—178— 



Keyes are given for the determination of the sub-famihes, genera 

 and species, which will prove of great assistance. The genera are well 

 characterized and the history of the name discussed more or less. A 

 complete synonomy of each species is given and a full description, with 

 the habitat. The early stages are not given but references are made 

 to them. 



The work is a model in its way, and a similar work on the Noctui- 

 dce would be a god-send to American entomologists. A few typo- 

 graphical errors have crept in which will doubtless be corrected. By a 

 slip of the pen (or types) the first two letters of the generic name Aello- 

 pos are contracted into a diphthong thus doing away with one syllable, 

 and the specific name ''inscripiim' should be in the feminine form to 

 agree with that of the genus Deidamia under which it is placed. 



Mr. Smith rejects the generic name Phlegethontius and adopts the 

 later name Protoparce, because, as he says, "Hiibner's term is not one 

 expressing a distinct idea, and the three American species now referred 

 as congeneric, .were placed in three distinct coiti by him." What gen- 

 eric name over twenty-five years old in any department of zoology can 

 stand under this ruling ! It has been the work of modern zoologists to 

 lake the old generic names and selecting some species under each as a 

 type, bring together under it the conspecific names and thus purify them. 

 Mr. Smith appears to have an especial hatred for Hiibner, but unfortu- 

 nately there were Hiibners in every department of zoology, so that 

 there is now no course to pursue but to observe the rules closely, and 

 treat all authors alike, for unless this is done, some later writer will 

 overthrow the work. Zoologists have formulated and crystalized their 

 ideas on nomenclature very much within the last ten years as is shown 

 in the Code of the American Ornithologists' Union. 



The genus Daremma is sunk as a synonym of Ccratorna which I 

 believe to be correct. I could find no satisfactory characters to separate 

 them and I think Mr. Smith is right in writing them. The system of 

 venation adopted is that used by the entomologists on the continent of 

 Europe and by most of the English and Americans. Dr. Packard 

 claims that this method is unscientific and only used by amateurs. All 

 I have to say on this point now, is that the professionals are in an ex- 

 ceedingly small minority. 



At the close is given a List of the Sphingidae of Temperate North 

 America, which introduces some few changes from the body of the 

 book. \\'ith such an admirable work on the Sphingidae we can afford 

 to let these insects take a long breathing spell. 



