'if^CH
AN
ILLUSTRATED ESSAY
NOCTUIDJE OF NORTH AMERICA;
A COLONY OF BUTTERFLIES."
BY
AUGUSTUS RADCLIFFE GROTE, A.M.
PEESIDENT OF THE NEW TOEK ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB ; VICE-PEESIDEXT
OF THE AMEEICAN ASSOCIATION FOE THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
(1878) ; MEMBEE OF THE AMEEICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, OF
THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATUEAL HISTOEY, OF THE BUFFALO
SOCIETY OF NATUEAL SCIENCES, OF THE K.K. ZOOL.-BOT.
GESELLSCHAFT ZU WIEN, OF THE MINNESOTA
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, ETC.
LONDON:
JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW
MUCCCLXXXII.
PRINTED BX TATLOE AND FEANCIS,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
TO
f i\ g. §, fatki'tt, |uii.
CONTENTS.
I. Preface.
II. STRrCTURE AND LITERATURE.
III. Notes ox Mr. Walker's Types of North-
American NocTUiDJi] IN the British
Museum.
IV. Specimens of North- American Noctuid^.
A Colony of Butterflies.
PEEFACE.
At the commencement of this Essay I must draw
attention to the fact that, as yet, no serious biolo-
gical work has been attempted with the North-
American Noctuidse. The internal structure is yet
a mystery to us, or at best we can judge it from
Mr. Burgess's admirable work on Dcmaus, or get
some notion of it from the observations brought
together in Dr. Packard's ' Guide to the Study of
Insects.' Some work, not perhaps so extended, but
in the line of Professor Huxley's exhaustive volume
on the Crawfish, is needed on any of our common
species of Noctuidee. This Essay deals with the
external structure, as to which I do not find much
notice taken by the older English lepidopterists,
except by Stephens, whose discriminations of genera
I find very good and anti cipatory of the characters
afterwards used by Lederer. I find, also, in Hiibner's
' Verzeichniss' (and here, I fear, I shall hardly con-
vince Mr. W. H. Edwards) evidence that the aiithor
had made some examinations of characters, or else
som e very extraordinary guesses, as, for instance, in
the association of the genera under the BomhijcidxB,
where he was clearly ahead of his time. The genera,
as established, are dependent on comparative cha-
racters or on details of absolute structure, these
8 PEEFACE.
latter only to be observed by the microscope. The
latter class are of the most value ; yet, for con-
veuieiice, some of the former may be considered
valid. I discuss, therefore, in this Essay merely
the external characters, the sorting of individuals
into " species," and the literature of the North-
American Noctuidse. The method of classifying
by mere appearance can lead to no scientific result ;
yet, aufond, this is the method employed by English
lepidopterists, of whom the extreme example was
Mr. Walker, and the best, perhaps, Mr. Doubleday.
There must l)e a radical change in this procedure,
of which we in the United States are the legatees,
and show that we are, when we " lump " the genera
allied to Hesperia or Tludryas. The microscope
must be thoroughly used at every step, and then
the dissecting-needle. We are yet employed merely
in getting our cabinets into order ; and the real
results we are to obtain, the connexions of the
Noctuidse with the chain of living organisms, are
ahead of us in time.
The study of Nature and the collection and ex-
amination of objects of Natural History is a favourite
occupation of our race. Eor those who have patience
and some manual dexterity, the formation of a col-
lection of Butter jflies and Moths will give pleasure
and instruction. It is better if it be undertaken iu
connexion with a study of the structure and habits
of the insects, viewing them in their relation to
the rest of animated Nature and their immediate
surroundings. It is not difficult to become ac-
quainted with the external appearance of the dif-
PEEFACE. 9
ferent parts of the body in the Lepidoptera, although
the hair and scales covering the body and wings
must be removed in order that the shape of the
pieces making up the thorax and head, and the
course of the veins, be clearly observed. An ex-
cellent method of taking the colouring-matter out
of the scales of the wings, rendering them perfectly
transparent, has been discovered by Mr. George
Dimmock ; and my friend Professor C. H. Fernald
has explained the method employed by him in
mounting the prepared wings as microscopic objects
with such success. A knowledge of the structure
of the legs is of importance in the classification of
the Noctuidae, in order to locate the species gene-
rically ; but this can be observed with a good lens
(I have used a half-inch on a binocular stand), and
generally without any denuding, although the arma-
ture of the front tibiae is sometimes concealed by
the vestiture.
