— 167 — 



characters, but no more. The legs afford excellent characters as yet en- 

 tirely overlooked, while thoracic structure, and especially that of the 

 dorsum will eventually furnish points of value to systematists. 



Adding to these notes, I wish to call the attention of systematists to 

 a character not made use of so far as I am aware, to the extent its im- 

 portance warrants: It is the relative proportions of the hind legs. In Noctua 

 and Geometra, using these terms in their widest sense, the posterior legs 

 are uniformly longer than the others and very strong, proportionately, 

 and the two pairs of spurs are well developed, often prominently so.* In 

 the typical Bombycidae on the other hand, the opposite is the case; the 

 fore legs are strongest, often longer than the middle pair, and the post- 

 erior pair are small and weak, and the spurs are small, often wanting in 

 part. This is a peculiarly Bombycoid character, and the strong relation 

 that the Snurinthids have to the Bombycids finds an additional proof in 

 the agreement in this respect — the obsolete tongue and short posterior 

 legs separate them very .sharply from the true Sphinges. I have recently 

 pointed out that Ellema belongs to the Smerinthid, and not the Sphingid 

 series. 



In examining the large Bombycidae, I have often been struck by the 

 enormous development of the "epiphysis" of the anterior tibia. In most 

 groups it is concealed, and in some Rhopalocera wanting. It is present 

 in all the Heterocera so far as I know; but often very small. In regalis, 

 imperialis and some others this organ is very largely developed and is 

 bare of vestiture. 



What purpose does it serve? 



The following paper by Mr. Geo. D. Hulst was then read. 



THE FAMILY POSITION of EUPHANESSA MENDICA, Wlk. 

 By Geo. D. Hulst. 



Euphanessa mendica was first described a.sA r udaria mendica by Walk- 

 er Cat. Brit. Mus. II, p. 576 (1854), and redescribed by Herrich- 

 Schaeffer Lep. Exot. p. 19 as Eadule biseriata. By both of these authors, 

 and afterwards by Dr. A. S. Packard Jr. (Synopsis Bombycidae U. S. Pro. 

 Ent. Phil. 1864 p. 102,) it was placed among the Bombycidae. In the 

 latter place Dr. Packard describes the new genus, Euphanessa. 



In the Canadian Naturalist III, p. 227 (1 87 1) Mr. W. Saunders 

 describes the larva as being in form a true Geometer, having only two 

 pair of abdominal legs. In his Geometrid Moths p. n (1876) Dr. 

 Packard refers to this, but still places the insect among the Bombycidae, 

 and writes as follows: "I have carefully recompared this genus proposed 



* Some Geometers, I am aware, lack the spurs; but the difference in proportion 

 is, I believe, constant. 



