338 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



foxhounds, as it were, in Lepidoptera ; they course by scent, as, 

 undoubtedly, butterflies and many Geometers find their mates by 

 sight. 



It has been suggested that these insects possess an " addi- 

 tional sense," and that its seat is, probably, the " feathered 

 antennae." But assembling is evidently habitual in species 

 without these very antennae (Entom. xxv. 84, 121, 163, 218). It 

 is much more likely that pectinated antennae are necessary under 

 special circumstances affecting the sense of touch. There is no 

 evidence in favour of an additional sense existing; there is no organ 

 we can point to for its exercise; there is, in short, no need for it. 



These remarks are laid before the reader without any claim 

 to infallibility. There are puzzles insoluble throughout Nature; 

 so will there be in insect mechanism. But a generous field has 

 been left for useful research, and it is well we should seek to 

 know more about the things around us than that they are 

 possible results of chance. 



Chester, October 31st, 1894. 



A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PERGA, Leach. 

 By John W. Shipp. 



In a paper published in the 'Entomologist' (vol. xxvi. p. 263), 

 I gave a list of specimens belonging to the above genus, which 

 are in the Hope Collection at Oxford. Kirby (List Hym. i. 1882) 

 gives a list of species in the British Museum, including no less 

 than forty-six known forms. This has been further augmented 

 to fifty-one, the species since added being chaUjhea, Froggatt ; 

 sericea, Kirb. ; sellata, Kirb. ; lalagc, Kirb. ; and divariata, Kirb. 

 The most natural classification of the genus is as follows : — 



I. Anteniife 6-jointed. 



I. Antennae shortish, longer than head, 

 joints 3-5 of equal length, not re- 

 markably short. 



A. Species furnished with four sub- 

 marginal cells in anterior wings. 



a. Species with the 2nd recur- 



rent nervure confluent 

 with the radial nervure 

 between the 2nd and 3rd 

 submarginal cells . . Acanthoperga, n. g. 



b. Second recurrent nervure 



not confluent, but joining 

 the cubital nervure be- 

 tween the 2nd and 8rd 

 cubital transverse ner- 

 vures . , , . Pkkga, Leach. 



