Specimens of the species alluded to in the present paper and types of the species described, are deposited in the Museum of the Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, Mass.

Pygarctia Abdominalis Grote. ♂ This genus, allied to Ctenucha, is structurally, characterized by the very small labial palpi, which are not porrected but concealed beneath the head; the dark scales which tip the small terminal joints are projected straightly forward but do not exceed the front. The antennae are somewhat long and stout, shortly bipectinate.

The following communication is introductory to a few remarks on the Nova Scotian and Canadian Insects which I have received through the kindness of J.M. Jones, Esq., W. Saunders, Esq., and Prof. Croft.

The study of the geographical distribution of Insects has become more interesting by the differnece of opinion as to the origin and diffusion of species. The insects of seperate arctic regions have a great muttual resemblance, and the difference between them increases in the successive concentric circles from the above regions towards the equator.

Cataclysta Robinsonii Grote. ♂ ♀ I refer this species to Lederer's Section C.: veins 8 and 5 of the secondaries present. primaries bright golden brown. The median whitish grey space is tolerably narrow and well defined; inwardly bounded by the outwardly arcuate white transverse anterior line; outwardly by the white transverse posterior line which is angulated on the m. nervuies. Both the lines are a little uneven. From the distinct ans regularly arcuate white transverse posterior line to the base of the wing, the surface is entirely golden brown.

The accompanying figure, No. 11, is a faithful representation of the larva of the Peach-tree Borer, an insect which in some localities is so injurious and abundant as to sadly interfere with successful peach culture. The grub from which this woodcut was prepared was found in company with several others early in March,in some gummy matter lying on the sod immediately surrounding a peach tree. One, which was somewhat smaller than the rest, was dug out of its bored channel in the tree, where it was still feeding.

It was recently my good fortune to spend a very pleasant fortnight–from August 10 to August 24–on Lakes Huron and Superior, cheifly with a view to obtain a thorough rest from work of every description, and to enjoy the pure bracing air and splendid scenery of these inland seas. The greater portion of the time was spent on the steamboats Algoma and Chicors, and as most of the stoppages at the various ports were made at night, I had few opportunities for collecting insects. I remained over, however, for five days on the Canadian side at Sault Ste.

In a former paper, I have briefly referred to the Peculiarity of nest structure made by the larvæof our large Lepidopterous Nocturnal insects, in order to show that an attempt should be made to separate species on the similarity of form and texture of these structures. No doubt, when Entomology becomes thoroughly studied throughout the Dominion, much of the confusion in our prsent generic classification will be removed by means of investigations into the early history of larvæ and imagines of the many genera.

This beautiful moth was discovered by professor S. I. Smith, at Norway, Maine, and described by him in the proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. IX., March 1865. It is nearly allied to the well known Samia Cecropia, but differs therefrom in being slightly smaller, and in the colouration and markings, as well as in the form of the cocoon and appearance of the larva. It may, therefore, be regarded as a well established species. I have been so fortunate as to obtain a specimen at Quebec, and can therefore add this moth to our list of Canadian Bombycidæ

As this moth pretty generally makes its appearance in our plum orchards from year to year, I have thought it advisable to give a short history of its different stages for the benefit of our fruit-growers.

It is a member of a family of moths to which the great naturalist Linnæus gave the name of Sphingidæ, on account of the resemblance he conceived some of their caterpillars bore, in certain positions, to the notorious Egyptian Sphinx, and which our artist has faithfully represented in the engraving of the larva—fig. 1. while the ravages caused by this caterpillar are fortunately not very extensive, yet it generally appears in different localities from time to time in numbers quite sufficient to cause considerable annoyance to the plum-growers of those regions.

This genus may be distinguished by the tufts of raised scales on the anterior wings. The antennae are more than half as long as the wings, simple, inserted just above the eyes. Head and face smooth, with appressed scales. Face rather broad. Tongue very short. No maxillary palpi; labial palpi curving around the sides of the head upwards, the tips approaching each other on the vertex, the third joint shorter than the second, which is laterally compressed and slightly clavate.

