iv PREFACE. 



Macro-Heterocera are connected with the older synonymy. In 

 the Sesiid(e I had expected the assistance of Mr. Henry Edwards, 

 whose untimely death is so generally deplored. The list is given 

 here as he left it, with the newly described species added. In 

 placing these new species I had the advantage of Mr. Neumoe- 

 gen's collection, so that the associations are reasonably accurate. 

 In placing this family immediately after the Sphingidce I follow 

 precedent rather than conviction. I do not believe there is any 

 relationship between them. 



The miscellaneous aggregation called Zyg&nidcs in previous 

 lists has been divided in accordance with my published views. 

 The Agaristida still contain forms requiring further study. The 

 PericopidfB are as referred by Mr. Henry Edwards, and so are 

 the Heterogynidce, save that I have added Oeta to the latter. I 

 do not believe that any of our species are really Heterogynidts; 

 but as I have not the material to prove this belief, I leave the 

 species as placed. In the Lithosiidtz and Arctiidce my recent 

 papers in the "Canadian Entomologist" have been followed, 

 save as to sequence of species. I would have preferred grouping 

 a series under the term Bombycina, but have not been able to 

 limit such a group to my own satisfaction. In giving family 

 rank to the various aggregations in this series I have followed 

 conviction and, in part, precedent. The Dioptidtf I do not know 

 save in the American species, and in the family reference I follow 

 Mr. Grote. In the Bombyces, the Notodontidez are badly mixed. 

 To get as nearly right as possible I consulted Dr. A. S. Packard, 

 Mr. H. G. Dyar and Mr. B. Neumoegen, all of whom kindly 

 gave me notes on many species and to whom I owe sincere 

 thanks. In the Limacodidce Mr. Dyar furnished a list which is 

 very closely followed. In some genera the sequence of the 

 species was corrected by Mr. Neumoegen, and in the Hepialidce 

 tin- synonymy is his, based upon the material in his own and in 

 Mr. Henry Edwards' collection. 



Under the term Noduina I have included the Thyatiridce, 

 Noctiiidu- and Brcphidce. I have been unable to subdivide the 

 Noctuidce on structural characters, and could not adopt Mr. 

 Crete's divisions because of their unequal value and impossi- 

 bility of accurate definition. In this family the changes are on 

 my own authority, and I have followed my published papers so 

 tar as tlu-y go. Where I have made no personal study Mr. 



