124 Journal New York EntojMOLogical Society. [Voi. xv 



The Evidence Presented. 



Point I. — In ^1 I (1. 7) Dr. Skinner writes : " I have never been 

 able to make out two species, one for each of the above names." The 

 argument is reinforced by repetition in ^[3 (1. i). "If there are 

 two species of Tliecla found here (Philadelphia) that might be desig- 

 nated as irus and henrici, I have failed to discover the fact." 



Both of these statements are obviously true but can hardly be 

 raised to the dignity of evidence. 



Poi7it 2. — In ^ I (1. 18) we read: "It would seem logical to 

 think that henrici was believed to be a new species because it differed 

 from the figure of irus given by Boisduval and Leconte. I do not 

 believe that the authors knew any T. irus in nature." 



I would point out that a belief is not evidence and that this 

 "logical" inference is based upon a debatable major premise. But 

 the whole question should be dismissed as irrelevant and beside the 

 point. Inasmuch as Grote and Robinson have left us the type speci- 

 men, I fail to see how a knowledge of the psychology back of the 

 original description of iienrici can be of any assistance in an attempt 

 to determine the validity of the species based upon that type. 



Point 3. — In ^ 3 (1. 6) there is given a partial list of the opin- 

 ions which have been expressed by various writers on the group, W. 

 H. Edwards, Herman Strecker, S. H. Scudder, and myself. 



I pass by the exclusion of the expressed opinions of J. B. Smith, 

 H. G. Dyar, W. J. Holland, and others "who have probably not 

 investigated " the two names {Jienrici and irus^ and confine myself to 

 the point at issue. From the list given it appears that the division of 

 opinion resulted in placing Scudder and Strecker on one end of the 

 beam and Mr. Edwards and me on the other. Thus was equilibrium 

 maintained until Dr. Skinner threw the weight of his authority into 

 the balance, thereby lifting Mr. Edwards and myself high in the air. 



I would timidly venture the assertion that the relative value of two 

 opinions is not to be gauged by the number and prominence of the 

 men who hold them so much as by the number and importance of the 

 facts upon which they are based. I may point out in this connection 

 that, of the four eminent gentlemen in the pans, Mr. Edwards alone 

 has bred either species ; and that his more humble companion in the 

 recent ascension has bred both species. The weights of opinions vary 

 and it may be that the scales will respond to the specific gravity of the 

 two unequal masses. 



