NORTH AMERICAN LEPIDOPTERA. 91 



with a brownish tinge and is extended without any break to the 

 yellow pre-anal segments." It is found in the valleys of California, 

 chiefly in the neighborhood of the coast range, and may be sought 

 for in May and June. It is especially attracted to the flowers of the 

 species of Lvpinm. Nothing is known of the early stages. 



H. cyiio$;Iossiiin Hy. Edw., Pr. Calif. Ac. Sci. v, 88, Hemaris ; Grt.. Buff. 

 Bull, iii, 220, Hemaris ; Butler, Pap. i, 103. 

 Size of H. thetis. Head above pale yellowi.sh olive ; eyes margined behind 

 with white scales. Paliii pale yellowish, with the terminal joint tijiped with 

 black. Thorax above bright greenish olive, without the brown tint observable 

 in thetis. Basal segments of abdomen rich velvety black. Two pre-aual seg- 

 ments pale yellowish with a darker median shade. The U!ider side of abdomen, 

 including the anal tuft, is wholly black, except the edges of the pre-anal sc- 

 raents which are pale lemon yellow. The thorax is less covei-ed beneath with 

 yellowish hairs than in thetis, and the pale .scales are hardly visible at the base 

 of the wings, while the tufts of yellow hairs on the tibise, so eminently charac- 

 teristic of thetis are here wholly watiting. The wings above and below are similar 

 to the allied species, but are. decidedly more opalescent, giving out a most beau- 

 tiful bluish reflection. Antennae blue-black. The fore wings are a little sharper 

 at the apex than those of thetis. Taken on flowers of C'ynoghssnm grande. 



Hab. — California, Vancouver. 



This species differs from thetis more particularly in the absence of 

 the yellow brush of hind tibire and the absence of colored haii's on 

 the basal segments of the abdomen. 



Mr. Edwards seems to believe that his species rests on rather a 

 shaky foundation, and adds that " The species of the genus Hemaris 

 are very closely allied, and can be separated only by characters 

 which in other genera would hardly be considered as sufficient to 

 indicate a difference of species." 



This, however, seems to me a very distinct form. The pure black 

 legs and basal segments of abdomen contrast strongly with the yel- 

 low, downy legs of thetis and rnbens, which have the basal segments 

 also more densely clothed with either yellowish or reddish hair. 



The early stages of the species are unknown. 



H. nietatlietis Butl., Tr. Zool. Soc. Lond. ix, 519, Hemaris; Pap. i. 103 

 !Maassen, Stett. Eut. Zeit. 1880, xli, 51, = axillaris. 



In the Ann. and Mag. N. H, Lond. ser. 4 vol. xiv, p. 366, ]Mr. 

 Butler describes Sesia Grotei = axillaris stating that it was nearest 

 to a.riUaris G. & R. Afterward, in the Tr. .Zool. Soc. Lond. above 

 cited, he speaks of metathetis : " This species was sent by Belfrage, 

 labelled ' S. axillaris Grote & Robinson,' which has led to my error ; 

 it differs in its smaller size, narrower and not dentated border, with 

 other minor characters." 



