228 



rates and on variations along our coasts, etc., even though he does no 

 make it entirely clear Avhy he should prefer to give the impression 

 that my work was first published in the Aquarium of January, 1894.« 



While questions of priority are not of the first importance, one 

 does not like to have the imputation made that what he puts forth as 

 an original contribution merely confirms the work of a previous writer, 

 when nothing could be farther from the truth. Neglecting my earlier 

 paper published in 1891, still the facts recorded in »The Reproduc- 

 tion of the Lobster« to Avhich reference ismade(Zool. Anz. No. 454. 

 Aug. 13th. 1894) do not confirm Mr. Garman's »observations on 

 times, rates , and on variations along our coasts , etc.« in one very im- 

 portant particular, the time of spawning. While the majority offe- 

 male lobsters capable of spawning, lay eggs in the months of July and 

 August on the New England Coast, possibly as many as 2 — 25^ 

 extrude eggs at other times, in the fall, winter or spring. This varia- 

 tion is perfectly normal and leads to a corresponding variation in the 

 time of hatching. It is moreover independent of change of place and 

 season. During a period of seven consecutive months five traps were 

 kept set in the harbor of Woods' Holl, Mass., Dec. 1st, to June 3üth, 

 and were visited daily. Altogether 108 egg lobsters were taken, and 

 44 or 25,6^ of the number, bore external eggs which had been laid 

 in the fall or winter. A corresponding variation was observed on the 

 coast of Maine. 



1 regret that I should have had access only to The Aquarium, 

 where Mr. Garman's report appears, since there is no statement 

 whatever in that periodical to show , either from what source it had 

 been reprinted, or that it had been previously published at all. Had 

 I known of its earlier pviblication , I would have gladly acknow- 

 ledged it. 



Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, March 6th, 1895, 



3. On the Phytogeny of the Lepidoptera. 



By A. S. Packard. 



eingeg. 26. März 1895. 



The taxonomic importanceof Walter's^ interesting discovery that 

 Eriocephala calthella has maxillae constructed on the type of those 

 of biting or mandibulate insects, i. e. with an inner (galea) and outer 

 lobe (lacinia), besides the palpi, was apparently overlooked by him as 

 well as by others, though its bearings on the phylogeny of the Lepido- 

 ptera insisted on by Walter are, it seems to us of the highest inter- 



1 Beiträge zur Morphologie der Schmetterlinge. 1885. 



