— 115 — 



third, with Caherodes confmaria Hiibn., in advance, described under four- 

 teen names, in four genera, and Semiothisa granilata Guen. , leading, de- 

 scril)ed uniier eighteen names, in six genera, and in three subfamilies! 

 I speak of this not with any thought of disrespect towards the systema- 

 tists of the past, but to bring out two points: ist, the extreme variability 

 of the species, and 2nd, the extreme uncertainty of the place of a species 

 under tlie different systems of classification. The three great systems of 

 Herrich-Schaeffer, Lederer, and Guenee, very widely differ from each 

 other. The same names are to a great extent used for genera by all, 

 but in each case they often have very different meanings. And insects 

 are tossed about according to the Author that is followed. If the new- 

 system of Von Gumppenberg ever obtains a standing, it will very materially 

 add to the confusion. As it is, one may put a Geometer in almost any 

 of the older genera, and be sure he can find some systematist to quote as 

 an authoritv for the reference. 



Synopsis of the North American Species of Lordotus. 



Bv D. \V. CoQUiLLETT, Los Angelcs, Gal. 



I — Sciitellum not giooved, lounded beliind 2. 



S:utelium with a deep, longitudinal groove i. canalis n. sp. 



2 — Pi!e of head, pleura, breast and legs largely white or yellow 3. 



Pile of head, pleura, breast, venter and legs wholly black ; legs black 



6. apicula n. sp. 



3 — Second antennal joint not over once and a half as long as wide; pile of body 



largely whitish 4. 



Second antennal joint twice as long as wide ; pile of body largely yellowish .... 



2. gibbus Lw. 



4 — Abdomen partly black pilose, wings destitute of brown clouds 5. 



Abdomen destitute of black pile, wings with several brown clouds 



3. planus O. S. 

 5 — Abdomen with cross bands of white tomentum, the second and third segments 



with black pile ; legs black 4. miscellus n. sp. 



Abdomen destitute of white tomentum, second and third segments destitute of 

 black pile ; legs yellowish 5. zona n. sp. 



I. Lordotus canalis n. sp. 



Wholly black, except legs and base of tarsi, which are yellowish. Front white 

 tomentose and yellowish pilose, face yellowish white pilose. First two antennal joints 

 mixed black and white pilose above, densely white pilose below. Occiput grayish 

 pilose. Thorax grayish tomentose, pleura white pilose. Scutellum shining black, 

 divided into two equal parts by a deep longitudinal groove. Abdomen grayish 

 tomentose ; venter same. Legs whitish, tomentose, bristles black. Wings hyaline, 

 the following spots brown : on prefurea, on vein at base of discal, and of fourth 

 posterior cell, in apex of anal cell, on veins at apex of marguial cell, at base of 



