226 Season of 1816. 



ral years past, but was entirely unacquainted with the 

 perfect insect : that they were the larvae of some of the 

 nocturnal lepidoptera, was evident from their characters. 

 It was not until the present season, that I became par- 

 tially acquainted with the perfect insect, as the product 

 of these larvae. Early in the summer, I received from a 

 highly respectable source, which, except in matters of 

 natural history, (in which it is often necessary to doubt 

 the evidence of our senses,) I should have relied on with- 

 out hesitation, a Tipula or Crane fly (Limonia Latr.) as 

 the parent of these grubs, with every assurance that there 

 could not possibly be a mistake, as the worms had been 

 selected, fed, and carefully observed, during their pro- 

 gress to the perfect state. However absurd this appear- 

 ed, it induced me to pay some little attention to the thing, 

 the result of which was a perfect conviction that the pa- 

 rents were two, three, or more species of moths, as was 

 at first supposed. Mr. Samuel R. Wetherill, of Bur- 

 lington, presented me since with two different species of 

 the genus Noctua. Fab. which he obtained from these 

 grubs; and finally, I have the pleasure to return my 

 thanks to Mr. Thomas R. Peters, for a third species, 

 which was sent in the pupa state, but which has since ap- 

 peared on the wing ; still, as there may be one or two 

 more, of which we yet know nothing, and the little im- 

 perfectly known, or not positively ascertained, even of 

 the above species, induces me, consistently with a pru- 

 dent caution, to remain silent about them, until the re- 

 turn of another season shall enable us to make further, 

 and more accurate observations. Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 

 Thomas Say. 

 Hon. Richard Peters. - 



