50 



rated from the gnats by such a wide divergence, that they are correctly 

 ranked as a distinct tribe or sub-order. The inequalities in the lowest 

 groups, varieties, can be regarded in a precisely similar manner. If 

 the larva of a species has become split up into two local forms, but not 

 the imago, each of the two larval forms possesses only the rank of a 

 variety, while the imaginal form has the value of a species." 



Therefore, the mere fact of finding the larvae of two varietal forms 

 different does not proclaim these two forms distinct, for it is the char- 

 acters of the imago that are of specific importance, and we have seen 

 that the larvae of the same species may vary. 



Thus, " Colias Hagcnii,'" Mr. Edwards' latest synonymical achieve- 

 ment, is no more entitled to a specific name than is C. Ariadne, for 

 Hagenii do&s not differ in any specific characters in the imago, and the 

 larval characters indicate only a variety, if they even indicate that. 

 The red within the band, not over it, is valueless specifically. The 

 discovery of Hagcnii, however, may do one thing, it may unite P/iil- 

 odicc with Eurytheme. 



In Mr. Edwards' "Comments on a paper entitled 'The Genus 

 Colias," " his arguments regarding the species Chrysotheme and Eu- 

 rytheme are perhaps well taken, but not at all conclusive. If after 

 "the diffusion of the same species over two continents," and their 

 permanent establishment in certain southern localities in those two 

 continents, both forms remain true to their original type or ancient 

 progenitor, they could not correctly be separated as different species 

 by the separation in their habitats alone. Our American Wolf, which 

 some eminent naturalists now consider identical with the European 

 species, offers a somewhat parallel case. It is subject to variation in 

 this country, and has been divided into several species, but these are 

 now known to be one, and as long as no constant characters separate 

 it from the Old World Wolf, they are all classed as one and the same 

 species. 



Modification has not taken place in these Coliads, except in the va- 

 rieties o{ Ejiry theme, and I have no doubt that if specimens of Chryso- 

 theme were sent to Mr. Edwards labeled "Western States," he would 

 call them all Keetvaydin. It is preposterous in Mr. Edwards to assume 

 that mere climatic varieties in one form only would proclaim them dis- 

 tinct, for there must be some difference in climate to allow for that, and 

 it is like the case of the Wolf, in which the European species is sub- 

 ject to less variation than the American. 



Regarding the subject of community of origin, let us look on the 

 same side of the shield with Mr. Edwards, viz., the Darwinian side. 

 "We can understand why a species or group of species may depart in 

 several of its most important characteristics from its allies, and yet 

 safely be classed with them. This may be safely done, and is often 

 done, as long as a sufficient number of characters, let them be ever so 



