THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 9 



benefit. The writer has made a special study of specific charac- 

 ters in the Noctuinae, but must admit the undoubted advantage 

 which the authors have over him in the amount of material ex- 

 amined. By far the greater number of changes in synonymy in 

 this family rfiade by them are much in accordance with his own 

 views, but it is perhaps inevitable that he is unable to concur 

 fully with their opinion on all points of relationship or identifica- 

 tion, though in some instances he must submit to their superior 

 knowledge. Some of the divergences of view are doubtless the 

 result of differences of conception as to the term "race." On the 

 whole, the authors have, perhaps, erred on the side of conserva- 

 tism, and usually have been inclined to give a doubtful form or 

 race the full benefit of the doubt in placing it as a species. It 

 may be that the writer has grown unconsciously to err in the other 

 direction. 



Notwithstanding a complete index, collectors who have not 

 studied Hampson's works may, at first, experience some difficulty 

 in finding their way about the list. But too full a synonymy in 

 a mere check-list, which is all that it purports to be, is apt to be 

 confusing rather than otherwise. The majority of the points in 

 which the list differs from Hampson have been referred to in 

 various publications, but prin'cipally by the authors in their "Con- 

 tributions." A few changes, however, appear for the first time. 



The following notes and criticisms include those that are 

 confirmatory, controversial, and contradictory. Some of the 

 points referred to have previously been published by the writer 

 in sundry papers, and no excuse is offered for repetition. Those 

 of a contradictory nature are in no wise intended to be. derogatory 

 to the value of the list, or to the knowledge of its authors, but 

 rather, it is hoped, to enhance its value, and offer suggestions for 

 future investigation. 



Arctia ohliterata Stretch, stands as an aberration of ornata Pack. 

 (978). If that is correct, the identification, as Stretch's 

 species, by Dr. Dyar, of a Calgary specimen in my collection, 

 which is almost certainly a form of turbans, must be wrong. 



Euxoa collocata Sm. stands as a synonym of atristrigata Smith. 

 This reference is new to me, though I had tentatively as- 



