THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 115 



inside theory to state. It seems more reasonable to conclude that the sun 

 has been the originalpainter, still improving and beautifying his work. 

 That the deviations from the original pattern and color have been seized 

 upon by Natural Selection and that gradual changes have been fostered, 

 may be conceived under the workings of general evolutionary law. 



From a' study of the subreniform spot in Catoca/a, I, many years ago, 

 came to the conclusion that the spots in the Noctuidce were modifications 

 of the transverse lines, and this theory will be found stated in my writings. 

 They may be fragments of original transverse lines, or, as the case seems 

 to be with the subreniform spots, they may belong to existing transverse 

 lines from which they have become disconnected. The median transverse 

 shade is interesting, as it still simulates, by its cloudiness, the shade band 

 of the secondaries and of the under surface of both wings in most JNoc- 

 tuidee nonfasciatce ox -Nocturnes. The primitive transverse shade band 

 will have been vague and cloudy, and all fine and cleanly cut markings 

 will prove to be recent in comparison and to have proceeded from nebu- 

 lous and undefined ornamentation. 



The instances where the upper surface of the secondaries resemble the 

 under surface of the primaries occur in the Ceratocampince, and also in 

 the Smerinthincc, among other groups. This fact struck me when I was 

 studying the relationship between the Horned Spinners and the Eyed 

 Hawk Moths. As a general rule, the cloudy bands on the under surface 

 of the wings of the Noctuidse or Owlet Moths, resemble those on the hind 

 wings above. The under, or covered wing, bears a certain relationship to 

 the upper, or covering wing, in coloring and ornamentation. We may 

 conclude that it has remained longer plain and unicolorous, that its less 

 exposure in certain groups of the Lepidoptera has allowed it to retain 

 more of the primitive appearance. The Spanners, or Geometridce, the 

 Sparklers, or Pyralidce, carry the under wings more exposed and the 

 markings are continuous and similar on both wings above. This is the 

 case with the lower or geometridous Noctuidae, to a considerable extent. 

 The pattern of the wings seems to follow the exposure, as I have else- 

 where pointed out. The conditions of the caterpillar stages are widely 

 different from the environment of the perfect insect, and I have long ago 

 pointed out that each stage varies independently and unequally, as in the 

 case of the representative species of Apatela, etc , (see my paper in 

 Annals N. Y. Lyceum, N. H.) I have also elsewhere drawn attention to 



