CHARLES W. HOOKER. 45 



such specimens and comparing them with authentic speci- 

 mens of luteus from Europe I find little difference, and bili- 

 neatus may prove to be a synonym or subspecies of hiteus. 

 However, until a good series of both can be compared the two 

 species should be preserved. 



Distribution. — This species has a wide distribution from 

 Alaska and southern Canada to Patagonia, Argentina, in- 

 cluding the West Indies. In North America it has been 

 taken on the north at Sitka, Alaska ; Lake Winnipeg ; Sud- 

 bury, Ontario ; and Grand Lake, Newfoundland. In the 

 United States it has been taken in nearly every State from 

 Maine, Ohio, Montana and Washington, to Florida, Texas 

 and California. I have also seen specimens from Mexico ; 

 British Honduras ; Porto Rico ; Santo Domingo ; Jamaica ; 

 Bonito Province, Pernambuco, Brazil ; Chili ; Tapis and Chu- 

 but, Patagonia, Argentina. 



Life history and habits. — This species is, next to the long- 

 tailed and purged Ophions, the most common in collec- 

 tions and the one most frequently noted in entomological 

 literature. Yet very little is recorded concerning the life 

 history and habits of the species. Adults have been taken 

 in Massachusetts from April 15 to the last of October, but 

 appear to be most abundant from the middle of May to the 

 first of September. The Cornell experiments with trap- 

 lanterns seem to show that there are two broods, one the 

 last of May and one in August, with only scattering speci- 

 mens during the intervening months. But as much of the 

 museum material is without date of capture I am unable to 

 decide this question. Toward the south adults will probably 

 appear earlier and later, and I have before me specimens 

 from Bonito Province, Brazil, taken January 31, Febuary 

 4 and August 1, and from Santo Domingo, West Indies, in 

 September. The large eyes indicate crepuscular or nocturnal 

 habits, and experiments show that it is one of the most abund- 

 ant forms attracted to light. The females are, as might 

 be expected, more abundant in collections owing to their 

 activity in searching out suitable hosts for their eggs. The 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. , XXXVIII. 



