June, 1904 ] Smith : Catalogue of the Noctuid.e. 93 



moving its head up and down on the prothorax. ' ' The two larvae 

 which I had, did not reach the last stage of development, so that I 

 had no opportunity to repeat this observation. 



In his second annual report on the noxious, etc., insects of Mis- 

 souri, the late C. V. Riley states that the caterpillar of Thyreus abhotii 

 " does not assume the common sphinx attitude of holding up the head, 

 but rests stretched at full length, though if disturbed it will throw its 

 head from side to side, thereby producing a crepitating noise " (p. 79 ) . 



So far as I am aware, this is the only other instance known of a 

 lepidopterous larva producing by friction or in any other way an audi- 

 ble sound. 



It is probable, however, that there are similar cases on record and 

 I would be much obliged for any information regarding them. 



Note by the Editor. 

 The larva of Cressoiiia jiiglandis is well known to produce a squeak- 

 ing noise when disturbed, apparently by motions of the head against 

 the prothorax. Platypteryx arcuata produces a rasping sound by 

 scraping certain stiff setae on the surface of the leaf and some Tineids 

 make a rustling noise by motions within their dried leaf mines ; but 

 these latter cases are perhaps not of the class of which Dr. Packard 

 desires to learn. 



REMARKS ON THE CATALOGUE OF THE NOC- 



TUIDiE IN THE COLLECTION OF THE 



BRITISH MUSEUM. 



By John B. Smith, Sc. D., 



New Brunswick, N. J. 



(Plate IV.) 



This is Volume IV of the Phalaenje and, like the preceding volumes, 

 is prepared by Sir George F. Hampson. After defining the Noctui- 

 dse the author divides them into 15 subfamilies of unequal value and 

 extent. As this is the first really well based attempt to make a sub- 

 family division the table is reproduced, modified in form only : 



I. Maxillary palpi absent 2 



Maxillary palpi present 15 



