte, and described in the preceding 

 article, has recently come to light. Furthermore Culex iatisqtiamma 

 Coq. has a distinctly elongated second segment of the antennae. As 

 all three of these species live in crab-holes it becomes obvious that the 

 lengthening of the antennal segments is not a ''primitive " character 

 but is correlated in some way to the mode of life of these mosquitoes. 

 The attitude of alertness which these mosquitoes must maintain to 

 avoid destruction by the excursions of their crustacean host may pos- 

 sibly account for the presence of this extra length of sensory surface. 

 Finally a fact bearing on Miss Mitchell's new classification of the 

 Culicidte bv antennal characters. Unfortunately for her generaliza- 

 tions, in the subfamily Sabethinse (Trichoprosoponinas, Miss Mitchell) 

 the gexiGxa. Joblotia (^Trichoprosopon^, Lesticocampa and Sabethes have 

 densely plumose antennre in the male. 



Class I, HEXAPODA. 



Order V, LEPIDOPTERA. 



IN DEFENSE OF INCISALIA HENRICI. 



By Prof. John H. Cook, 

 Albany, N. Y. 



In the Entomological News for April (1907) Dr. Henry Skinner 

 has published an article entitled " Studies of Thecla irtts Godart and 

 T. Henrici Grote and Robi)ison'' in which he contends that "these 

 two names represent one variable species. ' ' Having made an elaborate 

 investigation of these butterflies, and having published * conclusions 

 to which Dr. Skinner has taken exception, I feel called upon to make 

 definite and detailed reply to the article in question. 



The concluding sentence reads : * ' From the evidence befoi-e me I 

 am convinced that Thecla irus and hetirici ^xt. one species." Let us 

 first inquire into the "evidence " presented in support of this con- 

 tention. 



* Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XXXVII, No. 6 (June, 1905), p 216. 



