be given, and of every species studied. The entire structure 

 should be known when we enter upon a re-organization of the gen- 

 era of described species. In conclusion, I must generally agree 

 with Lord Walsingham's remarks on the Tineidce. So far as I 

 have studied them, we appear to be able to classify our moths 

 under one or other of the families : SpJiingidce, yEgeriad(2, Thy- 

 ridcB, Zygcenidc^ (incl. Castnia), BombycidcE, Noctutdce (inch Cyma- 

 tophora. Brephos), Geometridce, PyralidcB, TortricidcE, Tineidce, 

 PteropJioridcB (incl. Alucita . The more " difificult " families are 

 those in which the structure is divergent by reason of the placing 

 in them genera of uncertain position, intermediary in character, 

 or again isolated by an apparent " dropping out " of connecting 

 forms. The SpJiingidcB, JEgeriadc^, Geometridcv, Tortricidce, and 

 PtcrophoridcB seem more easily recognized than the rest. They 

 may be considered to be more distinctly specialized groups and, 

 perhaps, of more recent origin. Among existing BombycidcB 

 Pyralidce and Tineidce we may, I believe, look for some of the 

 oldest structural types of moths. Assuming that the feather- 

 wing is a degradational character, as it is found in low forms in 

 other sub-orders, we may consider the PteropJioridcB as having 

 been thrown off from the Tineidce, but not as an older type in 

 time of the Lepidoptera. 



NOTES ON ORGYTA BADIA, h. EDWARDS. 



By R. H. Stretch. 



Having found this species in abundance at Astoria, Oregon, 

 on July 31 of this year, I give such notes on its transformations 

 as were obtainable, in the hope that it may be the means of set- 

 tling its specific standing. 



On June 17 I found a mass of eggs which I judged to be- 

 long to this species. Many larva hatched during the succeeding 

 week at intervals, but I could not induce them to eat, although I 

 offered them rose and willow leaves, and the brood was lost. On 

 my return to the same locality July 31 I collected the larvae, co- 

 coons, and one perfect male. Other males subsequently emerged 

 (Aug. 6 and 8), but no females. Indeed the bulk of the cocoons 

 found were apparently males (judging from their size) which in 

 this genus is an excellent guide, the sex of the larva being also 

 deferminable by both size and color. The males do not vary ap- 

 preciably, and are so like those of Orgyia Afitigua of Europe that 

 I am inclined to think M'ith my friend H. Edwards that the two 

 species are identical. 



Egg- — Unlike our Californian O. vetusta and O. gulosa, the 

 eggs are not deposited in a mass on the female cocoons, in a mix- 

 ture of the down from the body of the parent, but are spread 

 out on the surface of the cocoon in a thin sheet, side by side. 



