348 Mr. J. W. Tutt on recent papers on 
these groups. The distinction is still equally good 
theoretically, but it fails in practice. For this reason 
I have been in doubt about the position of the 
PyromorphiddB, Megalopygidse {= Lagoidds), and 
Eucleidse {= Limacodidse) , and I have been obliged 
to give weight to the characters of the moths in locatiug 
these families.^' Thus we see that Mr. Dyar draws his 
characters for locating these from the imagines, but 
he is at the same time careful to state that the " tubercles 
do not contradict the position assigned to them."*^ 
Whether he is wise in doing this is open to question, 
but at the same time I cannot help thinking that in a 
classification based on larval characters, the consideration 
of the imaginal characters should have been abandoned, 
or, at least, only suggested. 
Professor Comstock appears to fail to apply his own 
generalisations in some cases, the most remarkable 
instance being in connection with the Syntomidse. The 
Syntomidas are very like Zygsenas in general appearance, 
the coloration and character of the spotting being 
often almost identical ; yet the earlier stages prove that 
they are as far apart as two so closely similar groups of 
insects can be conceived to be. I had the pleasure of 
examining the larvaa and pupae of Syntomis with Dr. 
Chapman, and there can be no doubt that, as Dr. 
Chapman has already pointed out, the Syntomidse are to 
all intents and purpose Arctiids of a very high type, 
and that they have no connection with the Zygsenidse 
proper, whose Micro characters are well known to all 
British lepidopterists. The parallel system of colora- 
tion, markings, contour of wing, etc., in Syntomidse and 
Zygsenidse, must have been evolved along perfectly in- 
dependent lines. Professor Comstock correctly divides 
the Zygsenidse into two sections, but he has entirely 
failed to recognize the vast gulf that separates them. 
Mr. Dyar places the Euchromiidse (= Zygsenidse) ^' 
with the Arctiids, and here the terminology appears 
somewhat to obscure the results ; still there can be no 
doubt that he refers to our Syntomid group, for on 
p. 202 he writes of the superfamily Zygsenidse:-— ^' 
far as the North American fauna is concerned, there are 
but two families which claim notice, the Euchromiidse 
and the Pyromorphidse. According to my views these 
belong to two separate lines of descent, the " Specialised 
