Americana 



VOL. III. 



BROOKLYN, MARCH, 1888, 



NO. 12. 



Catalogue of Species of the Higher Families of the North 



American HETEROCERA, described since Grote's 



"New Check List" (1872), with those omitted 



from that publication. 



By Henry Edwards. 



In my studies of late years among the Bombycidae and allied groups 

 belonging to our fauna, I have very frequently come upon names of 

 species, given by early authors, to which I could find no reference in any 

 of our catalogues, or the works accessible to me, and I adopted the plan 

 of making a card list of these for my personal use. This system enabled 

 me to clear up many doubts and perplexities, and I have deemed that 

 the results of my labors might prove acceptable to my entomological 

 friends. The results I hope soon to publish under the title of "Popular 

 Talks about the Higher Heterocera of North America.'' but I find it an 

 ite necessity before doing so, that a full list of all our species de- 

 scribed up to this time, should be before me, and I therefore offer the 

 it catalogue as a contribution in that direction. It may possibly be 

 objected, that I have introduced into my list names long consigned to 

 oblivion, but I think it best (as they are but few) that their real meaning 

 should be made known, and that they should find their proper place in 

 synonymy. Among them are some of Walker's species, and if the publi- 

 cation of them in this list will induce Mr. Butler, Mr. Kirby, or Mr. 

 to enlighten us upon them, their mention now will not have been 

 made in vain. I allude more especially to species described and quoted' 

 by Walker in the "British Museum Catalogues," and to those mentioned 

 Entomologica Americana. Vol. iii. 34 Mabch 1S88. 



