30 



In thd Lepidoptera for instance the larva? of Alypia, Psychomorpha and Eudryas are 

 scarcely distinguishable, while the imagoes certainly belong to different families. He 

 thought it required considerable courage often, to carry out consistently the idea of giving 

 value to structure, irrespective of number of species or genera. In the Coleoptera only 

 they have consistently based families on structure, whether there was one species or 

 thousands. 



Under the call of papers, Mr. Smith read from printed proofs a paper on the species 

 of Callimorpha, prepared for the U. S. Nat'l Mus. Proa, illustrated by blackboard 

 sketches. He made nine species of the American forms instead three as heretofore recog- 

 nized, and pointed out the differences between them, making the pattern of maculation 

 the criterion of his species. 



Mr. Graef expressed his dissent from Mr. Smith's views, and showed how in his- 

 opinion the maculation could be so modified as to produce the different forms. 



Prof. Riley commenting on Mr. Smith's paper said that he did not agree with him 

 at all. He thought that there was but a single white species and possibly there may be 

 three rather well marked species, with three moderately well marked larval forms. He 

 said that in variation not only colour changes but sometimes the pattern does also. Es- 

 pecially is this true in forms that have more than a single brood annually. He instanced 

 cases in the Tortricidce, where forms appear, so different in pattern that there seems no 

 . possible connection between them, but bred from the same hatch of eggs. 



Mr. Hulst also expressed his dissent from Mr. Smith's views. He thought that the 

 variability of other species in the Arctii'lce was well established by breeding, and it should 

 be at least considered probable that other species in the same group varied as much. He 

 had taken specimens numerously, and it seemed to him that he had taken forms from the 

 lightest to the darkest under such circumstances as to make it very certain they were one 

 species. 



Mr. Smith replied briefly, admitting the possibility that the white forms may be 

 albino forms of dark species, but again emphasizing the differences inpattern as indicative 

 of specific value.* 



On Wednesday, August 10th, the Club met at 9.20 a.m. 



The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : — 



President — Mr. John B. Smith, Washington, D.O. 

 Vice-President— Prof. J. A. Lintner, Albany, N.Y. 

 Secretary — Prof. A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich. 



Mr. Basset enquired whether anyone could tell him positively how many broods of 

 the currant worm there are annually. 



Prof. Cook said in Michigan there are two ; Dr. Morris said two near Baltimore, Md.; 

 Prof. Riley said probably three in the south, but this is uncertain, as the insect is rarely 

 injurious there and attracts less attention ; he believes there are three from information 

 he has received, but there are only two broods in the north where it is injurious. Prof. 

 Comstock said they have two broods at Ithaca, N.Y. 



Mr. Bassett said that until recently he had believed the same, but last summer a 

 friend brought him every few days eggs and larva? in all stages throughout the season ; he 

 was very much surprised at this and thought it indicated more than two generations. 



Prof. Riley replied that this was true ; they did appear in that way, but that was- 

 caused merely by the difference in the time required for development, some running 

 through their transformations much more rapidly than others. There are, however, only 

 two well marked broods, which overlap each other or leave only a very short interval 

 between them. 



* For further discussion of this subject vide Mr. Lyman's paper in the Cam. Entomologitt for October, 

 1887, page 181, and Mr. Smith'* paper C. E., December, 1887, page 235. 



