— 160 — 



misunderstandings and differences of opinion had arisen from differing ideas of 

 a species. An occasional resemblance of a specimen of one species to that of 

 another, did not identity of the two. Mr. Neumoegen spoke on the 



same subject. He had P. asterius from Cuba and from this locality the female 

 instead of being larger and with less yellow than the <$, resembles that six 

 in all respects. In other words, that sexnal difference in color which is so prom- 

 inent in U.S. specimens does not exist there. This is the form named poh 

 by Drury. In Central America the asleroides form becomes the prevailing one. 

 Mr. Smith, referring to Mr. Edwards' remarks on species, said that the difficulty 

 was, that some persons would not recognize the fact that species are not always a 

 fixed quantity. The process of evolution is still going on, and the so called 

 species that these disputes are about are undergoing change. Some forms never 

 resemble anything but themselves and leave no doubt as to their distinctness. 

 These are so far fixed that they may be called species; but the other forms that 

 are changing, and have so far changed that locally they are constant, are not 

 species, though they deserve a title explaining their relation to the parent stock. 

 No sensible man will dispute the close relationship of asterius, polyxenes, asler- 

 oides, and some others, and it is generally assented that they come from the 

 same stock. They have not yet branched so far as to leave the stem form be- 

 hind, or to sever connection with it. Many others are in the same predicament. 

 Several other examples were instanced. Mr. Hulst favored names to indicate 

 the relationship of forms to each other and did not think the term species 

 should be used for these partly separated forms, lief erring to the species of 

 Papilio allied to machaon he had been inclined to believe Dr. Hagen in the 

 wrong, but carefully studying Mr. W. H. Edwards' reply, and the figures given 

 with it, he became fully convinced that Dr. Hagen was in the main correct. 



Mr. Hulst made some remarks on Plaiysamia potyommata Tepper which show- 

 ed how little the genera in this group were based on actual characters, for the 9 

 is a Plaiysamia, while the $ belongs to the genus CaUosamia. Mr. Neumoegen 

 agrees that the Attaci are badly separated generically. Take the variations of 

 Cynthia in Japan, U. S. and Paraguay and you have entirely different wing form 

 and habitus, so that your species in Paraguay belongs to one genus, while in 

 the U. S. it belongs to another. Incidentally he mentioned that it had been 

 proved by breeding that Attacus splendidus and orizava were identical. 



Mr. Smith then introduced Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of Washington, who read a 

 few notes on TelmalophUus americanus .* Mr. Leng read a few notes on the dis- 

 tribution of Cicindelidce near N. Y. 



Mr. Edwards called attention to the fact that diurnals were occasionally at- 

 tracted to the electric light. He had observed P. troilus, P. atalanta, cardui, 

 huntera, V. antiopa, D. archippus, and L. pseudargiolus. He had been informed 

 by Dr. C. Hart Merriam that a Light-house keeper on Lake Ontario had been 

 greatly annoyed by the large swarms of archippus that flew r against it and ob- 

 scured the light. 



After informal discussion the Society adjourned. During the informal dis- 

 cussion a small lot of named Coleoptera, from So. Cal. donated by Dr. Horn 

 were sold at auction for the benefit of the Society, and brought $9.50. 



Which will appear in a future number. 