The growth of the Moths may be divided into
the several stages of egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and
imago or perfect insect, as these are severally easily
observed by us. Yet the life of the individual very
gradually proceeds, despite the apparent suddenness
of the transformations it undergoes. From another
point of view we may consider the life of the Moth
as falling into two periods — its immature existence,
and the final mature state in which it is able to re-
produce its kind. The egg, caterpillar, and chrysalis
mark epochs in its immature condition, the two
latter stages not being as completely defined in
10 PEEFACE.
some of the other Orders of Insects as in the
Lepidoptera.
The Moths belong to the ringed or jointed type
of animals, and, theoretically, the individuals may
be regarded as compound. As we descend in rank
in this type of structure, we find that there is a
tendency towards independence on the part of the
rings out of which the body is composed. The
lower "Worms are rather colonies of individual rings,
each segment beini? furnished with ors^ans of loco-
motion, respiration, digestion, and reproduction
variously modified. In the Moths (in which, with
other six-footed insects, the separation of the func-
tions is carried to its highest extent) the processes
of respiration, digestion, and reproduction are
carried on by organs situated in the abdominal
region. The middle region supports the legs and
wings, and the rings have become curiously welded
and arched in order to give firmness and room for
muscular development for the organs of locomo-
tion ; the anterior part of the body, or " head," is
provided with a mouth and " tongue," and carries
perceptive organs, by means of wliicli the insect
places itself in the most favourable conditions for
its existence. All the details in the life-history of
any one species supply material for our observation
of the way in which insect-life adapts itself to the
environment. And it is here that the study of
Entomology becomes of real interest and is relieved
from the childish aspect, which it else wears, of
being a mere collecting of diverse and pretty objects,
without any higher philosophical motive. With a
PEEFACE. 11
certain class of collectors who " covet " specimens
it never becomes a rational employment, although,
by the constant acquisition and sale of material, it
may be made a lucrative one. As indulged in by
such persons it loses much of its refining influences
and educational value, and becomes merely the
opportunity for the display of human passions and
idiosyncracies.
Among the different species of Noctuida3 which
I have watched from the egg to the moth-stage is
Aletia Argillacea of Hiibner, the " Cotton- Worm "
of the Southern States. As this species has inter-
ested me for many years, I give my observations
upon it from the Alabama Geological R-eport, and
they will apply, generally, to the mode of develop-
ment in the family Noctuidse. The cotton-worm
is, in its earliest stage, a fertilized egg, which is de-
posited by the female moth on the leaf of the cotton-
plant. Within this egg, which is so small as not
to be readily perceived, the growth of the young
" worm " rapidly proceeds, until in a few days it is
large enough to commence its free existence, and
escapes by eating its way through the " shell." If
we now examine this worm or larva, we find that
the body is made up of successive rings. The first
three of these " rings " or segments, behind the head,
bear each a pair of horny, jointed legs, six in all,
armed Avith bristles and terminating in a claw. If
we compare the cotton-worm, in this stage, with
the common rain- or earth-worm, for instance, we
see that it differs by possessing these jointed legs,
although the bodies of the two animals are alike in
12 PREFACE.
being made up of successive rounded rings or seg-
ments with a fold between them. They belong, in
fact, to two different types of structure ; the cotton-
worm being an Arthropod or jointed-foot insect,
and the rain-worm belonging to the true footless
worms or Vermes.
