642 PIELUS HYALINATUS AND P. IMPERIALIS. 



That energetic worker at our lepidoptera informs me by letter 

 that he considers P. imperialis to be a variety of P. hyalinatus^ 

 brighter and more finely coloured, and adds that the variation in 

 the genus Pielus is in part geographical. Whether it will be the 

 best course to regard the P. imperialis as a geographical variety 

 or as a species can only be decided after an examination of a large 

 number of specimens, and perhaps after all it is not a matter of 

 much importance. 



In view of the interest which Mr. Lucas evidently takes in 

 this particular group of moths, it is remarkable that he has 

 not made himself acquainted with the sexual characters of the 

 various species. Had he read the generic characters of Pielus as 

 defined by Walker, Scott, and others, he would not have described 

 a brick red moth with silver markings as the female of P. hyalin- 

 atus. It is well known that in the group of Pielus to which that 

 species belongs the males have unipectinate antennae, and the 

 forewings provided with clearly defined white or silver markings ; 

 whereas the females have antennae which to the naked eye appear 

 moniliform, and forewings which are not provided with these 

 distinctive markings. 



Herrich-Schafier's figure and that of P. imperialis represent 

 males, and Mr. Lucas's specimens evidently belong to the same 

 sex. 



