Sept., 19JI.1 Short Notes. 197 



form of bclla from Paterson, N. J., the variety hybrida, and an en- 

 tirely new variety which, following the plan of the previous list, he 

 listed simply as " var. nov." with the locality in which it was taken. 

 In order to insure its merited insertion into the list as a new variety 

 without name he characterized the three varieties for Professor 

 Smith's benefit little thinking the author would deviate from the gen- 

 eral plan of the work and include these diagnoses in it. Somehow or 

 other the " var. nov." slipped in as var. nova, with Neumcegen"s and 

 Dyar's initials following it and, the characterization being added, 

 the name must stand. But who is the author of the variety? There 

 is no rule of zoological nomenclature governing the case but Dr. 

 Stiles, to whom I applied for information kindly tells me that the 

 author of a species as given in a publication is assumed to be cor- 

 rect until proved to be incorrect. The correction is here made, 

 therefore, and the variety credited to Professor Smith. 



The remarkable variety to which the name in question applies 

 deserves a more extended notice than that given in the New Jersey 

 lits. It differs from the normal form in that the pink is entirely 

 replaced by bright yellow, and this is especially striking on the under 

 side where in normal specimens the pink covers the whole surface 

 except for the black markings, the edge of the costa, and the fringes. 

 x\bove, the differences do not appear to be so great, the yellow of 

 the primaries being paler than is usually the case, and the secon- 

 daries appearing more white or cream rather than bright yellow, 

 thus from this side approaching in appearances the variety tenninalis. 



Three specimens of this form were taken on August 7, 1903, on 

 the outskirts of Paterson, N. J- Thousands of the normal moths were 

 present at the time in a small area not over fifty feet broad by one 

 hundred in length. Two hundred specimens were taken in about two 

 hours among which were two of the variety hybrida. Nova in each 

 case was detected as being different from the others while still on 

 the wing and the first specimen taken was thought to be faded: as a 

 matter of fact all three are absolutely fresh. 



The sandy area where these occurred was well covered with the 

 bare stalks of the common rattlebox (Crotalaria sagittalis) on which 

 an occasional larva of bclla was still clinging. Hundreds of others 

 in all stages of growth were crawling out of the open end of the 

 pit (for the place had in 3'ears past been used as a "sand diggings," 



