— toy — 



have kindly placed at my disposal such material as I needed, and to 

 them I give sincere thanks for the assistance rendered me. Prof. Riley's 

 material I have constantly used as tny own, and owing to the many bred 

 specimens contained in it, it was most valuable in deciding specific 

 limitations. Finally I would ask all those who are interested in this 

 family and desire to aid me in future work to send me for study such 

 local material as may be most abumlant with them. Everyl]mig, even 

 the most common species are desirable. I will gladlv name in return, 

 all those forms which thev mav find difiricult\- in identifving. 



Some Modifications in the Leg Structure 

 of Deltoid Genera. 



Among the most interesting groups of the Kociuida;, are the Delloids. 

 The group has been variously referred to the Pyra/idiP or Noctuidce, but 

 seems to me better placed with the latter. Ii is a very decidedly peculiar 

 one, offering many striking characters, \et impossible of such definition 

 at present, tliat family rank can be accorded to it. The genera and 

 species were among the first studied by me, and the manuscript is over 

 four years old. Since it was written I have seen many more specimens, 

 and have been able to complete my knowledge of species. In conse- 

 quence the work must be largely re-written to bring it up to my present 

 knowledge. One of the mo>t attractive features of the study of this 

 group was found in the secondary se.\ual characters, and more parti- 

 cularly those tuftings of the fore legs which might be considered as scent 

 organs. Striking as these structures are, they have been completely over- 

 looked, only the most casual references to them being found, and while 

 the similar though diflerently placed tuftings in the Sphingidte were care- 

 fully studied, the beautiful characters of the Deltoids recived no attention. 

 I first gave a sketch of these structures at the Philadelphia meeting of 

 the A. A. A. S. , before the EntomoloLrical Club, and afterwards called 

 attention to them before the Biological Society of Washington. On these 

 occasions I also called attention to some C)f the peculiarities of antennal 

 structure, which will not be considered here. In view of the fact that it 

 will be some time before the revision of my manuscripts can be com- 

 pleted, and of the interesting and important nature of these structures, I 

 have concluded to publish in advance of the systematic poition of my 

 work, a brief description of the more prominent modifications, aiding 

 the verbal descriptions by figures. 



In the more typical genera o( the Xociuidce -the 7ion fasciat.n o^Vlw 

 Grote — we find little in the way of secondary sexual character--, while as 

 a rule the primary characters are well developed and sj)ecifically peculiar. 



