When young the larvæ are of social habits, and huddle closely together, the heads all in the centre, surrounded by a ring of curled up tails, presenting a most curious appearance. When nearly full grown they separate and scatter over the plants, each one shifting for himself. The perfect insect measures about fiveeighths of an inch in length.

The species belonging to the genus Coptocycla are smaller than Physonota, and differ somewhat in some of their habits. The eggs are deposited singly on the leaves, and when the larvæ moult, the cast skins are slipped into the forked part of the tail, whereas the larvæ of Pysonota leave their discarded garments sticking to the leaves.

The golden tortoise beetle, Coptocycla aurichalcea, Fab. is very common on the Morning Glory, and often disfigures and injures it by eating holes in the leaves. They also attack the sweet potato. Prof. Riley states that they are often sufficiently numerous to destroy whole fields of this esculent, and they are especially severe on the plants when freshly transplanted from the hotbed. When freshly emerged from chrysalis the beetles are of a dull orange color, but in a few days this tint changes to bright gold color, when they present a most beautiful appearance as they glisten in the sunshine. The larva resembles the beetle in general shape, being broad and flattened, but on each side there is a row of sixteen barbed spines; it is of a dark brown colour, with a pale shade upon the back. Prof. Riley says that it carries its falcifork directly over its back, and the excrement is arranged in a more or less regular trilobed pattern.

The mottled tortoise beetle, Coptocycla guttata, Oliv., is also common on, and injurious to, the morning glory and sweet potato. It varies considerably in colour, some specimens being very dark-almost black, others are mottled with black and gold, and occasionally examples are found altogether of the latter colour. The larva is green, bluish on the back. Prof. Riley states that it carries its dung in irregular broad masses, often branching out into long shreds and ramifications. Another species, the clubbed tortoise beetle, Coptocycla clavata, Oliv. is found on the true potato. It is given in the Society's list of Canadian beetles, but so far as known to me, has not been found in the Province of Quebec.

The "shell" of this species is thin and semitransparent, with patches of darker color, some of which extend to the margin of the wing-covers. I have seen no description of the larva.

Chelymorpha argus, Licht., is of a dull, yellowish-red colour, ornamented with nineteen small black spots, six on the thorax and thirteen on the wing-covers. It measures about three-quarters of an inch in length. Packard states that "the larva differs from that of Coptocycla aurichalcea, not only in its greater size, but the body is thicker and narrower, the head is freer from the thorax, and the spines are simple, not spinulated. The body is yellow and less protected by the cast skin. When about to transform the larva attaches itself to the leaf by a silken thread, a few segments from the end where the end of the body of the future pupa is situated. It is .45 of an inch long. The pupa is broad and flattened, dark and spotted with yellow, and covered with a whitish powder, causing the yellow portions to appear more prominently; along each side of the abdomen is a row of five spines, and there are four spines on the anterior edge of the prothorax; it is .40 of an inch in length." He further states that he has found it in all its stages on the silk-weed late in July and early in August, and n one instance in Salem it occurred in abundance on the leaves of the raspberry. I have myself found it in all stages on the morning glory at Montreal some years ago, but have not met with it recently.

Tortoise beetles may be destroyed with Paris green, but as they often hide beneath the leaves, they are not so easily killed as the Colorado potato beetle. The plants should be closely watched when set out in spring, as at this time the beetles are comparatively few in number, and could be killed before the eggs are deposited, which would save much future trouble and expense.

prevention is worth a pound of cure."

An ounce of Tortoise beetles appear to be remarkably free from parasites. I have bred numbers of Physonota helianthi, but only raised one parasite, a small dipterous fly.

QUEBEC REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GENUS PLUSIA.

BY THE REV. THOMAS W. FYLES, SOUTH QUEBEC.

Following are the characteristics of the genus Plusia :

Imago, antennæ setaceous, thorax and abdomen crested, fore- wings acute, curved on the hind margin, glossy, and often ornamented with metallic markings. Larva, loops somewhat in walking, having twelve legs only; attenuated anteriorly; feeds exposed on low plants.

Pupa, inclosed in a slight cocoon.

Insects belonging to the genus Plusia may be readily distinguished by the conspicuous crest which they bear on the shoulders, the tufted abdomen, and the billhook shaped curve of the inner margin of the fore-wings. These are more or less striking in them all. Some of the species are very abundant, individuals of them may be seen in our gardens, even in the hot sunshine, hovering over the blossoms or passing from plant to plant with easy rapid motions.

The largest, and I think the most beautiful of our Quebec species is P. balluca (Gey.) Fig. 23, which is one and three-fourths inches in expanse of wings. The splendid bronze-green of its wings, shining with the richest gloss of satin, will make it known to the veriest tyrolin Entomology.

