38 



considering them Noctuoe, I might deprive the order Tortrices of 

 a genus on which perhaps many curious combinations might 

 depend, and I now only place them in Noctuae until I may have 

 an opportunity of examining their larvae, which I have not yet 

 been fortunate enough to meet with. Towards the central sub- 

 class there appear to be many genera which approach the line 

 of contact; Agrotis and Chareas for instance :* I prefer taking 

 the latter, and must mention the species Graminis, as I am 

 fearful of encumbering my system with species to which I not 

 only never intended to refer, but should probably place in some 

 distant order, or perhaps sub-class. At the approach to Geo- 

 metra, the genus Catocala, from its looping larva, seems to have 

 a right to be placed : this I, however, look on with suspicion, 

 as the larva appears to me any thing but a guide in the 

 connexion of sub-classes ; but I here succumb to customary 

 usage in making this genus the approach to the real loopers, 

 objecting, however, to the intervention of Phytometra, Euclidia, 

 and Brepha. 



The sixth and last of the exterior sub-classes is Geometra, and 

 we shall find one insect which is completely a Geometra, and yet 

 in the larva has two additional feet, and the abdominal fringe of 

 Catocala: this is Metrocampus margaritaria,^ an insect, without 

 which the connexion of these sub-classes would have been 

 difficult to establish. The next species I am acquainted with 

 seems to be Rumia cratsegaria, and after it the Thorn moths, as 

 they are termed (Crocallis ? ) : these lead to Geometra J in the 

 centre, which may be considered the farthest removed from any 

 of the surrounding sub-classes ; from the genus Geometra a line 

 may be drawn through Biston, Nyssia, and Hybernia, to the point 

 of contact with Phalaena in the centre, and another through 

 Boarmia, Abraxas, and Ourapteryx to Urania, from which genus 

 of Papihones perhaps the reader will recollect we set out. 



The seventh and central sub-class, Phalaena, now claims our 

 attention. The mere circumstance of having taken a little 



* Perhaps Noctua Lambda. 



t Of Mr. Curtis's Guide. I cannot consider fasciaria, Mr. Curtis's next 

 species, at all allied. 

 I Alcis. Curtis. 



