THE HESPERIOIDEA OF AMERICA 

 NORTH OF MEXICO 



Since the time of the early writers who were satisfied to place 

 their skippers in the two genera, Pampkila and Hesperia, the 

 classification of these insects has been in a more or less chaotic 

 state. The two old genera can readily be subdivided, but the 

 structures of the skippers which are useful in their classification 

 are of a peculiarly unstable character and have therefore proven 

 a stumbling block to those who have attempted such subdivision. 

 This is due to the fact that very few of our species are struo- 

 turally identical, as a result of which one division has led to 

 another until we have reached the deplorable state where, to be 

 consistent, we must either lump extensively or split still more 

 finely, with most lepidopterists in favor of the former. In the 

 following pages I have attempted to rearrange our species and 

 reorganize our genera to eliminate the confusion which has at- 

 tended the group in North America, while bearing in mind both 

 the convenience of the classification and the opinions of the 

 learned authors of many genera for which I have been unable to 

 see any necessity. Undoubtedly I have erred in some points, 

 especially in the case of the numerous species found in the south- 

 west which belong to genera more typical of the Central Ameri- 

 can fauna, but I believe that the examination of a more complete 

 collection of exotic species will clear up many obscure points for 

 which I have been able to offer only a tentative solution. 



In the course of my work I have had occasion to ask informa- 

 tion of Prof. H. F. Wickham, Dr. J. McDunnough, and Dr. 

 Henry Skinner. Dr. Skinner has also supplied me with a num- 

 ber of specimens which I could not otherwise obtain, and Prof. 

 Wickham has lent a number of books from his private library. 

 Dr. Barnes of Decatur, 111., has very generously allowed me the 

 freedom of his fine collection and library, and also supplied me 

 with many specimens for study. Mr. R. A. Leussler of Omaha 



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