136 



In Canadian Entomologist, Vol. 7, p. 189 et seq , 1875, I 

 showed that the essential facts, namely, as to the eggs, in the 

 foregoing relation were misconceived, the conclusions reached 

 were unwarranted, and the history of these species could not 

 differ from that of any other two-brooded species. Subse- 

 quently, in Can. Ent., in 1876, 1877, I continued the history and 

 gave the facts which were at variance with Mr. Scudder's theory 

 in several points, and I thought that ended the matter. I should 

 not again have referred to this Curious History, had not Mr. 

 Scudder in his recent work, " Butterflies," 1881, reprinted almost 

 word for word his original statement, with no direct reference to 

 the counter statements I had made, and unsupported by any 

 further observation of his own or of any one. He has struck 

 out the assertion that " the eggs are wholly undeveloped at the 

 birth of the female;" but says, page 145, in speaking of the 

 unhappy individuals of September, before mentioned : " It is, 

 however, possible that some of them may lay eggs, which hatch- 

 ing, produce larvae which at once hibernate, and the following 

 year become members of the aestival series. It appears more 

 probable, however, that it is a vain effort of nature to develop a 

 second brood, which in a more southern climate, with a longer 

 season, would prove successful." And adds in a foot note, 

 " Since this was written, some facts have come under my own 

 and others' observations, leading to the belief * * * * that 

 the butterflies of this brood " (/. c, the last one in September, 

 not any other of the series) "lay eggs at once." 



Inasmuch as I had shown clearly that the females of several 

 broods of Myrina were found on dissection to be filled with 

 developed eggs when they emerged from chrysalis, and that in 

 one instance, in midsummer, scores of eggs were laid by a female 

 just out of chrysalis, it is something surpiising that only 

 "some facts since this was written," /. r. just before 1881, we 

 may suppose, "'lead to the belief that the females of the last 

 brood and that only, viay perhaps, lay eggs soon after they emerge 

 from chrysalis, though the author doubts if they do. 



It will be noticed that the structure built up so ingeniously 

 by Mr. Scudder is based upon this assumption : — " that the eggs 

 are wholly undeveloped at the birth of the female ;" " not fully 

 developed for weeks or even months ;" in consequence of which 

 one of the two broods, described as festival and vernal, cannot 

 unite with the other, though both broods may overlap and h^ flying 

 at the same time. Here are femal s of the vernal brood emerging 

 from ehrysalis while those of the a;stival are ovipositing, as express- 

 ly stated ; the eggs of the aestival having ripened after the hit- 

 terfly has been eight or ten iveeks out of ehrysalis. The 



