THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



PRELIMINARY CATALOGUE OF THE ARCTIID/E OF TEM- 

 PERATE NORTH AMERICA, WITH NOTES. 



BY JOHN B. SMITH, NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J, 



( Continued from page 2ig, Volume xxi.) 



Genus Arctia Schrank. 



1802 — Schrank, Fauna Boica II., 2, 152. 



The typical genus of the family — a general favorite with collectors and 

 the source of a good deal of worry and uncertainty to describers. I 

 have seen very large series of specimens of many species, and have seen 

 nearly all the species. From a rather careful study of the species I can 

 see no reason why they should not be as easily recognizable or 

 limited as those of any other Lepidopterous genus — indeed, the problem 

 strikes me as a remarkably easy one, the key to which lies in the fact that 

 no amount of obsolescence of maculation authorizes a species, while 

 change of pattern can be easily detected even in specimens with the 

 markings much broken. Reference for general papers, lists, &c., relating 

 to American species, are : — 



1S16 — Hiibner, Verzeichniss, 183. 



1856 — Walker, C. B. Mus. Lep. Het., III., 594, syn. sp. 



i860— Clem, Proc. Ac. N. Sc. Phil., XII,, 526. 



1873 — Stretch, Zyg. and Bomb., 73, fig. and syn. sp. 



1876 — Moeschl., Stett. Ent. Zeit., 37, 296. 



1883 — Neumoegen Papilio, III., 150, list sp. 



1887 — Smith, Ent. Amer., III., 117. 



In the paper last cited I give at some length the features to be relied 

 upon for specific separation in this genus. 



The head is retracted, tongue weak and short, palpi almost rudiment- 

 ary, antenna; moderate in length ; bipectinated in the ^ , simple in the ^ . 

 The legs are moderate in length, the posterior longer ; spurs short and 

 weak, but normal as to number ; the tarsi are finely spinulose, the claws 

 simple. 



Moeschler, in the Stett. Ent. Zeit., 1876, v. 37, p. 296, says: — A. 

 nais, phyllira and virgo have a distinct claw on the fore tibia, but I 

 Utterly failed to find any trace of it on any specimens examined by me. 