FIG. 23.

P. Putnami (Grote) may also be readily distinguished by its burnt-sienna coloured fore-wings with their golden apical streak, and their two central golden spots, sometimes united.

P. thyatiroides (Guen.) is very rare in the Province of Quebec. To those who are fortunate enough to meet with it, it may at once be known by the patches at the base and inner angles of its fore-wings, which are of a delicate pink, resembling in colour those on the wings of the English "peach blossom moth" (Thyatira batis). It is to these that the insect owes its name. The only specimen I have was taken at Cowansville in the Eastern Townships.

P. mortuorum (Guen.) also may be readily known. Its fore-wings are dark brown approaching to black. They are embellished with silvery lines and washes near the hind margin. Extending from the base to the centre of the wing are conspicuous plume-like silvery-white markings. This is one of the smallest species in the genus, expanding about one inch and a quarter.

The fore-wings of P. ampla (Walk.) are ash-brown with a rosy tinge. Extending from the inner margin to the middle of the wing is a well-defined dark-brown velvety patch, the inner side of which has a deep curve and is finely outlined with gold colour.

In P. viridisignata (Grote) the fore-wings are dark rosy-grey with numerous brown zig-zag lines. In the centre of the wing is an obscure bronzy-green figure, resembling a 3 or an 8 laid on its back.

One of the finest insects in the genus is P. bimaculata (Steph.). In expanse of wings it measures an inch and three-eighths. Its fore-wings are rich rosy-brown variegated with dark markings and with a patch of chestnut red in the centre. In this patch are two golden spots, the upper somewhat resembling the letter v. I have noticed that the Eastern Township's specimens of this moth are larger and brighter than the more northern specimens.

P. precationis (Guen.) is one of the most common species we have. Its fore-wings are of a rich purple brown with a golden sheen. They have a few pale wavy streaks, and a distinct silvery y in the middle of each.

In P. simplex (Guen.) Fig. 24 the fore-wing is of a dark ash-grey. It has a brown apical dash, and a brown shade on the inner margin. This shade is separated from the ash-grey base and basal portion of the costa, by a fine white line, which joins the inner arm of the silvery y-like central mark.

In P. falcifera (Kirby) the arms of the y are long and attenuated, and the tail lacks the terminal knob that is characteristic of Precationis and Simplex. Falcifera has rosy-brown fore-wings strikingly marked with curved and dentated rosy-white lines, having dark brown finer lines imposed. I captured several specimens of this insect at Como, P. Que. They were hovering over flowers on a sunny afternoon. P. brassica (Riley, Ni Hubn) has been taken at Metis, P. Que., by Mr.

a

FIG. 25.

FIG. 24.

Winn. This moth Fig. 25 expands about one and a half inches. It has dark greyish-brown fore-wings, with irregular, pale yellow cross lines, and in the centre a silvery u or horse-shoe like mark followed by an oval silvery dot. The underwings are yellowish clouded towards the outer edge.

Of P. mappa (G. & R.) only a few specimens have been taken in the Province of Quebec. The insect may be known by the numerous dark brown wavy lines upon its tawny fore-wings. In the centre of each of these wings is a silvery u, or horse-shoe-like mark, followed by a dot or annulet.

P. U-aureum (Boisd.) is a small species expanding one and one-fourth inches. Its fore-wings are dark brown, and bear in the centre a golden or silvery mark resembling a squat capital N. On the fore-wings also are several irregular transverse golden or silvery lines.

Besides Balluca we have two species that have no metallic spots in the middle of the fore-wing, P. area (Hubner), and P. areoides (Grote). In the former the wings are dark brassy-brown and in the latter, pale brassy-brown. Both have darker transverse markings. Ereoides has also, near the hind margin, a pale brassy transverse band.

TABLE OF QUEBEC SPECIES OF THE GENUS PLUSIA.

I. Having white or metallic markings in the middle of the fore-wings.
A. Having y-like markings in the middle of the fore-wings.

a. Having two golden marks as if the tail were cut off from the y. PUTNAMI, which has a golden apical streak.

BIMACULATA, which has a brown apical streak.

b. Having the y complete.

1. Tarsi of front legs banded brown and white.

FALCIFERA, which has no knob at the end of the y.
PRECATIONIS, which has the tail of the y knobbed.

2. Tarsi of the front legs plain.

SIMPLEX.

B. Having markings of other forms in the middle of the fore-wings.
a. Like N. U-AUREUM.

b. Undulating, like a small snake. AMPLA.

c. Like the figure 3 lying on its back.

d. Plume-like. MORTUORUM.

VIRIDISIGNATA.

e. Like a small v followed by a dot or annulet.

