The Hesperioidea of America North of Mexico, Vol. 9 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from The Hesperioidea of America North of Mexico,...)
Excerpt from The Hesperioidea of America North of Mexico, Vol. 9
Since the time of the early writers who were satisfied to place their skippers in the two genera, Pampkila and Hesperia, the classification of these insects has been in a more or less chaotic state. The two old genera can readily be subdivided, but the structures of the skippers which are useful in their classification are of a peculiarly unstable character and have therefore proven a stumbling block to those who have attempted such subdivision. This is due to the fact that very few of our species are structurally identical, as a result of which one division has led to another until we have reached the deplorable state where, to be consistent, we must either lump extensively or split still more finely, with most lepidopterists in favor of the former. In the following pages I have attempted to rearrange our species and reorganize our genera to eliminate the confusion which has attended the group in North America, while bearing in mind both the convenience of the classification and the opinions of the learned authors of many genera for which I have been unable to see any necessity. Undoubtedly I have erred in some points, especially in the case of the numerous species found in the southwest which belong to genera more typical of the Central American fauna, but I believe that the examination of a more complete collection of exotic species will clear up many obscure points for which I have been able to offer only a tentative solution.
In the course of my work I have had occasion to ask information of Prof. H.F. Wickham, Dr. J. McDunnough, and Dr. Henry Skinner. Dr. Skinner has also supplied me with a number of specimens which I could not otherwise obtain, and Prof. Wickham has lent a number of books from his private library. Dr. Barnes of Decatur, 111., has very generously allowed me the freedom of his fine collection and library, and also supplied me with many specimens for study.
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