169 



several of the genera among these families), yet an examination 

 of the earliest stages would alone satisfactorily decide whether 

 the species and genera associated under this family are in reality 

 allied to the Bombyces or not ; they have probably been placed 

 in this tribe on account of their well-developed proboscis (though 

 many of the Arctiidce are almost equally well furnished in this 

 respect, and though the stress laid on this character, if applied 

 to the SpJimgidce, ought to separate the Achcrontiiiue from that 

 family) ; as to their somewhat vague resemblance in the imago 

 state to XylinidcB and one or two other families of Noctuce that 

 is in my opinion quite unimportant. 



Lastly, it is worthy of consideration whether the smooth 

 larvae of the true Noctuites ought to be widely separated from 

 the similarly smooth larvae of the SpJiingidcB, and separated more- 

 over by the interposition of a vast assemblage of hairy coccoon — 

 forming, woolly looking moths like the Arctiidce, Liparidce^ 

 Lasiocainpidce, SainrniidcB, Limacodidce ; although the last two 

 families in their smoother, though eccentrically formed larvae, are 

 apparently nearer to the Noctuites than the others. 



Considering the almost hopeless chaos in which the classifi- 

 cation of the Hetercerous Lepidoptera has lain up to the present 

 time, it seems to me to be most important that all these points 

 should be well ventilated and definite conclusions arrived at. 



Respecting the genus to which the first two species are 

 referred, I personally have some doubts, they are so extremely 

 like the Apainea connexa and A. unaniniis of Europe in pattern 

 and general coloration, that had I received them unnamed I 

 should unhesitatingly have referred them to that genus ; never- 

 theless the study which Mr. Grote has devoted to the types of 

 the obscurer genera in this tribe makes me cautious of offering 

 any decided opinion until I have had time and opportunity to 

 examine the matter thoroughly, as he has done. 



APAMID^. 



Mamestra CINNABARINA. Grote. 



Washington Territory. 



Mamestra cuneata. Grote. 



California. 



NOCTUID^. 



Agrotis repentis. G. and R. 



This species appears to belong to the same section of the 

 genus as A. Impacta of Venezuela. 



Agrotis havilae. Grote. 



I should have placed this species next to Spcelotis Ravida of 

 Europe which it much resembles. 



ORTHOSIID^. 



Orthosia CRISPA. Harvey. 



This is almost intermediate between O. IcEvis of Europe and 

 O. lizetta of Japan ; it is rather larger than either. 



