2^0.3.] GEOTE ON MOTHS OF MAINE. 585 



to be a slight tuft beliind tlie collar. While the clypcal projection does 

 not accurately correspond to the structure of lunosa^ as given by Lederer, 

 still I kilow of no genus where the bright-looking and distinctly marked 

 species is better placed for the moment. The abdomen is not tufted; it 

 exceeds the hind wings. The antennse arc simj^le, ciliate. The absence 

 of all distinct lines or marks on primaries, except the two median lines 

 inclosing the darker V-shaped median space, should make the species 

 easily recognizable. 



Plusia surena u. s. 



Allied to ampla and epigcea. No reddish or brown stains. Fore- 

 wings whitish gray and black, silky; t. p. line rivulous, without promi- 

 nent indentations. Metallic mark an open Y; the outer limb a little 

 uneven, silvery, narrow, surmounting a black patch or shade filling the 

 median field below. S. t. line preceded by a black shade, a little irregu- 

 lar, black. Eeniform upright, black-ringed, not constricted. Orbicular 

 small, oblique, finely ringed. Hind wings yellowish fuscous, rather pale, 

 with a moderately broad terminal band. Thorax gray. Orouo, Maine; 

 Mrs. Fernald's collection. 



I am much indebted to Mrs. Feruald for specimens of moths from 

 the neighborhood of Orono, collected with great care by herself. The 

 fauna of Maine is of exceeding interest. IsTot only is it the home of 

 three such rarities as Flaiysamia colitmhia, Uusmerinihus cerisyi, and 

 Catocala coelehs, but several species occur there "originally described 

 from the Pacific coast, such as Agrotis atrifera and Botis fodinalis, while 

 iSi/neda alleni has been recently again described from the West as saxea, 

 as Mr. Hy. Edwards informs me. Space does not allow me to v.rite 

 further on the subject, but local lists from Orono will be among the most 

 interesting from any locality, as is evident from Mrs. Fernald's cap- 

 tures, upon whom the occupation of the entomologist sits charmingly. 

 The families of Moths catalogued in my " l^ew Check List" I am dis- 

 posed to consider of equivalent value, yet the tendency among students 

 of the suborder has been to increase the number of family groups. It 

 must be admitted that the lower subfamily {Glaucopes) of the Zyganidce 

 is closely allied in structure to the Arctiidcc. The errors of Dr. Bois- 

 duval and myself in certain instances show the fact. In the larval state 

 Dr. Packard has discussed the points in which Ctenuclia approaches 

 Arctia. The effect of limiting the family groups by certain single char- 

 acters has led to the breaking up of the Bomhycidcc into family groups, 

 which destroy the unity offered by points of form. We have now such 

 speculations as that of Mr. Butler to consider as to the affinity of Cosstts 

 with Castnia. For my part, while I strongly urge the importance of 

 founding the genera on absolute characters of structure, I would be led 

 by considerations drawn from the criteria of rank in Uexapoda in decid- 

 ing the relative position of family and subiamily groups. The long and 

 heavy abdomen is decisive, I think, of the low position and mutual rela- 



