of our annelid would fill a volume. Within the limits of a single article it is not possible to do more than simply refer to some points in its structure, few and disconnected, but enough, I hope, to induce the reader to believe that the earthworm is not quite the despicable creature popular opinion supposes it to be. The generative system is peculiarly complex and peculiarly difficult to dissect; the ganglionic globules of the brain possess points of special import; the parasites that live and thrive within its body are more than, curious—the subject is attractive and one to which I desire to return. If, however, we have not attained the object of our search; the discovery of the interesting and the beautiful, it certainly is not the fault of the worm. A. C. S. Descriptions of New Species of North American Lepidoptera. Pyrgus Xanthus. Male.-Expands .8 inch. Upper side pale black, spotted with white; primaries have a submarginal series of minute patches or clusters of white scales; an extra discal series of pure white spots, very much as in Centaurea; a streak or small patch at end of cell; and a second transverse series of spots, forming a broken line across the wing. Secondaries have a submarginal series of minute spots, of more decided shape than on primaries; and a discal series, of which the middle spot is largest and sub-quadrate; in the cell a white streak near base; fringes long, white, cut with black at the end of the nervules on both wings; in one example observed, the black in secondaries extends but a little way from the edge of the wing, the whole outer part of the fringe being white. Under side of primaries fuscous on disk and inner margin, more or less suffused with gray-brown, or wood-brown, whitish along costal and hind margins; the spots repeated; of secondaries gray-brown, on costal margin whitish; near the hind margin a row of obsolete white spots edged above with black; the discal band repeated. The spots confluent, and edged on either side by brown; at base of cell a white spot, and another, quadrate, on costal margin. Body black; beneath, thorax gray-brown, abdomen at extremity yellowish; legs gray and yellowish; palpi white, with many black hairs above; antennæ annulated black and white, white beneath; club black. Female.-Same size. Color more brown; the markings as in the male. From several examples sent me by Mr. Morrison, and taken in Southern Colorado. In size this species equals Scriptura, Bois, from which it is readily distinguishable by its fringes, which are alternately white and black, whereas, in Scriptura, they are white. It is also more decidedly black and much more marked with white than the other species. In this last also the under side of secondaries is nearly white and the white markings are indistinct. Belongs to the sub-group of Centaurea. Argynnis Electa. Primaries produced, costa moderately arched, hind margin in straight, in convex. Male. Expands from 2.1 to 2.4 inches. Upper side reddish-fulvous, but little obscured at base; both wings bordered by two fine black lines, the space between of the grouud color, cut by the black nervules; on these, on primaries, rest a series of black lunules, but on secondaries the lunules do not touch the lines; the rounded extra discal spots small; the other markings as in Atlantis and allied species, but slight, and on secondaries the discal lines are confluent; discal spot on secondaries like the letter S ; fringes luteous, at the ends of the nervules, on primaries, fuscous. Under side of primaries pale cinnamon-brown, buff in the apical interspaces; the hind margin of nearly same shade as the disk, a little more decided brown next apex; the sub-apical patch dull ferruginous; the markings of disk repeated, the discal line being broken; the rounded spots black on inner half of the wing, above brown and lost in the sub-apical patch; on this patch two silver spots; the sub-marginal lunules brown and the enclosed spaces either yellow-buff not silvered, or those towards apex partially silvered. Secondaries brown-ferruginous from base, a little mottled with buff, especially along median and sub-costal nervines; the space between the two outer rows of spots buff, sometimes as immaculate as in Cybele, but sometimes encroached on by the ferruginous ground, so that the buff area is restricted to the middle of the space, and there it is more or less dusted with ferruginous scales, in these features resembling Aphrodite; the hind margin brown; the spots sometimes well silvered, sometimes imperfectly, and in this last case are buff more or less dusted with silver; the spots of the outer row are either lunular or triangular, edged posteriorly with a fine black line, and anteriorly by brown; the second row consists of seven spots, the first three from costa and fifth long oval, equal; the fourth minute; the sixth semioval; the seventh irregularly lunate; all edged with black above; the third row of three, of which the outer ones are lunular; the middle one a truncated pyramid; all edged above with black; a round spot in cell and an oval below, both in black rings; a patch at base of cell, another at top of subcostal interspace; shoulder well silvered, inner margin lightly, but where the silvering elsewhere is slight, it is here so likewise, and the color is buff. Body black, with fulvous