I have collected the following Lepidoptera in the country about Demopolis, Ala., lying at the junction of the Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers. It has been my aim to make as complete a collection as possible of the insects inhabiting this district, in which my residence has been lately fixed, but the time at my disposal for the purpose has ben cruelly limited by other duties. The summer heats preclude much exertion during the best part of the day.

This is the insect previously mentioned in these papers as Leucanthiza Ornatella. At first I was inclined to place it in Lithocolletis, but a consideration of some of its peculiarities induced me to place it provisionally in DR. Clemens genus, Leucanthiza. On examination of the neuration of the wings, however, and of aome other points in its structure and habits, it seems to me to belong more properly to Lithocolletis, though it differs from it in some respects and approaches Leucanthiza, and more remotely, Phyllocnistis and Lyonetia.

In November, 1867, I received from my esteemed friend, the late B. Billings, of Ottawa, several specimens of the larva of that very rare arctian, A. parthenos, which he had reared from eggs laid by a captured female in a box. They were apparently about two-thirds grown, and ready to hybernate for the winter ; a common practice with many species belonging to this interesting family of moths.

The length of this larva was l¼ inches, body cylindrical.

Head medium sized, bilobed, black and shining, with a few brownish hairs.

This is the smallest known American species of the genus, if not the smallest of all known species of it, measuring scarcely 1/6 in. alar.ex. It is very pretty-to the naked eye sparkling like microscopic gems of different colours, or like diamonds set in rubies. The pattern of coloration resembles that of corylisella, but still more that of Leucanthiza ornatella, which it resembles closely, except that it is much smaller and lacks the iridescence and changeable colours of that insect.

Mr. Edwards describes and figures a female of this large species, from Michigan, in Proc. Ent. Soc., Phil. 1863. The following is a description of the male, collected by me in Iowa, July 4. The spots are numbered as in Mr. Edwards account:

The secondaries, above and beneath, are like those of the female.—Above. from the border of the primaries to near the base, the color is yellow, except the sexual dash and dark veining; an oblique line at end of the cell, from which a dark shade extends to the outermost spot; resting midway on this, a narrow shade runs from the first three spots along the subcostal vein.

[Some little time ago Mr. Chambers sent us a specimen of the insect referred to in the following communication, and desired our opinion respecting its specific position. Being unable to give any definite opinion on the matter, as we know but little of the Micro-Lepidoptera, we sent his note and specimen to Mr. Stainton, the great English authority on the Tineina. He very kindly examined the specimen, and communicated his views respecting it, through us, as noticed below.—Ed. C. E.]

In May last I became the tenant of a house in the central part of the city of Quebec. To this house is attached a garden, which contains a few plum trees and a considerable number of currant and gooseberry bushes. The plants, however, are very old, and as the garden has been neglected noxious insects have increased and multiplied to no small degree. I intend in this paper to give my experiences as regards the currant and gooseberry bushes, leaving the rest till another time, and trust that I shall be able to add something to the history of the insects, unfortunately too common, which infest these small fruits.

Anterior wings rich chocolate - brown with creamy white stripes or markings. Costal margin lighter brown. A broad line running from the base of the median vein nearly to the posterior angle, where it becomes slightly forked; from this proceeds a slightly curved narrower branch, from the centre of the wing nearly to the costal edge, and one-third the distance from the apex ; a zigzag mark composed of three straight lines, the first being the broadest, and the third one-half the length of the others, proceeds from the outer angle, where it joins the first line, and terminates under the costal edge; the whole forming a distinct W crossed at the top by the transverse band. Inner edge faintly marked with creamy white.

On page 95 of Volume II. of the Canadian Entomologist, I gave a list of the Diurnal Lepidoptera so far taken at Quebec. I now add the Hererocera as far as the Bombycidæ, availing myself of the latest revision of the species by Dr. Packard and Mr. Grote. It is to be hoped that the researches of these eminent Entomologists have placed the nomenclature and grouping of these moths on a permanent basis.