LETTER OF OCTOBER 29TH, 1860. 41 



BrentMa pavonacella. I am disposed to consider this not 

 a TINEINA, but rather one of the PYRALIDINA, allied to Simaethis; 

 but I have never observed the strutting habit in any of our species. 



Pigritia laticapitella. This is an obscure looking insect of 

 doubtful location, reminding one most strongly of some of the 

 aberrant Butalidce. 



IX. (AND LAST). 



EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES, 

 October 29th, 1860. 



YOUR very kind letter of the 26th of September was 

 received only a few days after the deaths of a lovely and 

 accomplished sister, and my father-in-law, whom I greatly 

 respected and loved. 



This latter event will interrupt my studies during the 

 winter, I fear, as it has left me to settle the affairs of a large 

 and complicated estate. Together with other duties it may 

 absorb my entire time, for there are indications, not insignifi- 

 cant, of a coming commercial crisis, consequent on the do- 

 mestic agitation of the slavery question. 



The box containing the insects reached me the day after 

 your letter. Its contents were entirely uninjured, and I 

 cannot sufficiently thank you for the generosity you have 

 shown, as I expected nothing in return when my box was 

 sent to you. I should have written on the reception of your 

 letter announcing the safe arrival of my box, that the report 

 of your examination of the American species would amply 

 repay me, if you connected with the act any obligation, for 

 the specimens sent to you. The sickness of those who were 

 very dear to me determined me to defer writing from day to 

 day until I entirely forgot to do so. 



I was much interested in your observations, which confirm 

 in some instances what I could only suspect, having no 

 European specimens for comparison. I have sent a copy 

 of your remarks to the " Proceedings" for publication this 

 month, but have not yet received copies. I agree with you 



