We have now passed in brief review the bombyciform Noctuidœ, or Thyatirinœ, and the typical Noctuidœ, or Noctuinœ (Noctuœ nonfasciatœ). The former group differs in certain details of the neuration, and the question comes up as to the value of this character for classification. In all other repects, this small assemblage of moths must be considered as belonging to the Noctuidœ.

Soiled white. Antennal depression, a dot on each ocellus, a pair of large round spots on the vertex, an angular spot behind each eye, the basal angles of the scutellum, the tergum and disc of the pleural pieces, black; the elytra whitish hyaline generally with fuscous nervures. Length about 6 mm.

Belongs to the Chariclea group.

Male.—Expands 1.9 inch. Upper side pale yellow-fulvous; the markings as in Helena, but pale black, reduced; the mesial stripes on both wings interrupted, macular; the extra discal rounded spots on primaries minute, the sub-marginal crescents wanting, and represented by small clusters of scales at the summits only, leaving a clear space to the margin, which margin is edged by an even stripe; on secondaries the rounded spots are large, and the crescents are represented by larger clusters of scales; the marginal border is extended on each nervule so as to encroach on and make narrow the clear space.

I reared from Conotrachelus nenuphar last summer a number of parasites, which were determined for me by Dr. Riley as Sigalphus curculionis Fitch, and S. curculionis, var. rufus. Full descriptions of both of these may be found on page 27 of Riley's Third Missouri Report, and upon page 67 of the Supplement to the Missouri Reports.

1873—Stretch, Zygænidæ and Bombycidæ, 118.

Head small, hardly retracted; eyds inconspicuous, bulging; ocelli distinct; vestiture thin, loose and divergent; tongue weak and short, spira; palpi weak, short, drooping, with thin divergent vestiture; legs sub-equal, posterior slightly the longest; middle and posterior tibiæ each with minute terminal spurs only.

Havin been asked by Mr. Jas. Fletcher, of Ottawa, to look for the larva of M. Taylori, with the purpose of discovering its food plant, &c., it was with much pleasure that I accepted the commission, and now have the gratification to inform you of my sucess.

The nests of Argiope riparia were unusually abundant las autumn in the neighborhood of this city. During the preceding summer this gayly colored, but atrocious looking spider, could be seen stationed in the centre of its well formed geometeric web on nearly all of the low shrubbery in the uncultivated portion of Centra Park.

In May, 1888, I received from Mr. W. H. Edwards, of Coalburgh, two larvæof Anthocharis genutia which were feeding on pepper grass. On the 22nd (May), both larvæ pupated, having suspended two days before.

A Rare Butterfuly.— We learn from the Ottawa Naturalist that five specimens of Erebia discoidalis Kirby, one to the rarest in the Canadian fauna, were taken by Mr. John D. Evans, at Sudbury, Ontairo, on the 12th May last. The perfect insect is figured and described in Edwards “Butterflies of North America,” 3rd Series, Part VII.

Many minor malformations of wings, elytra, etc., have been observed in examining insects, but recently I have met with two monstrosities which seem worthy of record. The first insect is a ♀ Fœnus tarsitorius Say., given to me by my friend, Mr. Guignard, and captured by him on 24th June, 1885. In this speciment the left posterior tibia becomes trifid about one-fourth of its length from the base, the side branches diverging at an angle of about 30°.