Counting backwards from the head, we find that
on the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th segments of the body
of the cotton- worm there are pairs of short fiesliy
projections, which are not jointed, but are used by
the cotton-worm for progression. The pair on the
6th segment are not used, and there are projections
of the skin on the 10th segment also, showing a
distribution of these fleshy processes or false legs
along the line of the hinder part of the body, with-
out reference to their usefulness to the animal, and
in an imperfect condition of development. The
last segment of the body is provided with a pair of
these fleshy false legs for grasping the leaf and
maintaining the position of the animal while feed-
insc. When we come to examine the anterior end
or head of the cotton-worm, we find it made up
of a harder covering above, and beneath of pairs
of jointed appendages, the most prominent of which
are the cutting-jaws or mandibles, which perform
the office of supplying food by tearing off the leaf
of the cotton-plant. These jointed appendages to
the head are similar in structure to the jointed feet
of the animal, though they serve a different purpose
in its economy ; they are here head organs ; so
that we now see that there are three distinct regions
of the body in the cotton-worm characterized by
PREFACE. 13
three dijfferent kinds of appendages. These different
regions are technically called head, thorax, and
abdomen. In walking, owing to the disuse of cer-
tain of the abdominal or fleshy false legs, the cotton-
worm doubles the body between the thorax (which
bears the true jointed legs) and the 7th abdominal
segment. This position of the body gives it the
name of a half-looper. As it grows, the yellowish-
green cotton-worm casts its skin from time to time,
feeding all the while and growing rapidly. The
segments of the body are seen to be ornamented
with black dots, which, under the microscope, ap-
pear as warts, some of which give rise to hair. In
some of the worms there is a distinct dorsal line
visible, wanting in others. This stripe down the
back gives the worms a peculiar appearance : it
seems to be a variation, the colour due to the mass-
ing of pigment-cells in the skin, and not a reflec-
tion of the digestive system of the animal, which
begins at the mouth and ends at the last segment,
through the opening of which the leaf-food of the
animal is expelled in little pellets. This variation
of the markings of the cotton-worm is interesting,
because it shows the worm to be undergoing some
slow process of modification ; and it may be that its
present mode of life in the Southern States is pro-
ducing some change in itself.
In Central Alabama, I have watched the growth
of the worms on the cotton-plant. The worm ap-
pears there in certain seasons as early as the latter
part of June. After feeding for a period of
about fourteen bays, the cotton-worms begin prepa-
14 PEEFACE.
rations for shedding their skins to pass into the
chrysalis stage of growth. Eor this they spin a few-
loose threads of silk on the plant itself, which they
rarely forsake for that purpose. Within this light
weh the last larva-skin is thrown off, and the brown
chrysalis-skin is exposed. In this state the worm
passes from a week to ten days. During this time,
although appearing quiet outwardly, and without
exterior organs of locomotion, growth takes place
within the shell of the chrysalis. At last it has
progressed so far that it arrives at maturity.
Through an opening of the head and thorax of the
chrysalis the full-grown cotton-fly or moth appears,
its wings merely little pads at the sides. These are
quickly expanded by a muscular action, and by a
circulation in the veins of the wing, which ceases so
soon as the wings are dried in the sun. The body
is now found to be covered with scales ; the wings
cover the body so much, that at first we cannot see
that it is, after all, the same animal which we knew
first as a larva. But the three portions of the body
may be seen. The head has two long jointed an-
tennae or feelers. The jointed maxillse have become
a spiral tongue. The thorax supports its six legs as
before, while the fleshy or false legs of the abdomen
have disappeared, as being of no further use to the
animal. The insect is now mature, and in a con-
dition to commence its work of propagating its
young.
The migrations of animals are among the most
important circumstances affecting tbe forms of life.
Wallace and Wagner have already shown how the
PEEFACE. 15
separation, in this way, of local races or varieties
may have given rise to new species. There is first
to be considered the involuntary migrations of ani-
mals by being floated down rivers or conveyed by
the wind. As we study those which are provided
with wings, their voluntary migrations are seen to
play an important part in their life. Birds and
insects share these characters in common, riig-hts
of the Storm-Butterfly (Danaus Flex'qrpus) have
already been noticed crossing the Great Lakes in the
autumn, and going southward as if to endeavour
to hibernate in a warmer climate. This butterfly
hibernates in Alabama. Plights of butterflies have
been frequently observed in regions as remote as
the English Channel and the Amazon river. The
cotton-worm moth is strong-winged and has a lithe,
smoothly scaled body, offering very little resistance
to the wind. Although the wind may accelerate
and assist its migrations, I regard them as voluntary,
from the facts of its structure and the wide territory
which it covers. The cause of the northward mi-
gration of the cotton-worm moth from more south-
ern localities over the cotton belt, and as far north
as Canada, cannot be suggested as yet, the data not
being all known. One thing is clear, that the terri-
tory growing cotton, over which they pass, increases
their numbers by providing them with food, and
thus makes them an enemy of the cotton-planter.
