118 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



process to get rid of the Dermestes. This has no doubt happened in the 

 case of the specimen marked Agrotis ordinata that you refer to. 



" Where the specimen agrees with Walker's printed description, it is 

 either a type or corresponds closely to his type — perhaps examined at, or 

 nearly at the same time. * * * My first acquaintance with Walker was 

 in 1863 when I spent some time in London. I was in England during the 

 greater part of '63 and '64. I used frequently to go to the Brit. Museum, 

 and struck up a great friendship with W., which continued to his death. 

 We corresponded regularly, and he sent me his publications and quantities 

 of European and other insects, for which I made the best return I could. 

 He was one of the quietest and gentlest of men ; his sensitive nature was 

 much pained by some of the harsh and rough criticisms that were passed 

 upon his work. His mistake was in attempting too much. Had he con- 

 fined himself to the Diptera, his reputation would probably never have 

 been impaired." 



At my request Dr. Bethune kindly gave me permission to deposit these 

 specimens in the U. S. National Museum at Washington when I had 

 examined them, and there they now are, accessible to all students who may 

 desire to verify my conclusions. 



Nine species only are described by Walker as " In Rev. Mr. Bethune's 

 collection," but a number of others are given as from West Canada, and 

 sometimes they are said to come from Mr. Bethune. 



Of these nine species eight are represented in the specimens before 

 me, one only, Agrotis vetusta, is wanting. With the exception of the 

 specimen labelled " Agrotis ordinata" all are evidently the types, agreeing 

 in sex and in all other points with the description. In Agrotis ordinata 

 I cannot accept the labelled specimen as type, though it agrees in at least 

 one important feature — the sex. 



The few specimens which are not types, are in many instances errone- 

 ously named — provided that the species we know under Walker's names 

 are really his species. 



In detail the specimens before me are as follows : — 

 Mamestra insiiisa, Walk., C. B. M., Lep. Het. IX., 234, 1856. 

 An imperfect specimen ; but not the type. It is Hadena diicta, Grt., 

 (Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., IV., 176, 1878). The type is in the British 

 Museum and has been examined by Mr, Grote who said first it was an 

 ZT^^m^, and afterwards that it was an Agrotis aXWcd to repent is ( Car- 

 neades messoria). Walker's description applies perfectly to the specimen 



