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THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



been mistaken for and associated with H. textor, really are must be 

 determined by further careful breeding. 



III. — American Entomological literature is rich in synonyms, and 

 Dr. Dyar seems ambitious to add another to the list (see his '^Correction" 

 in the January number of the Canadian Entomologist). 



The following is the description oi Spilosoma prima, Slosson : 



" Size of S. virginica, but a stouter insect, body heavier and shorter, 

 scarcely reaching anal angle of secondaries. Primaries sordid white, 

 stained with ochreous, especially along costa and inner margin, and with 

 scattered dots of dark brown. These are arranged almost exactly as in 

 some specimens of the form of H. textor, Harris, known as cufiea and 

 punctata. The dots are much heavier and more distinct on costa, and 

 there is a submarginal line very plainly indicated and composed of 

 geminate dots on the venules. Secondaries sordid white. Abdomen 

 thickly clothed with white hairs, through which can be seen the yellow of 

 the body, with dorsal row of black spots. Palpi, coxje and tibise very 

 dark smoky brown, almost black." — Efit. Amer., V., 40 (18S9). 



And these are some of the points in which this insect seems to differ 

 from the Spilosoma taken at Quebec and believed to be the Bombyx 

 cunea of Drury : 



S. PRIMA, Slosson. 



Size of S. virgitiica. 



Stouter than Virginica. 



A submarginal line of geminate dots 

 on primaries. 



Secondaries sordid white (no men- 

 tion of spots). 



Dorsal row of black spots on abdo- 

 men. 



Tibiae very dark smoky brown. 



The Quebec Insect. 



Smaller than S. virginica. 

 Not so stout as Virginica. 

 A submarginal line of dashes and 



streaks on primaries. 

 Secondaries much spotted, as in 



Drury's figure. 

 Five rows of black spots on abdo- 

 men (Drury's figure shows dorsal 

 and side lines. The under side 

 of the insect is not figured). 

 Tibiae white on the outside, dark 

 brown on the inner. 

 But supposing S. prima, Slosson, were shown to be identical with 

 the insect I have described, that would not prove that Phalczna piaicta- 

 tissima, S. and A., is one with B. cunea, Drury : it would rather indicate 

 that we have had one more synonym in our literature than we have been 

 aware of. 



