

[81] NOTES ON NOTODONTA DICT^EA. 193 



So far as we are able to judge from the descriptions at 

 hand, the larval forms also agree; and it is quite an interesting 

 fact that the European variety which is destitute of the 

 yellow lateral stripe, has also its counterpart in the example 

 found at Schoharie, of which the description has been given, 

 and in another taken at Sharon Springs by Mr. von Meske. 



From an example of our eastern form sent by me to Mr. 

 Stretch, of San Francisco, he has identified it as his N. Cali- 

 fornica. If, however, the sketch of the larva made by Dr. 

 Behr and the information which he gives of the larva, be cor- 

 rect, then there is a possibility that a comparison of additional 

 examples of " N. Calif ornica" may show it to be distinct^ 

 The figure of the larva, as reproduced by Mr. Stretch, is cer- 

 tainly quite different in its appearance from any of those 

 which have come under my observation. 



It will be seen that I have included in the synonymy of this 

 species, references to the Ph. Bomb, tremula of Linnaeus and 

 Clerck, as probably identical with it. This opinion is held by 

 several of the best European Lepidopterists, who claim that 

 the same species was twice described by Linnaeus. Others, 

 as Staudinger, entertain the belief that the dictcea of Linnaeus 

 is a distinct species, the one ordinarily occurring in Europe 

 being the N. tremula, to which the name of dictcea has been 

 improperly applied. Staudinger, in his citation of N. tremula 

 in his catalogue, includes as a synommi "Dictcea (L. S. N. 

 xii, 826, ex Barbaria, alia species esse videtur)," adding the 

 references to the following authors who give tremula under 

 the name of dictcea : " Esper, 58, 5 ; 84, 2 ; Hiibner Beitr., 22; 

 Ochsenh., iii, 63 ; Gfodart, iv, 19, 1; Freyer, 579." 



For the present I think it proper to retain the familiar name 

 of dictcea for the species, as the necessity for the proposed 

 change does not appear to be clearly shown. 



