40 JOHN B. SMITH. 



Finally, Mr. Neumoegen has sent me, at odd times, specimens to 

 which he was desirous of having the names affixed. 



A notable feature of the fauna from which I am describing, is the 

 very large number of species of Oncocnemis, or allied forms. They 

 form a distinctive feature, and fix the true home of the genus, of 

 which the European fauna boasts but four species ; thirty-one spe- 

 cies are recorded in my check-list ; one species is added in a short 

 paper on the Noctuidse of the Death Valley Expedition, and six 

 specimens are here first described as new — a total of forty-three 

 species. 



The agrotid series yet furnishes additions to our list, and most of 

 them of the C'arneudes type. 



Four additional species of Xylomiges, so soon after the genus had 

 been monographed were unex|)ected, and in Cucnllia, a handsome 

 and large new form is a sti'iking addition. 



The location of the types of the species is indicated in most in- 

 stances, and wherever they are in my personal control they \v\\\ be 

 "deposited in the U. S. National Museum. 



Finally, a few words concerning the plates. Pictures are un- 

 doubtedly a very great aid to the determination of species ; but good 

 pictures have been very expensive in the past, and are not cheap 

 even yet. Recently, photography and reproductions from photo- 

 graphs have become so vastly improved, that I concluded to try this 

 method of illustration to test its usefulness. Color values can now 

 be indicated in many cases by the use of orthochromatic plates, 

 though even with these, if the specimens are not reasonably similar 

 in general tint failure will result, because, while some may be over 

 exposed, others will present little or no contrast. 



In the reproduction, all minute detail is lost. By the cross-hatch- 

 ing, which all these methods require, fine powderings obvious enough 

 in the photograph are lost, and a general impression only is given. 

 Yet even this is a very great assistance, and I believe that in most 

 instances the species described in this paper can be recognized more 

 easily than they could have been by verbal descriptions alone. 



EFIDEilIAS gen. nov. 



Head raodecate in size, retracted, front smooth, |)alpi small and 

 weak, little exceeding the front, drooping. The tongue is weak and 

 short, practically obsolete ; the eyes are naked, with a distinct fring- 

 ino- of hairy lashes at the posterior border. The anteinue in the 



