Groups of the Lepidoptera. 329 
startling, for Latreille had before (as we have seen) tried 
the Pyrales in different positions without leaving them 
very satisfactorily placed. But this alteration in the 
Linnzan order by Doubleday was, nevertheless, openly 
dissented from by Mr. Stephens, and it did not obtain, 
I believe, the adhesion of entomologists. 
Next, in 1852, was published the first vol. of M. 
Guenée’s ‘ Noctuélites,” and on p. 2 of that work, we 
find his ideas on classification. He says, ‘‘ The Noctuce can 
be placed indifferently after Bombyx or after Geometra. 
They unite with the former by the Noctwo-Bombycides 
and Bombycoides, and with the latter by the Anthophilides, 
Hrastrides, and Phalenoides. If this last disposition were 
adopted, it would be necessary to attach GrompTRA to 
Bompyx by the genera Amputpasys, Nyssta, §c., and to the 
Noctum by the families just mentioned” (namely ANTHO- 
PHILIDES, HrasrripEs, PHAaLmNoIDES). ‘This, I think, is a 
most important passage ; and then follows this sentence: 
“But up to this time, all the authors have placed the 
Noctwe immediately after Bombyx, and when I reflect 
that the bouleversement of that order adopted for such a 
long time, would have nearly as many inconveniences as 
advantages, I feel little disposed to make an innovation.” 
Now here we have a candid suggestion by M. Guenée, 
of a plan for placing the Geometre between BomByx and 
Noctua; and he says that if this be done, the Noctue 
must begin with Hrastria and Anthophila, which would re- 
quire a complete re-arrangement of the group. Not a 
word, remark, is here said by the author of the new system 
about dividing the Bombyces, and placing the Geometre 
between the sections. The whole passage tends directly 
to this, that if effect is to be given to the affinity of Bom- 
byx and Geometra, it must be by placing Geometra next to 
Bombyx, and then securing the transition from Geometra 
to Noctua, by a re-arrangement of the latter group. Too 
much weight can hardly be given to this opinion. 
M. Guenée, therefore, having decided in 1852 not to 
disturb the arrangement, described the ‘‘ Noctuélites” in 
the old order, that is, beginning with the Bombyciformes, 
and having the Geometriform families at the end. When 
his work had proceeded as far as the Geometre, M. Guenée 
(in the ‘ Généralités, vol. 9, p. x) returned to the subject. 
He says, “‘ you can attach the Phalenites to nearly all the 
other divisions of the Nocturna. Thus, the Noctue give 