bairs; below, the thorax gray and fulvous, the abdomen ochraceous; legs fulvous; palpi fulvous in front and at tip, buff at sides; antennæ black above, fulvous below; club black, tipped with bright ferruginous. Female. Expands 2.25 inches. Color more tawny, the base more obscured; the marginal lines heavy and more or less confluent; the spots within the subapical lunules paler than the ground; the markings somewhat heavier than in male; in one example the discal lines on secondaries are broken, as in Aphrodite, but in the others examined they are confluent, as in the male. Under side of primaries sometimes as in the male, but often more reddish over basal area and disk; the belt varying as in the male; the spots also varying in degree of silvering. Several of these were taken 1871, and I have until re From 12 49 received from Colorado. in the north of that State by Mr. Mead in cently been undecided respecting them, but others, fresh and uninjured specimens, received from Mr. Morrison, and taken in the South in 1877, leaves no doubt on my mind as to the distinctness of this species. It is somewhat smaller than Atlantis, of size of Liliana, Irene and Macaria, which are found towards the Pacific. Wм. H. EDWARDS. Addenda to Flora Columbiana. Made during 1877. 1084 Berberis Canadensis, Pursh. Point 1114 Aristolochia Serpentaria, L. Rock of Rock Railroad. Creek, Carroll Estate. 1085 Nasturtium Officinale, R. Br. Spring 1115 Chenopodium Botrys. L. Washnear Outlet Lock. ington. 1086 Drosera rotundifolia, L. Holmead 1116 Acnida cannabina, L. Roche's Run. 1087 Sagina apetala, L. High Island 1091 Vicia tetrasperma, L. Falls Church. 1120 Potomac Shore, 1121 Quercus macrocarpa, Mx. Hunting Quercus Prinus, L. var. acuminata, Rock Creek, 1094 Ribes rotundifolium, Mx. Mount 1122 Taxus baccata, L. var. Canadensis, Gray. Rock Creek. 1095 Ludwigia hirtella, Raf. Holmead 1123 Naias flexilis, Rostk. Va. Vernon. Swamp. 1096 Discopleura capillacea, Custis Spring, Va. 1097 Galium asprellum, Mx. Creek. D. C. 1125 Liparis Loeselii, Richard. Hunting Creek. 1124 Calopogon pulchellus, R. Br. Holmead Swamp. Rock 1126 Pogonia verticillata, Nutt. Rock Creek. 1098 Fedia olitoria, Vahl. Mt. Vernon. 1099 Valeriana pauciflora, Mx. High 1127 Iris cristata, Ait. High Island. Island. 1128 Smilacina bifolia, Ker. Piney Branch. cornifolius, Darl. 1129 Xyris flexuosa, Muhl. Piney Branch. 1130 Eriophorum Virginicum, L. Terra Cotta Swamp. 1102 Solidago rupestris, Raf. Potomac shore, Va. 1131 Fuirena squarrosa, Mx. Holmead Swamp. 1103 Coreopsis tinctoria, Eastern Branch. Rhynchospora alba, Vahl. Terra 1105 Gnaphalium uliginosum, L. Wash. 1133 Cyperus virens, Mx. Flats above Gt. Chain Bridge. 1135 Erianthus alopecuroides, Ell. Terra Cotta, 1107 Pyrola elliptica, Nutt. Rock Creek 1109 Veronica Americana, Schwein. Bromus sterilis, L. Uniontown. 1137 Spartina cynosuroides, Willd. Chain Bridge. 1138 Panicum Crus-Galli, L. var. his- 1110 Pycnanthemum clinopodioides, T. 113 Phacelia Purshii, Buckl. Islands in 1142 Camptosorus rhizophyllus, Link. Notes on the Tenacity of Life in the Chelydra Serpetina. Being desirous of a skeleton of the Chelydra serpentina for class use, I commenced operations to fit up the object of my desire Friday, October 27, 1876. The specimen from which I decided to prepare the skeleton was small. The antero-posterior measurement of the carapax, I find, is only seven and a half inches. The animal seemed to be in good condition and was excessively pugnacious. Accord To dispatch the animal I concluded upon strangulation. ingly at 9 A. M. a twine ligature was applied to her neck at about the middle of the fourth cervical vertebra. This was drawn so tighly that it entirely prevented either an egress or an ingress of air to the lungs. The reptile was then left alone in the laboratory. At 4 P. M. I found her alive. The hyoidean apparatus was plying very laboriously. Each attempt to force the air into the lungs proved abortive, and as it escaped through the constructed nostrils a whistling sound was produced, readily audible in an 'adjoining room. Upon examining the creature I found that her senses were not much blunted; and that she had yet no small stock of pugnacity. Although I wished to commence dissecting the brute that evening I concluded to leave her alone with her ligature until the morrow. At 8 A. M. of Saturday the hyoidean apparatus was still plying about as rapidly and as forcibly as it was sixteen hours before. Her pugnacious disposition was not much subdued and she seemed still quite strong of limb. Impatient at so tardy a process of death, I severed the head at the articulation of the third with the fourth cervical vertebra. At 8 A. M. on Monday, October 30th, I had cleaned the head and the detached cervical vertebra, and returned to my subject for more material to dissect. I was surprised to see the animal wince so quickly upon the application of the knife. The plastron was now removed, and the heart and intestines exposed and examined. The heart was still beating, and vermicular movement of the bowels was very strong. The lungs were collapsed. I now removed the right arm, in order that I might proceed with my preparation. At 8 A. M. on Tuesday I again. returned for dissecting material. Upon seizing the remaining left hand for the purpose of drawing it up, in order that I might the more |