ARGYNNIS XIII, 



In 1864, Proc. Eiit. Soc. Pliila., I translated Dr. Behr's deseriiition, applying 

 the name Zcrene, Bois., to the species No. 9. 



In 1869, Dr. Boisduval jiublished his second paper on Californian Lepidoptera, 

 utterly ignoring all that had been done by lepidopterists since 1852, and named as 

 new thirty-five species of butterflies, the greater part of which have been described 

 in Proceedings of scientific societies years ago. In the other orders Dr. Boisdu- 

 val has jiroceeded with like indifference. 



In the last paper he intimates that his former diagnosis of Zercne includes 

 two species, and he ai^plies that name to Ilonticola Behr, giving to the other, that 

 of Hi/daspe. Nevertheless according to the recognized rule in such cases, the 

 names Monticola and Zerene will remain as Dr. Behr determined them. 



In both these j)apers the very general descriptions given often apply to two 

 or more sj^ecies, and some of them will continue to be a puzzle to students who have 

 no access to the types in Dr. Boisduval's collection. In many other cases it is im- 

 possible to tell what the descriptions are intended to represent, as in Anthocaris lan- 

 ceolata, 0. AmpJtidusa, P. Lcucodice, Mel. PuJcheUa, 31. Cocyta, &c. There is also 

 a constant tendency to discern European forms under what are called "local mod- 

 ifications," as in cases of A. Ausonoides, C. Euryiheme, Thecla dumeiorum, Cocn. 

 Californica and Galactinus, Thanaos Cervantes, Hesperias Comma and Sylvanus, 

 which is calculated to perplex and mislead. With profound respect for Dr. Bois- 

 duval, every lepidopterist in this country has cause to regret the confusion thus 

 introduced into our fauna. 



