14 



7-idce, MacuiiiUe, Fidoiuda', Zeirnida^, itiid Hibcnudtc of Gucm'e. Group IV 

 is nearly equivalciif to Giienc'e's Larentida, except that Lythrin is contained 

 in it, and it, also embraces Cheimatohla. and ends wltli Eupitliena. 



Wliile there are many good features in this classification, and the genera 

 are carefully described, T can see no good reason Ibr placing tlie Geometrce 

 higher than the Ennoyninoe, or for placing his second group above the fliird. 



The last important work is the excellent general treatise on this family 

 by A. Guenee. It appeared in 1857. It is the most useful work that has 

 ap])eared, and it is of special value to entomologists in this country from the 

 large number of American species described in it. The generic characters 

 are given with considerai)le fullness, and the characters drawn from the larvae 

 and i)upjB are valuable as being the first attempt to use them in conjunction 

 with the imaginal characters. 



jr. Guenee's classification is as follows: He divides the family UranideSy 

 which he regards as a group equivalent to the Noctuidcc or PhalcBnidce, into 

 the following families: 

 I. Cydimonidce. 

 II. Uraiddai. 



III. Ni/ctulemonidoi. * 



IV. Sematuridca. 



The Phalcnites of the globe are sul)divi(led into twenty-six families, as 

 follows : Umj>teryd(e, Ennomidcc, CEnochromida>, Amph'idasydce, Boarmidce, 

 Boletobkl(B^ Geometridce, Mlcor.end(C, Palijadfe, Ephyridcp,, Acidalidce, Micro- 

 nidce, Caber Ido', Macaridoe, Fidonida', Hazidce, Zereuidce, Ligid(e, HybernidcB, 

 LarenUdm, EuhoUdcB, Sionidce, Hedylidfe, Eniteiyiiukc, Evqdocida;, Hypo- 

 chrosidoe. 



While I would not regard these groups as of sufficient importance to be 

 considered as l;iniili(!s; in the succession of the genera, and the recognition of 

 the groups to which the learned author 'applies fiimily names, I cannot but 

 regard this as the best classification hitherto presented, while it is the most 

 elaborate work (ui the family that we have. It must always remain a classic. 



It will l)e seen that I have in the main followed M. Guene'e's arrange- 

 ment of genera. It should be borne in mind that my ariangeraent is based 

 mainly on a study of North American species, with the aid of European types, 

 while Guenee's work includes species from the tropics of both hemispheres 

 and Australia, as well as China, and, in fact, the globe. Whether the changes 



