— 7— 



mine. As, after all, stability in nomenclature is preferable to a sticking 

 for a matter of unimportant principle, and as Everyx Bd. has come to be 

 generally accepted, I will in future use this term, though I still claim 

 that in strictness Darapsa should be used. My statement about rhodoctra 

 was hardly so positive as Prof. Fernald puts it. I have seen the species, 

 and it seems distinct enough from a rather superficial comparison — un- 

 doubtedly it is as distinct as a goodly portion of the other Sphingid 

 genera. 



The Smerinthincc are all known to me, and I must still insist that 

 Calasymbolus is synonymous with Smerinihus, while I am not prepared 

 to say that Paonias should be united. 



"Which is most convenient? - ' When a genus contains so many 

 species that it becomes unwieldy, then comparatively unimportant charact- 

 ers may be used to separate it as a matter of convenience; but when there 

 are only six species all told, and on Prof. Fernald's own showing charact- 

 ters of equal value with those separating Calasymbolus, separate most of 

 the species, then I cannot see where the convenience comes in, if wc 

 burden our memories and lists with a genus for every 7 species or two. 



My statement as to the armature of Deilephila was based on a rather 

 careful examination of several specimens of linea/a, and a more cursorv 

 one of some of the European species. Going over the material again I 

 find Prof. Fernald correct in stating that the fore tibiae are not armed at 

 tip. The first joint of the fore tarsus has a number of spines so close to 

 the base, that, partially concealed as they are by the vestiture, they seem 

 to belong to the tibiae. By removing the vestiture the error is at once 

 apparent. This armature of the tarsi at that point is so unusual, while 

 the terminal armature of the tibiae is so common, that I was perhaps 

 justifiable in assuming the usual state as the actual one. The further 

 statement of the armature of tarsi was loose — it should have been "out- 

 side" instead of "sides'". This mistake is an error in the use of language 

 and not of observation, for I knew the tarsi were so armed only at the 

 outside. 



I regret that Prof. Fernald did not go further in his paper and point 

 out all the differences between those genera I have lumped under Sphinx. 

 I have seen and more or less closely examined nearly all of the species 

 in all the genera that I have united, and have not thus far found any 

 characters that could be seized on and definitively stated. Some day not 

 too far distant, I hope to get at this family with an abundance of material 

 at command, and maybe then I can convince Prof. Fernald that I was 

 light — if on the other hand 1 should find I had been hasty, I shall be 

 prompt in acknowledging my sins. 



