MEMOIES OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
87 
X.— SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF THE NOTODONTID^, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR 
TRANSFORMATIONS. 
Family NOTODONTIDAH Stcpliens. 
Bombycites Div. Legitimw (in i^art) Latreille, Gen. Crust, et Insect, iv, p. 217, 1809. 
Vimorphw (in part), PtHodotiteSj Andria'f ot Melalopha Illibu., Verz., pp. 145, 147, 162, 1816. 
^otodontidie StepU., 111. Brit. Ins. Haust. ii, p. 10, 1828. 
Xotodontiv (in part) Newman, Spliins vespiformis, p. 42, 1832. 
(in part) Duncan, in Brewster’s Edin, Encycl., ix, p. 131, 1833. 
Notodontites (in i)art) Newm., Entomologist, May, ii, p. 383, 1834. 
Notodontides (in part) Boisd. Ind, M45th. Ldp. Eur., p. 84, 1840. 
Dici'anuridcc XoiodouthhVj ct Pijgwrida’, DuponcU., Cat, M6tli. Ldp. Eur., pp. 86, 89, 95, 1846. 
Dicrayturidi Stepli., Cat Brit. Lep. Br. Mns., p. 38, 1850. 
Ptilodontes Pacli., Proc. Eut. Soc. Phil., iii, p. 351, 1864. 
Grote, New Check List N. Amer. Moths, p. 18, 1882. 
Notodoutidw Smith, List Lej), Bor. Amer., ji. 29, 1891. 
Kirhy, Syu. Cat. Lep. Ilet., i, p. 559, 1892. 
Dyar, Can. Ent., xxv, p. 121, May, 1893. 
Neumocgen and Dyar, Trans. Amor. Eut. Soc. xxi, June, 1894, pp. 179-208. 
Journ. N. Y. Eut. Soc., Sept., 1894, pp. 112-117. 
Family characters , — Head squarish in front (when denuded), but in nature densely scaled, 
often crested between the anteniun. Clypeus large, siibscutellate in shape, suddenly narrowing 
toward the labral region, which is slightly bent down; above, the clypeus is broad, the margin or 
base being straight transversely, not hollowed out on each side for the reception of the antennte, 
the hole for the insertion of the latter being very shallow; the surface of the clypeus either 
somewhat convex or with a slight median elevation, terminating in the labral region. The 
ei)icranium and occiput both very short, occupying a very short (in a longitudinal sense) region 
behind the anteniia? and eyes. 
Base of epicranium ridged. Anteume usually either wholly pectinated or pectinate on the 
basal two-thirds; the joints scaled above, the branches generally six times as long as the joints; 
in the 2 the antenna? are simple, rarely with short pectinations. Maxilhe well developed; the 
maxillary palpi forming small papillm at the base of the maxilhe. Labium indistinct, siibtriaugular, 
small; the labial palpi well developed, either porrect and reaching the front, or ascending and 
passing beyond the front (longest in Symmerista), 
Thorax with a definite collar; the edge of the patagia distinct, often edged with dark scales, 
and often a dorsal tuft. When denuded the prothorax is seen to be small, much reduced in size; 
the mesonotum shorter than broad; the mesoscutellum transversely suhovate or lozenge-shaped; 
the inetathorax above very narrow, linear (in a transverse sense); metathoracic flanks narrow, 
half as wide as those of the mesothorax. 
Wings: Fore wings naiTow, noctuiform, about half as long as wide; costa either straight or 
slightly convex; apex either pointed or imicli rounded; outer margin very oblique; inner margin 
full near the base, with often a median tuft, the subcostal vein passing very near the costa 
toward the apex; a subcostal cell often present; the discoidal or discal veins situated in the 
middle of the wing. The last subcostal vein (IlL) forms the independent vein. There are three 
branches of the cubital vein, and these features will enable one in difticult cases to determine 
whether the moth is a Notodoutiau oi a Koctuid. 
Hind wings reaching two-thirds of the way to the end of the abdomen, attached to the fore 
wings by a frenulum confined by a ‘•frenulum hook” or loop, situated on the vein; costa straight; 
apex much rounded (compared with the N'octuida?); outer edge long, rounded, the costal vein 
passing very near the subcostal, turning from it to the costa near the origin of the discal venules; 
three branches of the cubital vein; two subcostal venules (II, IIIi). 
Legs rather short; femora and tibim usually densely pilose; fore tibia? sometimes {Loj>hopteryx) 
armed with a spur; hind tibim with two pairs of stout spurs. 
