12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 



A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA. 



By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. 

 Part I. 

 As so little has been done towards compiling a systematic list of 

 Victorian moths, I am pleased to be able, with the consent of 

 the committee of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, to present 

 a first instalment of such a list, to be continued at intervals until 

 completed. I am well aware, in undertaking the subject, that it 

 must necessarily fall short of all requirements; but that it will prove 

 of some use to Victorian lepidopterists is my sincere desire. What 

 I wish is to make it useful as a guide to the arrangement of our 

 species, besides giving references, synonymy (where necessary), and 

 localities where they have been met with. I regret being unable, 

 through the want of proper literature, &c., to give references in all 

 cases. It is a deplorable fact that we have very few working ento- 

 mologists in our midst, and it is with the hops of creating greater 

 interest in this branch of natural history that I am writing on the 

 subject. We have in AustraHa groups of most wonderfully in- 

 teresting insects, which will well repay any entomologist who will 

 trouble to examine their peculiarities of structure, &c. Perhaps it 

 would be as well to mention here that I shall be most happy to 

 assist any collectors in the identification of species entrusted for 

 determination, and would return all specimens where so desired. 



In compiling this list, I have to acknowledge my indebtedness 

 to Messrs. Geo. Lyell, jun., of Gisborne, a most enthusiastic and 

 energetic correspondent; J. A. Kershaw, of Windsor; Frank Spry, 

 of South Melbourne, and other friends, for their kindness. To 

 the two first named gentlemen I am specially indebted for their 

 indefatigable promptitude in replying to queries, loan of 

 specimens, &c. 



It has been pointed out to me that few of our entomologists 

 confine themselves to Victorian species, so I include the other 

 known Australian genera in italics to make the list more complete 

 and show the relative positions of eacli. The genera and species 

 are arranged in natural sequence, following in the main the 

 admirable arrangement of that eminent lepidopterist, Mr. E. 

 Meyrick, B A., F.E.S. Some of the species I have not seen, 

 but are enumerated on the authority of Walker, Rosenstock, and 

 others. It is a rather difficult matter to decide what insects are 

 entitled to be included, as most of the older authors simply gave 

 the locality as New Holland. This applies more especially to 

 the Bombycina and Noctuina. The last few remarks are written 

 with the object of conveying the value of correctly labelling all 

 captures with their proper data. In conclusion, 1 would state 

 that any criticisms, corrections, or additions will be thankfully 

 received and acknowledged in their proper place. Those species 

 marked with an asterisk (*) are now recorded from Victoria for 



