37 



and collar very deep brown; but the greatest peculiarity is in the an- 

 terior and posterior lines which are not separate, but united on the edge 

 of the costa, and again before reaching the inner margin, or on the 

 sub-median nerve. The generally prominent teeth are entirely want- 

 ing, and the indentations are scarcely noticeable. The united lines are 

 heavy and irregular, and remind one of the outline of an island on a 

 map. By a sudden sweep of the transverse posterior portion of the 

 line — for they are but one — between the reniform and sub-reniform 

 and around the lower edge of the latter, that part is left entirely out of 

 the inclosure. The insect is fully developed and perfect in every par- 

 ticular. 



I think it was also a mistake to degrade two such beautiful species as 

 Whitncyi, Dodge, and Abbreviatella, Grote, by classing them as varie- 

 ties of Niiptialis, Walk. The two former may yet prove to be identi- 

 cal with each other. Of this, however, I am doubtful, but they cer- 

 tainly have no specific affinity with Nuptialis; the size, form and color 

 are in no way alike. Abbreviatclla ■a.wA M'hitneyi ^x^ certainly very 

 closely allied to each other, and yet in some particulars they are quite 

 different. Take, for instance, the marginal band of secondaries. In 

 the eleven examples of Abbreviate/la in my collection, in ten of them 

 the band is interrupted before reaching the anal angle, forming here a 

 round or oval spot; the eleventh one is almost interrupted. In the 

 thirteen examples of Whitney i I have, not one of them is interrupted; 

 but instead of going into further detail on the relative merits of these 

 two beautiful species I will take the liberty of quoting Mr. G. M. 

 Dodge's opinion from a letter lately received. He says, " I see there 

 is a disposition on the part of some to regard Abbreviatella and Whit- 

 neyi as varieties of Nuptialis. I have collected large numbers of the 

 two former, and judge, from my observations, that they are distinct. 

 In Bureau County, 111., I found only Whitneyi. Here all are found, 

 but Whitneyi is far the most abundant, and Nuptialis rare. Abbrevia- 

 tella appears a little earlier than Whitneyi, and the latter can be found 

 in good condition long after the others have disappeared. If the three 

 were identical there ought to be some intergrades, but I have never 

 met with any that were not distinctly one form or the other." In 

 Texas Nuptialis is common, and Whitneyi unknown. I think the late 

 Mr. J. Boll informed me that he had never taken either Whitneyi or 

 Abbreviatella. 



