130 Mr. Butlkr's (Jescriptions of 



Pterostoma sinica, Moore (a rubbed male). 



Notodonta? monetaria, Obertliur. 



PJatychasma virgo, Butler. 



Hoplitis milhanseri ?, Fabricius. 

 The specimen is certainly a IIo2Jlitis and either H. milhanseri, 

 or a closely allied species ; so far as the pattern can be followed, 

 upon the much worn specimen sent by Mr. Pryer, it corresponds 

 with that of the European species; the insect, however, is much 

 larger than ours and may prove to be distinct. 



CalUdrepana 'patrana, Moore (the malej. 

 This species has hitherto only been recorded from Darjiling. 



Theophila viandarina, Moore. 

 Previously only recorded from China. 



Of the Noctuites forwarded to me by ]\Ir. Pryer for identi- 

 fication, many are imperfect and some so hopelessly smashed 

 and rubbed that even their own relations could not recouuize 

 them; nothing probably is harder to identify than a damaged 

 moth, especially if a Nocttta, Hypena, Tvrti'ix or Tinea; a moth 

 without antenna?, palpi, or legs, or with the fringes of its wings 

 worn off and the colouring rubbed away, is disguised so that 

 only the most experienced Lepidopterist can hope to guess at its 

 natural position ; Mr, Pryer himself believes that some uf what 

 he calls my errors have arisen "• from worn and single specimens 

 only having been sent to him to identify " ; and I may add 

 (without admitting that they are errors) such specimens were 

 sent to him by Mr. Pryer, and by nobody else. 



Amongst the unrecognizable specimens in the present series is 

 an insect with the abdomen crushed flat, the wings rubbed and 

 the fringes worn off; Avhich, according to the neuration, must 

 come somewhere near Palijttla, but differs in its small retracted 

 head; Mr. Pryer calls it a Ncnagria, a genus with wliich it 

 neither agrees in colouring, form or structiu-e; but, from such 

 a specimen, I cannot venture to assert that it is a new genus, 

 nor would it be possible to describe it as a new species, though 

 I have little doubt that it is both. 



To those Avho undertake the serious task of identifying genera 

 and species ; which is not, as Mr. Pryer imagines, decided by 

 guessing, but by careful and laborious examination of structure, 



