Z$ AUG. R. OROTE. 



T am sure I hope Mr. C. V. Riley will continue to copy my descrip- 

 tions in this Family in the Missouri Reports, and avail himself, even 

 without acknowledgment, of all other information useful to himself in 

 my writings, without at the same time continuing a style of remark 

 that is repugnant to good taste and cannot deserve any worthy popu- 

 larity. In, as I believe, redescribing Acronycta lepusculina Guenee, 

 the remarks as to the description of A. occidentalis, G. & R., only be- 

 tray an unacquaintance with the species of the genus ; otherwise, since 

 the European A. psi and the American A. occidentalis, are not at all 

 to be properly compared with the species of Mr. Riley discusses, it 

 would seem to be only for the sake of the opportunity for a reflection 

 that a comparison is instituted. An entire description of A. occiden- 

 talis seemed superfluous, since our species offers but few points of dif- 

 ference when compared with its European analogue ; these points 

 were briefly given. And no one else seems to have misunderstood our 

 species ; while the synonymical remarks accompanying the description 

 rendered a mistake impossible to any informed person. Mr. Saunders, 

 in the pages of the Canadian Entomologist, has since found some of the 

 slight points of difference drawn from the imagos inconstant, and has 

 added other slight specific characters, while showing the larvae of the 

 two species to be quite distinct in color and appearance. In the birth 

 of his new species of Acronycta, Mr. C. V. Riley indulges in a burst of 

 wild comparison that betrays rather than conceals his unacquaintance 

 with his subject. In another place Mr. C. V. Riley exhibits afinesamp'e 

 of that impertinence which has its origin in lack of thought and con- 

 sideration, in refusing to regard the West Indian and South American 

 Philampelus satellitia (li/caon, Cramer), as distinct from our United 

 States Philampelus pandorus (satellitia J Harris, ampelophaga, Bois. 

 MSS.), and this without knowing both of the species he incorrectly 

 unites. It is perhaps not to be wondered at, that while gathering all 

 his synomymical information in the Sphingidae from my own and Mr. 

 Robinson's Catalogue and List, Mr. C. V. Riley should accept so much 

 and rudely and badly criticise so little. For his information, and not 

 in defense of llubner or Geyer, it may be stated that Cnotus is taken 

 from the Greek, and not necessarily any more " gibberish" than the 

 surname of the gentleman. I think that the literary Executors of the 

 late lamented Mr. Walsh have cause for an action for piracy against 

 Mr. C. V. Riley for using quotation marks to the verb eliminate, with- 

 out due credit to the author of the witticism. But then of course 

 much more valuable property of the deceased is worn and badly worn 

 by our Entomological Elisha. 



