A. R. Grote's Notes on the Zygsenidee of Cuba. 325 



abdomen, and the firm, dark, hymenopteriform tegument or body 

 crust, together with the high development of the basal abdominal 

 lateral valves. — arc characters that, by comparison, stand out in promi- 

 nent relief. This genus, with Callicarus, Grote, overlaps and stands 

 higher in certain characters than the lower genera of the Castniares, 

 such, for instance, as Euscirrhopterus, Grote, Eudryas, Boistt. and 

 ('iris, Grote : this latter with its pectinated antennae, seems the lowest 

 in rank of its sub-family. Lower down, and leaving Ilorama and its 

 ally, the wings become vitreous in Burtia, Grote, Ennomia, Hiibn. and 

 Cosmosoma, Hiibn.; the antennae affect Bombycid forms, the colors 

 brighten, the legs weaken, the abdominal conformation is less concise. 

 Here the genera clustering round Zygsena, form a brilliant yellow, 

 scarlet, black and scintellate group, commencing with Isanthrene, 

 Hiibn.. and obtaining its fullest development in Histioea, Walk. Be- 

 low come Echeta, H-S., Scepsis, W<ilL\, Uranophora, Hiibn., and 

 Ctenucha, Kirby ; these two last are unspotted Pericopids. Here the 

 analogies with Lithosiinae (in reality a small group of lead and rose- 

 colored, plain or striped, rarely white or spotted Bombycidas) interfere 

 strangely with the appearance of the moths, without affecting the 

 affinities of these still metallic hued genera. Ctenuchidia, Grote, fol- 

 lows, and in Composia, Hiibn., is heralded a succession of broad-winged 

 Pericopid genera from Asia, Africa, and America, which leaves us 

 finally the lax and mealy-scaled Melanchroia, Hiibn. and Dioptis, 

 Hiibn., genera overlaid with Bombycid affinities, their parts thin and 

 vague, and with a lack of concentration which is indicative of lowness 

 of type. The family bronze and metallic coloration forsakes them, — 

 Lucas erroneously refers Dioptis rica, Hiibner, to the Bombycid genus 

 ( 'allimorpha, Latreille. 



It may be justly remarked, that the " Syntomina" of Dr. Herrich- 

 Schaeffer, including the " Arctioidea syntomidiformia" are not natural 

 or homogeueous groups, but consist of either Zygaenid genera with 

 Bombycid analogies or vice versa, and that the true affinities of these 

 genera are not recognized in thus associating them under common 

 family appellations. 



Iu considering the characters of the Family Zygaenidae, which in 

 the view here presented, includes the Castniares and the numerous 

 genera which, combined under different designations, precede the 

 Bombycidae in the British Museum Lists, I am undecided whether the 

 Uraniidaa of Authors do not, in fact, belong here, and whether we are 

 justified in rejecting these, as has been usually done to the Phalaenidre 



