Experiments and observations during 1874–5, supplemented by comparison of a large suite of specimens, seemed to invalidate the specific separation of vernalis. Submitting the facts to Mr. W. H. Edwards, he confirmed my opinion, and in the recently issued “Catalogue of the Diurnal Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico,” he has placed “vernalis” as a variety of P. protodice.

In May, of the present year, at Coalburgh, I bred a large number of larvæ from eggs laid by tharos, var. marcia; also several from eggs laid by ajax, var. Walshii; and from eggs laid by Lyc. pseudargiolus; and all of the chrysalids of tharos, and part of those of the other two species, were placed in small tin boxes as they formed, and at different intervals thereafter, 10, 20, 60 minutes up to some hours, and one and two days, were laid in the ice box on top of the ice. The box was supplied with ice once a day.

I have received both sexes of this species from Prof. Feraud, of Orona, Maine. It is a prettier species than A. bella Cham., with the fascia much more distinct. Zeller describes only the ♂. It has the head and palpi dark brown, with a very faint purplish tinge; the antennæ with annulations of dark purple and silvery white ; the body and legs dark purple, the legs annulate with white ; hind wings pale purplish with darker ciliæ ; thorax and fore wings rich deep purple, appearing in some lights to be thickly dusted with brightly scintillating golden scales.

In a paper on the Noctuidæ of North America (6th Ann. Rep. Peabody Acad. Sci.) I have stated that we should rather expect the acquirements of fresh character to be more apparent during the period of growth of the Lepidoptera. I have elsewhere (Bull.Buff. Soc., 1, 130) shown that there is proof in the excessive variation in the larvæ of a genus where the adults of the species are remarkably uniform in color and ornamentation, that the larva submits to independent and wide modification from the circumstances of its environment.

Egg–1/18 in. diameter; light green, translucent, smooth, circular, oblate or depressed. Hatched in nine days from extrusion. Larva–¼ in. long; light green, slender; head large, round, slightly depressed medially ; face pink, with a purplish tinge; extremity of the body dark sea-green, with a large wart or tubercle, pyramidal in form, upon which rests the horn.

The following list will show the order in which Catocalæ were taken during July and August, 1877, at sugar, and the number taken each day of each variety, in this particular locality. Center has proven itself rich in Diurnals, and now especially so in catocalæ. It is singular, after working up the field thoroughly for several years, not a vestige of a catocala has before this year been seen by the writer. In fact their presence was doubted, until this season a caterpillar was seen.