September 3rd, 1895, I received several nearly full-growns specimens of the curious, sluglike caterpillars of this beautiful moth, so aptly named by Professor Comstock, “the crinkled flannel moth.” The cunning brown caterpillars were placed in a cage here at the insectary, where they fed freely on apple leaves, although they were feeding on quince when found at Worcester, Mass. Since Dr. Packard described the insect in its different stages in 1864, its life-history has been worked out in detail by Dr. Lintner (Ent. Contrib., II., p. 138, 1870), and recently by Dr. Packard (Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. for : 894, p. 275). In this last paper Dr. Packard has described and figured in detail the extra two pairs of abdominal legs (seven pairs in all) possessed by the caterpillars, and some curious lateral glandular processes.

A. labrosa is cited from Mexico by its describer, but I have not seen it from that country. Mr. Robertson sends it to me from Illinois. There are two species found in Texas, which may be expected also across the Mexican border. One of them is what passes for A. sumptuosa, Sm., in this country, and indeed agrees with Smith's description; but Col. Bingham finds that a co-type in the British Museum belongs to Section A above (spur minutely ciliate), while our insect belongs to Sect. B. It is just possible that the B. M. co-type is not identical with the true type of sumptuosa; if this is not so, our sumptuosa will have to be renamed. The other Texan species referred to was recorded by Cresson as A. lucidula, Sm., but it differs from that, and is referable to A. humeralis, Patton, of which it may perhaps constitute a geographical race.

This tribes includes a number of species which are, as a rule, easily distinguished by the peculiar appearance given by their soft integuments and usually somewhat elongate form. A number of them are pubescent, while others, on account of the peculiar sculpture of the surface, are quite opaque, the effect on the eye being, at first glance, the same in each case. The elytra in our species are longer than the abdomen, the prothorax is margined, the antennæ approximate, inserted on the front, the hind legs with rather slender thighs, not fitted for leaping. It will be remembered in this connection that I consider the Halticini as a distinct tribe.

Before the generic names of our moths can become permanent, it is necessary that all the described genera should be compared, but specially the older genera of Europe. To make a beginning in this matter, I have drawn up the following synoptic table of the Hypogymnidæ, based on the characters used in Hampson's Moths of India, adding thereto the species found in Europe and in North America. The types of the genera are recognized as determined by Kirby.

The following list is based upon a very interesting collection made, chiefly at Cedar Hill, near Victoria, by the Rev. G. W. Taylor, F.R.S.C., but includes such other species as I have found described, or recorded from Vancouver Island. Even with such additions it is a short list in comparison with those that could be compiled from much less extensive areas in Ontario. British Columbia has, as yet, had but few resident entomologists, and its rich fauna is, in consequence, but poorly known. Butterflies and beetles have been fairly well collected, but in other directions there are almost unexplored fields for investigation.