Heterogynis canalensis, n. sp. 77 



often found several cocoons together in places under stones, 

 sometimes half-a-dozen or more, usually all but one or 

 two, rarely more, being old ones, looking indeed much like 

 the new ones, excejDt that the fine silky lustre of the fresh 

 cocoon was wanting. 



These habits seemed to render it practically impossible 

 that birds, lizards, or such enemies should attack the 

 species with any appreciable success, yet it is certain that 

 Dipterous parasites and some Hymenoptera made great 

 havoc amongst them, and of the old cocoons found under 

 stones a very large proportion (two-thirds or three-fourths) 

 contained the remains of a larva or pupa that had died 

 apparently from such attacks. It was common in my 

 boxes for one larva to spin over the cocoon of another in 

 a way that was fatal, but I never found an unmistakable 

 instance of this in the open. 



In considering whether this species is or is not truly 

 distinct from H. penella, several reflections occur. Chiefly 

 it seems tolerably certain that a male of IT. penella could 

 not normally pair with one of H. canalensis, and it is 

 doubtful whether a male of canalensis would successfully 

 approach one of H. penella. This, in addition to the 

 pomts I have already referred to, leads me to consider 

 them distinct. 



Of course the question of whether they are distinct 

 species or not does not affect the interest attaching to the 

 remarkable differences in habit. Whether in their diver- 

 gence the two forms have or have not passed the point at 

 which sub-species become species is no doubt a question 

 of fact, they either have or they have not, but as the 

 materials for definitely settling the point are wanting, we 

 can only form an opinion from the available facts. 



The species was plentiful enough at Canales, and though 

 we did not see it, it probably occurs in various other places 

 in this mass of Sierras, but it must be well segregated 

 from other colonies of the genus as the Sierra is well 

 surrounded by wide areas quite unsuitable to any 

 Heterogynis. 



For Explanation of Plates see next page. 



