124 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



species run much closer together than the species of Thyatira ; in the 

 size, the characteristic wavy markings, they are nearly alike. Although, 

 the European species of Thyatira is sufficiently distinct from Bombycia 

 (Cymatophora), so that the ground for these genera being placed to- 

 gether is not obvious until we compare the neuration of the secondaries, 

 the American western representatives approach each other more nearly 

 in external characters. Of the two genera, it is Habrosyne ( Gonophora) 

 which is most aberrant, most like the typical Noctuae, most like the genus 

 Plusia. And I would here record a most singular fact : older Euro- 

 pean writers, as Meigen, etc., place Thyatira near Plusia, Probably the 

 cut of the wing in derasa, and the tufts, together with the bright tints of 

 both hatis and derasa, influenced their decision. But there are no 

 special resemblances between the species of Fhisia and Thyatira in the 

 European fauna. Now, in North America, we have two species of Phisia, 

 which actually mimic species of Lcptina and Thyatira. The first of these 

 is Plusia formosa Gr., which so closely resembles a Leptina that, at the 

 commencement of my studies, I described the type under this genus. I 

 had my doubts, owing to the long Plusia-\^^ labial palpi, to which I 

 especially alluded. It so happened, that 1 at once returned the type to 

 Mr. Treat, while I never afterwards saw a specimen, owing in part to the 

 undoubted rarity of the species. I could not myself then subsequently 

 make the correction, which was suppHed by the late Mr. Morrison, (who 

 was largely indebted to me for generic and specific determinations in the 

 Noctuidce,) in the Annals of the N. Y. Lyceum of Natural History. The 

 second instance, as its name implies, is the Plusia thyatiroides of Guenee, 

 which, in its rosy patches on primaries, reminds one of T. pudens. Had 

 these two forms occurred in Europe, they might have strengthened, or 

 of themselves suggested the opinion that Thyatira ondi Plusia were allied. 

 As it is, the case is one of the most singular which I have met with in the 

 moths. It is to Hubner that we owe the more correct classification of this 

 group. How much we do owe to this author ! This fact alone, and that 

 he has correctly limited the genera, should oblige us to retain Hiibner's 

 nomenclature in this sub-family. Writers, who themselves make mistakes 

 in describing structure, should be more modest in their criticisms of 

 Hubner. 



The various genera into which the typical European forms are divided 

 by Hubner, are probably valid : Bombycia, Asphalia, etc. As against 



