70 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



lection of Coleoptera. One-fifth was the proportion of Lepidop- 

 tera in the Riley collection, and it is the proportion that the 

 number of types of Leidoptera bears to the total number of types 

 in the National Collection of Insects. But Riley was, by prefer- 

 ference, a Lepidopterist, and therefore likely to have had more 

 than a normal proportion of this order in his collection, while in 

 the matter of types the Lepidoptera are possibly better off than 

 other orders, owing largely to the generosity of Dr. J. B. Smith. 

 It is proper to state that the last figures, now discussed, are based 

 on an actual count, conducted by my assistant and myself. 



The arranged collection is housed in 1,113 drawers ; the un 

 placed material and duplicates are in miscellaneous boxes. 



Excluding the duplicates and un worked material, which can 

 not be satisfactorily discussed, and excluding also the Schaus col 

 lection, which is intact, the butterflies comprise, in round num 

 bers, 1^,600 specimens of 2,400 species, with 290 inflated larvae. 

 There are but 29 types in this group. The North American fauna 

 is well represented, especially in the larger species. The col 

 lection is poorest in the Lycsenidaa and Hesperidae. The Schaus 

 collection, when added, will nearly double the total number of 

 specimens. The Sphingidae comprise 1,200 specimens of 250 

 species, 100 larvae, but no types whatever. The Saturnians, 880 

 specimens of 168 species, with 220 larvae and one type. The 

 Arctians and allied families have 4,750 specimens, 860 species, 

 460 larvas and 48 types. The Noctuidae, 16,800 specimens of 

 2,370 species, with 550 larvae and 509 types. The North Amer 

 ican Noctuids in the National Museum are probably the best col 

 lection in existence in this field. One-half of the types belonging 

 in the regular collection are in the Noctuidae. The Lasiocam- 

 pidae, Liparidae and allied small families have 3,400 specimens of 

 500 species, 690 larvae and 17 types, being especially rich in 

 inflated larvae. The Geometridae have 8,700 specimens, 1,200 

 species, 450 larvae and 103 types. The North American species 

 are well represented on the whole, though a considerable number 

 are missing. The Sesiidae, Limacodidae and other allied small 

 groups have 2,580 specimens, 470 species, 170 larvae and 29 

 types. The Pyralidse and Pterophoridae have 9,200 specimens 

 of 1.370 species, 1 10 larvae and 47 types. A great many North 

 American species are lacking in this group and the following, 



