1863.] 
143 
CATALOGUE OF HOETH AMEEICAN BUTTEEFLIES. 
BY J. WM. WEIDEMEYER. 
The annexed list includes all the specimens of diurnal lepidoptera 
so far described and ascertained as inhabiting the geograpical division 
of North America—extending from the Isthmus of Panama to Green¬ 
land and the Arctic regions. In the matter of references obsolete 
writers have been disregarded, and the best known and most readily 
accessible works only are quoted. Whenever reliable figures could be 
traced, they have been indicated, as afibrding additional facility for 
determining species ; it will be an easy matter to turn from these to 
their accompanying descriptions. Many of the figures in the works 
of authors of good repute—such as Cramer, Drury, Herbst—are clum¬ 
sily drawn and defective in coloring; when cited, I have had occasion 
to allude to some of their shortcomings. Recent discoveries of an 
immense number of new species that closely resemble the typical in¬ 
sects have rendered the concise Latin descriptions of Linne and Pa- 
bricius unreliable, and of little value; they can now only be regarded in 
instances where species afford prominent characteristics. Nor can the 
“habitat” so carelessly given by the older authors be accepted, unless 
corroborated by later authority. Numerous errors have been perpetu¬ 
ated by recent compilers in copying “hard names” from preceding- 
writers, wrong references are given, species confounded, and the 
names of both genera and species misspelt or distorted, by careless 
transcription, or lack of industrious research. It may be well to make 
the precautionary remark that greatly differing sexes, or climatical 
variations of the same insect, have frequently been catalogued as dis¬ 
tinct species. Much scientific investigation will be required before all 
distinctions of sex, variety and species, can be satisfactorily established. 
The system of classification adopted is entirely in accordance with 
that of Doubleday and Westwood, in their “Genera of Diurnal Lepi¬ 
doptera,”—which, although not free from defects, may be accepted 
as the most complete work of its kind. Considerable care has been 
taken to fix on the best authenticated specific names; their synonymus 
will be found alongside, in italics. For the purpose of removing some 
confusion, it has been deemed advantageous to affix a number of short 
notes and explanations at the termination of the various families. 
