THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 10 



f 



this head the student is referred to a most valuable paper by Dr. Packard 

 on the Noctuidce, published in the Proceedings of the Portland Society of 

 Natural Sciences, I., 153. This paper should be reprinted. It speaks of 

 the natural value of the great families of moths, and contains statements 

 of fact and admonitions to students, which can only be disregarded to the 

 detriment of the study. From the relative intangibility of the structural 

 characters of butterflies and moths, arises some necessary latitude of 

 opinion. In no case is there any excuse for an improper criticism of the 

 opinions of older or of more experienced writers. Rather is there room 

 for a gentler treatment of this subject of our moths, these pretty locks of 

 nature's fleece, so tender and so fleeting ! In the paper above alluded to, 

 Dr. Packard complains of the effect of amateurism on the literature of the 

 science, No doubt in one sense the remark is well founded, but this 

 amateurism is rather a proof of the attractiveness of the study and its 

 aesthetic value. For my part I should be glad of the largest possible ac- 

 cession to the ranks of butterfly hunters and students, and I have tried 

 always to do what I could toward creating a larger interest in this field, 

 Elsewhere I have drawn attention to the greater general interest felt in 

 England on the subject, and how valuable an addition to the charms of 

 life the collection of butterflies and moths is proved to be. For this 

 reason I have favored the gradual use of English names, and I have 

 looked forward to the time when the distinction between "amateurs" 

 and '' scientists " should be obliterated by good work being done on all 

 hands. Far more do I incline to disapprove of the work of those, whose 

 temperament and training allow them to misrepresent what others have 

 said and done, in order to ease their wounded vanity, or rise by improper 

 criticism. Let us forsake such conduct. We are, as Mr. Scudder would 

 call us, Aurelians, although this title smacks a little of the hobby, and it 

 were well if our kinship in interest would make us kind. There cannot 

 be an agreement, as the world is infinitely diverse. 



The tribes of Noctuinae I have defined are : — i, Bombycoidi ; 2, 

 Apateliniy including Bryophila, although the disposition of the American 

 genera is not settled between these two first tribes ; 3, Agrotini ; 4, 

 Dicopini*; 5, Hadeyimi ; 6, Arzainini*; 7, Nonagriini ; 8, Scolecocam- 

 pint; g, NolaphaJiiiii^, on\y Nolaphafia; 10, Caradrmi ; 11, Ort/wsiini; 



These groups do not occur in the European fauna. 