1. Having pink spots on the wings. THYATIROIDES.

2. Having tawny wings. MAPPA.

3. Having greyish-brown wings. BRASSICA.

IL-Having no metallic markings in the middle of the fore-wings.

A. Having the wings glossy-green.

B. Having the wings glossy-brown.

a. Dark brown.

ÆREA.

b. Light-brown. ÆREOIDES.

BALLUCA.

ORIGIN AND PERPETUATION OF ARCTIC FORMS.

BY J. ALSTON MOFFAT.

The subject of Arctic Forms is one of special interest in biology, and the frequent reference to it in natural history literature, keeps it constantly before the reader, and has made the theories concerning the origin and preservation of such forms well known, whilst to us as entomologists, it is of the very first importance in our efforts to obtain correct knowledge concerning the geographical distribution of insects. Grant Allen says

"On or near the summit of Mount Washington, a small community of butterflies belonging to an old glacial and Arctic species still lingers over a small area, where it has held its own for eighty thousand years that have elapsed since the termination of the great ice age. This saine butterfly is found in two other localities on this continent; Long's Peak, Colorado, is eighteen hundred miles distant; Hopedale, Labrador, is probably a thousand miles away; in the intervening districts there are no insects of the same species. Hence we must conclude, that a few butterflies left behind in the retreating main-guard of their race, on that one New Hampshire peak, have gone on for thousands and thousands of years, producing eggs, and growing from caterpillars into mature insects, without once affecting a cross with their congeners."

I learn from the writings of Mr. W. H. Edwards, that the name of that butterfly is Chionobas Semidea (Say.) The description given by Mr. Scudder of its terrible struggle for existence, tends to arouse one's interest in it, and draws out one's sympathy for it, as we contemplate the dreary and joyless life it is doomed to lead in its inclement home, so opposite to what is considered to be the typical life of a butterfly. Grant Allen's conclusion is in perfect harmony with the theories prevailing on this subject, but there is another view that can be taken of it, which appears to me to be more in harmony with nature and observation, although it may spoil the romance, and give less play to the imagination; and that is the one contained in the well-known principle of the power of environment to modify the external appearance of living forms, and their ability to accommodate themselves to altered conditions.

To illustrate the principle that I wish to apply in this case, I shall draw upon Mr. Edwards's article on " Pieris Bryonia and its derivative forms," to be found in Papilio, for June, 1881. He says:

"The species, of which Bryonia is one of the forms, is known as Napi having in Europe three manifestations, Bryoniæ, Napi, and Napææ; the last of these was until recently regarded as a distinct species." Then quoting Dr. Weisman who says of Bryonia: "This is to a certain extent the potential winter form of Napi. This type Bryoniæ, in polar regions is the only form of Napi. Bryoniæ produces but one generation a year, and must, then, according to my theory, be regarded as the parent form of Napi." He then states that in the Alps and Jura, Napi swarms everywhere, and crossing takes place, which causes variability in Bryoniae, but in Lapland Napi is never met with; so Bryonia preserves its constancy, and concludes thus: "Pieris Bryonia should be elevated to the rank of a species, and ordinary winter and summer forms should be designated varieties Napi and Napææ." Then Mr. Edwards, after a description of the markings of the various forms, says, "There are therefore the three forms under which the species manifests itself in Europe, Bryoniæ, Napi, Napææ; of which Bryoniæ may be considered the present form." Now to get myself into harmony with nature, I have to reverse this order. We all know that butterflies are lovers of the sun; and that they are most numerous in kinds and examples in warm countries where they flourish most luxuriantly, the conditions being more congenial to them. Therefore the natural inference is, that butterflies would first appear on this scene of life, in localities that were most favourable to them, and spread from these into those that were less so. We are all familiar with the restlessness of butterflies, and with what eagerness they will investigate every spot, seemingly with a determination to establish themselves there if possible; they succeed if the conditions are at all favourable, and some of them succeed even where the conditions are most unlikely. Now as Bryonia is a darker form than Napi, and Napææ being lighter still, and taking the result of Mr. Edwards's experiments in this direction as a clue to some of nature's methods in this matter, which goes to show that cold has the effect of darkening the colour of some kinds, I infer that Napæ was the first to appear and to spread into a locality with a cold winter. This acting on the chrysalides, Napi appears as the spring form, and Napææ as the summer one. As the distribution goes on it reaches a yet colder climate, where Napææ disappears and Bryonia is the spring form, with Napi as the summer one. Pushing yet onward it gets into a locality where the season is too short for two broods, when the single brooded Arctic and Alpine Bryoniæ is alone to be found, and consequently constant, and there does not seem to be the slightest reason to doubt, that if every Bryonia was swept out of Europe in one season, their place would soon be filled from the warmer