152 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



acquainted has such a full, protuberant front. The palpi are also 

 truly noctuid in shape, the joints being very distinct, the 3rd joint long 

 and slender compared witft those of the Bombyces. The forewings have 

 a well-developed dot and reniform spot, genuine Noctuid marks, and the 

 hind wings have the peculiar gloss of Noctuid moths. The venation of 

 the wing is unlike that of the Liparidre and Cochliopodidae, and entirely 

 unlike that of the Notodontidse. There are 4 branches of the median 

 vein, and their arrangement and that of the subcostal veinlets appears to 

 be characteristically Noctuid. 



I am confirmed in the view that this moth belongs among the Noctuids 

 by the following observations of Mrs. Slosson, who was fortunate enough 

 to hatch out the larvae, and to find that they are semiloopers, like the 

 freshly-hatched larvae of many Noctuids. 



"I captured at light, in the spring of 1891, a Varina ornata ? and 

 placed her at once in a box made for the purpose. But when I opened 

 the box for examination I found to my chagrin, that I had unfortunately 

 closed the lid upon my treasure and crushed her to death. As the 

 abdomen seemed somewhat distended, I pressed it gently, and had the 

 satisfaction of seeing two eggs drop out. I could secure no more. As 

 it was late at night and my light was poor, I deferred close examination 

 of the eggs. The next day I was attacked with neuralgia in the eyes, and 

 was quite unable to use a magnifying glass. On the 6th or 7 th day the 

 eggs were hatched. I was still suffering, and could make no close 

 observations. But one thing was plainly to be seen, the larvae were 

 " loopers" ! This I could see for myself, and an unscientific friend who 

 looked at them through a lens at once declared them to be "measuring 

 worms." Knowing nothing of the food-plant, I sent out for leaves of the 

 various trees and herbs growing near. But the larvae would eat nothing. 

 On the third day, though still alive they were very weak. I placed a bit 

 of palmetto — Sabal serrulata — in their glass, and they at once crawled 

 feebly upon it, and began nibbling its surface. But it was too late, and 

 not knowing how vastly important to science would be a prolongation of 

 their existence, they quietly passed away. I regretted deeply my lost 

 opportunity of settling finally the proper position of this interesting moth. 

 But I can but consider this proven fact of the young larvae's being 

 loopers a very significant one." 



