3CiO Bibliographical Xotice, 



miJLlOGllAPHlCAL NOTICE. 



Cataloyuf of Oif Lrphloptfra Phahr»ir in tJie British Museum. 

 Vol. VI. (CatalorfHf of NocluidUr, Vol, III.) Loudon : Printod 

 by Order of tho Trustees. 8vo. I'p- xiv, 532. IMs. xcvi.-cvii. ; 

 text -tigs. 172. 



The present volume of Sir George Hnm))son'fl great work is devoted 

 to the subfamily CucuUianro, and includes 092 species distributed 

 nniong 111 genera, many of which are described as new. While 

 the Xoctuid;e, as a rule, are smaller and less showy than the motha 

 classed under Sphinges and Bombyees, they are more interesting to 

 European entomologists, as a larger proportion inhabit temperate 

 climates. Under the Cucullianie, as here defined, we tind CucuUia, 

 CUophana, Calnphasia, Ajtorophifla, {.'loanthn, Xi/linn ( = Calocanipa, 

 auct.), Affriopis, Dast/polia, Cosmia, and other well-known Euro- 

 pean genera. A series of additional species (uncoloured) are re- 

 presented, with neuration &c., in the text-figures. Although many 

 of these moths are dull-coloured, yet the larva? of some of them 

 (e.rf. those of CticuUia and Xj/Jiua) are extremely beautiful, those of 

 Cxicullia being gregarious and feeding in clusters on Verbascum <fec. 

 (the larva of CncvlUa verhnsci is figured on p. 2). They are a groat 

 contrast to the dull brown subtorraneau larva; of tho Agrotinae, 

 called "Cut^worms" by the Americans. Tho moths of the genua 

 CucuUia are popularly called " Sharks " in England. They some- 

 what resemble small Sphingidae in their long, narrow, pointed 

 wings, and fly over flowers at dusk in the same manner. Our 

 species are all light brown, grey, or whitish, but several of the 

 Continental and Siberian species are of a most beautiful green, and 

 others brilliant silvery white, none of whi( h, however, arc figured 

 in the work before us. 



It is less than two years since the publication of vol. v., and 

 vol. vi, is the third volume of Xoctu;r, vols, i.-iii. having been 

 devoted to Arctiid® &c. Those who an- Vjest acfpiainted with what 

 C£^tAloguo and desoriplivo work means will know best how to 

 appreciate the energy and the industry of the Author, and least 

 inclined to find fault on account of any error or omission which 

 they may be able to discover. For our own part, we may say that 

 the previous high standard of the work seems to be fully maintained 

 in the present volume both as regards the descriptions and tables, 

 and we are glad to see that the larvaj, when known, are also briefly 

 noticed. 



