236 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



Pyrameis cardni were also observed, and a few specimens of Utetheisa 

 bella were captured. The party returned to Cleveland much delighted 

 with their day's outing, and separated to meet next year in Toronto. 



ARCTIIDCE vs. NOCTUID^E. 



BY JOHN B. 'SMITH, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Mr. Grote takes occasion in Can. Ent. vol. xx., p. 168, to criticise my 

 reference of Cerathosia to the Arctiidce, contending that it is a Noctnid. 

 He complains that I do not give " the reason why it belongs to the 

 family." This I hasten to supply, and must beg Mr. Grote's pardon for 

 having presumed him conversant with the characters separating the two 

 families. All authorities give for the Noctuidce a furcate dorsal or internal 

 vein of primaries, while the costal vein of secondaries is from the root, 

 sometimes united with the sub-costal a short distance from base. 



In the Arctiidce on the contrary, the dorsal vein of the primaries is 

 simple, while the costal of secondaries is not free, but springs from the 

 sub-costal, a variable distance from base. 



In these essential characters, used in all systematic works, my genus 

 is Arctiid and Lithosiid. The only difference between the Arctiidce and 

 Lithosiidce is in the absence of ocelli in the latter family. Mr. Grote 

 seems never to have seen an unspread specimen of Cerathosia, else the 

 striking habital resemblance to Lithosia could not not have escaped him. 



Mr. Grote has sent to Entom. Amer. a criticism of my genus in a 

 different form, which I have answered more at length. 



Some months since, I sent a paper on Cydosia and Cerathosia, which 

 have considerable resemblance in clypeal structure, to the Proceedings 

 U. S. Natl. Museum, and this when printed will show that my genus is 

 not at all abnormal where I have placed it. 



As I can hardly expect to convince Mr. Grote if the specimen itself 

 failed, I have sent an example to Mr. H. B. Moeschler, of Germany, and 

 requested his determination of family, for publicaiton. 



It is scarcely worthwhile to deal with Mr. Grote's objections in detail. 

 Not one or all of them, even were they all true, would militate against 

 the Arctiid character of Cerathosia. 1 must confess that I consider the 



