Section IV., 1903 [ 207 ] Tbans. R. S. C. 



XTV. — Descriptions of some New Species and Varieties of Canadian 



Butterflies. 



By James Fletcher, LL.D., F.L.S. 



(Read May 19, 1903.) 



I submit herewith descriptions of 3 species and 3 varieties of 

 Canadian diurnal lepidoptera, specimens of which have been in my 

 collection for many years, and of which a continued study convinces 

 me that it is wise to characterize them for the benefit of other students 

 of Canadian butterflies. It is possible that some of these may be only 

 local races, but they are so constant that I believe them to be well 

 worthy of recognition. In describing these forms, I have endeavoured 

 to compare them with their nearest allies, as a description, even when 

 accompanied by a plate, is far more intelligible when a new form can 

 be compared with a well known standard. My thanks are due to Dr. 

 Henry Skinner, of Philadelphia, who very kindly undertook the ar- 

 rangement and preparation of the specimens illustrated on the plate 

 given herewith, and also from his own cabinet provided some specimens 

 which were better for illustration than the actual types used in the 

 descriptions. I have also to express my gratitude to the American 

 Museum of Natural History for a beautiful painting of Thecla heathii 

 which was specially made for the purpose and used for the accom- 

 panying illustration, on account of two of the wings in the type speci- 

 men being imperfect. It is well here to mention that this painting is, 

 in my opinion, almost as perfect as a drawing can be and represents 

 exactly the appearance of the type in every mark and spot as well as in 

 colour and shape. Mr. Wm. Beutenmuller very kindly undertook per- 

 sonally the supervision of this painting. 



The names used in this paper are those in the recognized check 

 lists of diurnal lepidoptera now used by American entomologists, viz. : 

 the "List of Lepidoptera of Boreal Amorioa," by Dr. J. B. Smith, 1891, 

 and " A Synonymic Catalogue of the North American Rhopalocera," 

 by Dr. Henry Skinner, 1898. Up to the present time the names given 

 by Dr. S. H. Scudder in his magnifi'cent work " The Butterflies of the 

 Eastern United States and Canada," have not been adopted by col- 

 lectors in labelling their collections. These names, however, are, I be- 

 lieve, for the most part well founded, and it is merely a matter of time 

 before they will be generally accepted. 



