-on the Phalena Bombyx Lubricipeda of Linneus, Sc. 73 
Fig. 1. to which I have given the name of Erminea, appears to be 
the moth which Linneus defcribes in the Syft. Nat. as Lubrici- 
peda, and to that moth is the name affixed in his cabinet. In the 
Fauna Suecica the particular defcription is, Mas alis flavefcentibus 
ordine oblique tranfverfo punctorum nigrorum,” which is an exact 
defcription of fig. 2. to which I have retained the name of Lubrici- 
peda; not only becaufe that name, taken from the motion of the 
caterpillar, agrees better with this fpecies than the other, but becaufe 
every author who has figured it fince Linneus has conftantly fo ap- 
plied it, though they have given different names to fig. 1. Notwith- 
ftanding Linneus has united thefe two fpecies of Phalana, and men- 
tioned them as male and female of each other, it 1s but juftice to ob- 
ferve, that it appears done contrary to his own opinion; for, in quoting 
the fynonyms of Wilkes and Roefel, he makes one a variety at leaft, 
with his ufual mark g, and then adds, ** Varietatem 8 non diftinc- 
tam effe fpeciem docuit De Geer." "That accurate author has written 
a long paper upon the fubje& of thefe moths, in which he has endea- 
voured to prove that thefe two fpecies are the fame. He however 
defcribes but one kindof caterpillar, from which he had males yellow, 
and females white. This is in fome refpeéts the fact; for the female 
of fig. 2. is much lighter in colour than the male, and fometimes 
approaches to white. He refers to Reaumur to prove this affertion: 
but I am clearly convinced, that in the fecond memoir of the fecond 
volume of that illuftrious author, it is the Mendica of Linneus which 
is defcribed; and that the others are not mentioned. For with that 
moth his defcription perfectly coincides; the female of which has 
fome refemblance to that of Erminea, as may be feen in fig. 3. ; but 
will be found totally diftinét, not only on account of the colour of 
its male, which, as Reaumur obferves, is the * colour of a rat,” but 
alfo from the femi-tranfparency of the wings of the female, from 
whence Engliíh collectors have named it the /potted muflim 
L Linneus 
