56 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



MOTHS NEW TO OUR FAUNA. 



BY JOHN E. SMITH. WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Mr. Hy. Edwards, on p. 12 of vol. xx. of the Can. Ent., records 

 three species of moths as additions to our fauna — two of them Sphingidce, 

 viz., Pseudosphinx tetrio and Philampelus typhon. Mr. Edwards is un- 

 doubtedly correct in the record of localities, and in calling attention to 

 their capture within our faunal limits ; but, with all due respect, I do not 

 think that these species should be added to our faunal list. Erebus odora 

 has been found in Canada, yet it would be an absurdity to cite it as a 

 Canadian insect. The mere fact that an insect well known and abundant 

 in one faunal region is occasionally found in another, does not authorize 

 its addition to the latter fauna unless it breeds in or regularly migrates to 

 it. Sphinx tetrio is a very common species which we have from Mexico, 

 South America and the islands of the Carribean Sea. It is essentially a 

 tropical and sub-tropical insect, and does not come into the temperate 

 fauna except accidentally. It is undoubtedly true that political boundaries 

 cannot limit faunal regions, and yet the southern boundary of the United 

 States very nearly accords with the faunal line separating the temperate 

 from the sub-tropical fauna. Species occurring near this faunal border, 

 especially species of strong flight like the Sphingidce, will often cross the 

 line ; but this does not make them members of both sides. The rule 

 should be that only insects which breed within the faunal limits should be 

 considered as forming parts of it. Ordinarily the presumption is that an 

 insect breeds where found. This presumption fails where the insect is 

 known to breed in a different fauna, and then positive proof should be 

 required of its right. On this view I must dissent from Mr. Edwards's 

 idea that these particular species should be added to our fauna. In a 

 monograph of the Sphingidce now ready for the press, I have excluded 

 these species, and in addition Diludia brontes and D. leucophceata — both 

 species possibly occasional visitants to our fauna, but really members of 

 the next, or sub-tropical. 



Southern Florida has a peculiar fauna, and one that perhaps should 

 not be classed within the temperate limit. It really in many respects 

 should be classed with the West Indian fauna, but on this point I make 

 only the suggestion. It seems to me that Mr. W. H. Edwards, in the 

 Rhopalocera, has followed the wiser plan of separately calling attention 

 to species occasionally found in but not really belonging to our fauna. 