In the United States the yearly condition of the
crops has an immediate effect upon the general
prosperity of the country. Any thing affecting agri-
cultural interests thus becomes a matter of public
16 PEEFACE.
anxiety, and it is so with regard to the injuries in-
flicted by certain insects upon the crops. It is now
twenty-two or three years ago since my old friend
Mr. Townend Glover, then Entomologist to the
Department of Agriculture, sent me specimens of
certain Noctuidse to determine, which had been
collected as injurious to different crops. Among
them were specimens of the cotton-worm, which
had been described by Thomas Say under the
name Noctita Xylina. At that time there were
very few Noctuidae named in any of the Museums
in the country ; and of the nearly fifteen hundred
species of Noctuidae now mentioned in our books,
not fifteen were known by name in any col-
lection in the United States. The descriptions
in Prench of M. Guenee had not been translated;
a few species had been described by Dr. Harris
in his Report on the Insects injurious to vegeta-
tion made to the Massachusetts Legislature; but
in no public or private collection in the United
States were there more than a dozen kinds of our
Noctuidae properly named. And it was certainly
difficult to obtain any information as to what had
been done by European writers in the group. At
the present time the general knowledge has in-
creased, so that from 600 to 800 species from the
East are w^ell known to entomologists, and the
immature stages of a considerable number have
been discovered. To a large extent the publications
by the Department of Agriculture and the difi'erent
States have assisted in bringing about this improved
condition of affairs. The treatise of Dr. Harris,
PEEFACE. 17
which has become classical on its subject, did much
towards creating a general interest in Entomology.
But the publication of the ' Canadian Entomologist,'
a journal aided pecuniarily by the Dominion Go-
vernment, and owing its success chiefly to the un-
selfish labours of Mr. William Saunders, has assisted
the progress of Entomology in America probably
more than any one other similar undertaking. The
publications of the Entomological Society of Phila-
delphia must, however, not be overlooked ; their
success was owing to the care and attention of
Mr. Ezra T. Cresson, their establishment largely to
the generosity of the late Dr. Thos. B. Wilson, whose
name is recalled in our collections l)y the pretty
and interesting moth Ciris Wllsoiiii. But the real
fostering influence of Entomology in America is its
practical side, the interests of agriculture, although
the condition of political machinery in the United
States has allowed a different set of qualities than
purely scientific ones to influence its appointing
power. The first journal published in the United
States devoted to Economic Entomology was, I
believe, the 'Practical Entomologist,' issued by Mr.
Cresson, Mr. Blake, and, perhaps, other gentlemen
connected with the Entomological Society of Phila-
delphia, and of which I was Editor for the first few
numbers *, to be succeeded by the late Mr. B. D,
Walsh.
The actual amount of injury inflicted by insects
on the yearly crops of various kinds in the United
* Among the editorials contributed by myself was a short on©
entitled " Cui Bono'?"
B
18 PEEFACE.
States is, as may be imagined, from their immense
extent, very great, aside from such occasional severe
visitations as that of the grasshoppers in the West.
Yet it is difficult to give any exact calculation in
figures of the amount of damage thus inflicted.
Take the case of the Cotton-Worm, with which I
became familiar from observing it for several years
upon my own and my mother's plantations in
Central Alabama, and which, being one of the Noc-
tuidse, is pertinent to the subject of this Essay.
