370 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



strongly dentate and is frequently emphasized by enlarged spots on 

 lower half. The terminal line and costal, apical, and marginal spots 

 are the most constant marks for separation, and with good figures 

 bringing out these characters, it would be very easy to separate the 

 species. 



The venation and structural characters seem to be subject to very 

 little variation in each species, but there is a great divergence in the 

 different species, quite sufficient, I think, to divide some of the genera 

 into several others or subgenera. I have not thought it necessary to 

 go into these differences at the present time, as the subject is so ably 

 covered by Sir George Hampson's classification, hence particular at- 

 tention is only called to the structure of such species as are character- 

 ized as new. 



No doubt continued collecting in Mexico, Central and South 

 Americas will add many interesting species to the lists, as the groups 

 seem to be most common in the subtropical regions. Little or nothing 

 is known of the life histories, excepting one species, P. nehulifera 

 Stephens, which has been well w^orked out by Mr. E. Daecke.'' 



The larva of this species is solitary, feeding on the leaves of huckle- 

 berry {Vaccinium sp.) and sand myrtle {Dendrium huxi folium). It 

 has the peculiar habit of constructing a tube of sand and silk on the 

 stalk and stems of its food plant, forming a covered, protecting pas- 

 sage from a hole in the ground near the root, into which it retreats 

 when danger threatens, to the fresh leaves upon which it feeds. 



This clew should assist collectors in the arid regions of Arizona 

 and New^ Mexico to the life histories of the several species which are 

 quite common there, especially as these tubes must be rather con- 

 spicuous objects. 



ANALYTICAL KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Fore wing with ternien entire Surattha Walker. 



Upper half of termen strongly produced 2 



2. Vein G, hind wing, from upper angle of cell ^ Mesolia Ragonot. 



Vein 6, from below angle 3 



3. Veins 4 and 5, fore wing, separate at origin Prionaptenjx Stephens. 



Veins 4 and 5, stalked or connate Eugrotea Fernald. 



Genus SURATTHA Walker. 



Surattha Walker, Cat. Brit. Mus., XXVII, 1863, p. 75. 

 Calarina Walker, Cat. Brit. Mus., XXXV, 1S66, p. 1770. 

 Surattha Hampson, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1895, p. 905. 



Hampson's description of this genus is as follows : 



Palpi porrect and thickly scaled, extending about one and a half times length 

 of head; maxillary palpi triangularly scaled; frons with a conical process; 



" Entom. News, XVI, pp. 12-14, pi. ii. 



* In some male specimens of M. oraculella vein G is from slightly below upper 

 angle. 



