In searching out the boring larvæ of the Noctuid genus Hydræcia,that large and showy species, speciosissima, has continued to prove a decided engima. This great tawny fellow, with its distinctive white spots, must in the early stage leave some flagrant evidence of its whereabouts behind, yet try as we may all efforts seemin vain, and the conclusion was finally reached that Rye could not number this species in its local list. So the few records that Rye could not number this species in its local list. So the few records of its capture are looked up, and the determintion is made to have a trial elsewhere. Tin 1868, Grote and Robinson described this species, together with inquæsita, under the generic term Gortyna (Trans. Am. Soc. I., 342), and relate receiving their types from seekonk, Rhode Island. Knowing the tenacity with which a colony clings to a favourite resort, a couple of days in July, 1900, were taken for a flying trip to that place; the writer believing that should conditions yet remain favourable, the desiderata might still be found.

I have been greatly interested in reading the suggestive article by Mr. Lutz, in your last (April) number, on labels. It voices a need, whichevery student of ecology will have felt, for more information than accompanies the specimens in the usual collection. No one can collect insects carefully without making observations that are new to science, andit is unfortunate that such observations are generally left unrecorded. Mr.Lutz proposes a plan that would make the observations of tlte amateur collector available for comparison, and that would wonderfully enhance the value of his cabinet. It is, in short, proposed that the collection shall be its own expositor, that pin labels on the specimens shall tell at a glance what usually, if recorded at all, has to be hunted throught the leaves of an accompanying catalogue. Nature's label is, of course, already on every specimen, but we are not yet skillful enough at reading the imprint of environment as written in bodily form and structure, and need to be told in our own language.

It was with interest that I read the article by Mr. Frank E. Lutz in the April number of the Canadian Entomologist entitled “Labels.”

It is not so very many years ago (perhaps thity) that we were satisfied if specimens sent to us only bore a State label, the State label as first used being nothing more or less than a coloured disk, a different colour for each State. A few years more, and we have the abbreviated State labels – N.J. for New Jersey, Can. for Canada, etc. Not long after, we asked our friends to mark the label in such a mnner that we might know from what part of the State the insect came. Then it was that the collector with pen and ink would mark the label in one of the corners, or perhaps make a mark in the centre, thus designating as to what part of the State the insect had come from. This was not a bad plan, and to-day may such labeled specimens can be seen in the “Horn Collection.” as well as other collections in New York and Philadelphia.

I was in error in referring these species as synonyms in 1894. The latter now stands as Tuerta sabulosa, Boisd., in Hampson's Cat. Lep. Phal., and is credited to New Mexico and California, besides other more southern localities. Very possibly the species may occur within the limits of the United States, but I have no specimens from our territory, all being from Mexico. Fenaria sevorsa, Grote is however, not the same insect, and the name must be restored from the synonymy. It has been subsequently described and well figured in the Biologia Centrali-Americana as Diamuna aedessa, Druce. This position, in the Noctuidæ, in undoubtedly correct, as the antennæ are shortly pectinated, without any trace of enlargement. The genus Diamuna is an Agaristid, and Druce's species is therefor improperly referred to it. The genus Fenaria, Grote must be subsituted for Diamuna, Druce (nec Walker).

In going through the accessions to my collection, I have found several new species and new localities for some known forms. Most of these are included in this paper.

Carneades fusimacula, n. sp.

Resembles redimicula in most points, but with the colours of divergens. The collar has the broad median black shade fo redimicula; but the primaries do not have the pale costa. Sub-costal and median veins gray. Ordinary spots outlined in gray, the orbicular oblong, oblique, open inferiorly and fused with the reniform, the outline being continuous. The spots are gray powdered and are preceded by black shadings in the cell. A blackish basal streak, to which is joined a long claviform extending half way across the median space: this is blackmargined but concolorous. S.t. line not marked, apex grayish, terminal space else nearly concolorous. In other characters much like divergens, with which, also, it agrees in size.

Writing of this species in his magnificent work on the Butterflies of New England, Dr. Scudder said:

“ This butterfly is double brooded throughout the whole of its range, the first generation making its advent during the last week in May, the females emerging the first week in June, when the males are common. *** The second brood varies considerably in the time of its apparition. Mr. Saunders reports that the first butterflies appeared one year in London, August 2nd; while Mr. Lintner took the first at Albany on July 15th another year found them beginning to fly by the 7th, and one year even found them ‘very abundant’ on the 9th.***

An article in the April number of the Canadian Entomologist leads me to offer a few remarks on this subject. The custom of forming new generic names by attaching a prefix or suffix to the existing name of a related genus has grown to serious proportions in recent years. There are several reasons why it should be discountenanced. For one thing,it almost invariably makes the name too long to look or sound well. This is no trifling disadvantage, although some entomologists seem not to appreciate the fact.