149 



in the least harmonize with many of my entomological friends, who, 

 microscopically, dissect a fundamental form into so many varieties, 

 I still more object to the very recent mania of "lumping" species. 

 Future entomologists will easily know that, for instance, by Cat. 

 Caris sima . Hulst, a certain varietal form of C. Cara is meant. Will it 

 be just as easily taken, that A. placentia, Abb. & Sm., or A. Snowi, Gr. 

 are the same insects as A. Nais7~bt:cause it has been proven that 

 A. Phalerata, PhylHra and Excelsa are aberratic forms, the first one of 

 ■Nais, the latter two of Figurata ? Varieties are the heralds of coming 

 species ; why then retrench the obvious plan of nature instead of 

 submitting to it ? Mr. Hulst has raised various forms, mentioned 

 before, from Excelsa eggs, but not the true Nais form ; why then the 

 conclusion that Nais is the typical insect of these forms ? Still more 

 problematical is the decision that A. Blakei, deterntijiatci, Bolajidcri, 

 stiperba, should be included into the same sj^ecies of A^ais. Will future 

 students take it for granted, by dint of such decisions, that A. Bolan- 

 deri from Oregon and Athabasca (from the latter locality I received it 

 lately through Capt. Geddes), and A. Ph^lira from the Southern 

 States have the same larvae ? As soon as my friend Hulst has raised 

 them from the same brood of caterpillars, I shall say : Probatum est ! 



Collectors of Chicago (Mr. Bolter and Mr. Worthington) and of 

 Canada (Capt. Geddes and others), have found the larvae of A. Deco- 

 rata considerably differing from A. Nais, so has Prof. French, of 

 Carbondale, 111., as my friend Hulst says ; why then does he place it 

 as a v.-r. of Nais ? 



Some studies and examinations which I have been making lately, 

 prompt me to the following opinion : 



A. Saundersii is a good species and distinct from A. Pa7-thenice, 

 Kirby. A. Parthenice is an aberratic form of Virgo, in which the 

 cross and transverse bands of primaries are much broader than in 

 Virgo, the secondaries having very few and small black maculations. In 

 the collection of Mr. Hy. Edwards are some samples bearing out the 

 true specifics of Parthenice. 



A. flainmea, Neum., is a varietal form of A. Placentia, Abb. & Sm. 



A. Placentia and A. figurata have no specific connection. The 

 caterpillars are entirely different, as figured in the Lepidoptera of 

 Georgia, by Abb. & Sm. 



I possess the type of A. Anna, Gr., which is undoubtedly an aberra- 

 tion of A. Persephone. Had my factotum, Mr. Doll, been fortunate 

 enough to carry a number of larvae of A. Persephone through the 

 various moults, it would have been settled to a certainty th.at Anna 

 and Persephone are from the same stem. Unluckily, Mr. Doll did not 

 succeed. 



A complicata, Wlk. is a var. ochracea of A. Achaia. 



A. Edwardsii, Str. will probably prove to be a varietal form of A. 

 Achaia, Gr. & R. 



A. Blakei and A. determinata may have specific relation, but cannot 

 be authenticated so far. 