This insect spreads during the season, from south
to north, over the cotton-growing region from
Texas to the Ohio E-iver. The larva strips the
plant of its foliage, and, where it occurs in force
early in the season, and remains in the locality
through successive broods, it inflicts great damage,
eating finally the flowers, the soft bolls, and cutting
off the last picking of cotton. Yet its appearance
is not uniform over the region ; it rarely greatly
increases in number until after the main crop is
formed, and where it attacks cotton on bottom
lands, growing rank and large, it does but little
real harm. By eating the leaves it causes the later
bolls to mature more rapidly; while in South-
western Georgia and some parts of Alabama, the
"rust" (a vegetable parasite, of which we hear
comparatively little) is a much worse foe of the
cotton-planter than the " worm." It will be readily
seen how the injuries committed by any one insect
can be over-estimated upon paper by interested
parties, when we see how much should enter into
the calculation. The historv of the cotton-worm is
PEEFACE. 19
the subject of an extensive volume by Professor
Comstock, recently published by the Department
of Agriculture, and a shorter one by Professor C. V.
Ptiley. Its full history is not yet ascertained, the
territory which it covers in its migrations being
very extensive. After having studied the worm in
the South since 18G8, and having brought the re-
sults before the public in a lecture, I endeavoured,
in 1874 and subsequently, to interest the Govern-
ment in the work of collecting all possible informa-
tion on the subject, and advised the gradual accu-
mulation of facts relating to the time of appearing,
&c., by means of the Postal and Weather Service.
Much, I am satisfied, remains to be done in study-
ing the relation of its appearance to the prevailing
winds. It is probable that repressive measures
taken early in the season at certain points to be
ascertained would sensibly mitigate its later ravages.
The results of the two different inquiries, under-
taken under the management of other parties, are
before the public ; but the statement of Professor
Pdley as to what has been really done towards the
protection of the planter seems to me as exaggerated
as his various publications on the subject are pre-
mature and unfair to other scientists. The labours
of Mr. Townend Glover, for instance, his discovery
of the attraction presented by the glands of the
cotton-plant to the moth, &c., have been appro-
priated ; and there has been too much capital
manufactured by Professor Pviley at the expense of
others, for the mere purpose of making his own
position secure. After having ordered Paris Green
B 2
20 PEEFACE.
for almost every injurious insect, and claiming
public gratitude for his procedure, it is probable that
the Government will have to be called upon to
interfere in the matter of the reckless use of this
arsenical poison. Already much valuable stock
has been sacrificed to the preservation of the potato-
plants, which a little care and industry would have
otherwise protected; and cases of the poisoning of
farmers and their families by maliciously disposed
"hands" and servants have been reported in the
daily press. For some years I have been calling
public attention to the reckless use of Paris Green
as an insecticide, especially fearing its introduction
into the South. It is true that the use of Paris
Green has saved a good many crops of potatoes in
the United States from the attacks of the Dory-
phora or Potato-Beetle ; but lime applied to the
young insects, and an industrious use of the beat-
ing process, would have efiPected the same result.
When applied to the cotton-plant, as Professor Riley
recommends, Paris Green is open to objections.
Under their good nature and general acquiescence
in their condition of life, to which their extraordi-
nary adaptiveness and capacity for copying the
manners of the whites assists, the negroes in the
Southern States have shown a certain readiness for
the commission of revengeful crimes ; and the
wholesale use of such a poison as Paris Green on
plantations would give them a ready and suggestive
instrument to their hands. Being a mineral poison,
and filtering into the soil, Paris Green is also dan-
gerous in a country where surface- wells are used.
PEEFACE. 21
The extent of the present use of Paris Green and
arsenical preparations in the United States is not
generally known in the absence of proper statistics.
Were these published, public attention would pro-
bably be aroused to the danger of the situation.
With every other field for human inquiry and
action, the study of even such a small assemblage of
insects as the Noctuidce touches a number of other
interests which at first sight appear remote. But
the Noctuidse of North America include at least two
species of insects injurious to agriculture wliich, in
this respect, are among the most important of insect
enemies to man on our continent. Beside Hel'io-
l)hila TInipuncta, the Army Worm, and Aletia Arg'il-
lacea, there are a certain number of species of cut-
worms belonging to the genera Agrotis and Hadena
which attack various field- and garden-crops. Out-
side of these are tlie great bulk of the species of
Noctuidce which feed on weeds and plants not of
any particular economic importance. There are
plenty of them to reward the labours of the collector,
and to puzzle the philosophers who believe that
every thing has its use, and that man himself is the
pivot about which all creation turns.
I cannot close this Preface without thanking a
number of correspondents who have sent me
material during the last twenty- five years from
various points of the United States and Canada.
I owe almost all my knowledge of Western Noc-
tuidse to the collections received from Mr. Henry
Edwards, Mr. James Behrens, Prof. E. H. Snow,
Mr. Theo. L. Mead, and Mr. Berthold Neumoegen.
22 PEEFACE.
In the East Mr. Roland Thaxter, Mr. L. W. Goodell,
Mr. G. E. Pilate, Prof. 0. H. Pernald, Mrs. Peruald,
Mr. Pish, and Mr. Allen have been very kind to
me in communicating material. Mr. Coquillet has
sent me notes on many larvte. Prof. J. A. Lintner,
Dr. James S. Bailey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Gray, and Mr.
von Meske have sent me many species from the
central portion of New York State, as well as from
the North Woods. Prom Phode Island the col-
lections of my kind friend of long standing, Mrs.
S. W. Bridgham, have allowed me to examine most
of the species occurring near the seaboard of the
Eastern States. No collection that I have seen has
been brought together with more care ; and by the
gathering of many specimens of a species, Mrs.
Bridgham has given me important data for study-
ing variation in this group. Prom the South I
have seen most of Belfrage's collections in Texas,
and those of Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Koebele in
Plorida. I have collected myself in Alabama, and
Mr. Morrison has sent me a quantity of Deltoids
from North Carolina. I have acquired some of
Mr. Morrison's collections in Southern California
and Washington Territory ; and Mr. Pred. Tepper
and Mr. E. L. Graef have kindly allowed me to ex-
amine the species they have received from the same
collector.
It was a labour of love to Mr. Henry S. Sprague,
the Entomologist, when he drew the excellent Plates
of Noctuidge, on stone, wliich illustrate my articles
published by the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences.
Mr. Julius Pohlman, my assistant during the
PEEFACE. 23
concluding portion of the seven years in which I
held the position of Director of the Museum in the
Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, has made
several beavitiful drawings for me, and was a kind
and intelligent aid in my entomological work. I
cannot forget my departed friend Hochstein, un-
rivalled as a painter of butterflies and moths.
In this brief resume of the sources from which I
have drawn information, I have no doubt omitted
to mention the names of several entomologists who
have corresponded with me. As I write I recall
Mr. James Angus, who sent me some fine Cato-
calas from his captures at West Farms, N.Y., and
Mr. Dury, who has collected many species at Cin-
cinnati. There is no more pleasant task than that
of recalling all the friends one makes in connection
with a pursuit like Entomology; but with my
acknowledgments to Mr. George Norman, of Cluny
Hill, who spent some time in Canada successfully
collecting Noctuida3, my list must end. Besides
discovering Lithojjhane Georgil, two pretty species,
Agrotis Normaniana and d'ocigrapha Wormam,
were among Mr. Norman's captures, and will serve
to remind him of American Entomology.
24
STRUCTUEE AND LITEKATUBE.
The moths belonging to the Family called Noc-
tuidEe, or Noctuse, by authors, are among the most
interesting of the Lepidoptera. Comparatively
uniform in shape, and more often of various shades
of brown in colour, there are a surprising number
of different kinds, separable, usually, by modifica-
tions of the pattern of the upper surface of the front
pair of wings. As might be expected from the
greater extent of territory, the species are more
numerous in North America, north of Mexico and
the West Indies, than in Europe. I have entered,
up to the present time, the names of 1460 species
in my notes ; while, in a few instances, these names
may refer to the same species, it is evident, from
the partial exploration, that a great many remain
to be discovered. I think, finally, that about
two thousand species of Noctuidse will be found in
our territory.
There is comparatively more agreement among
authors as to the limit of the Family than in some
other cases in the same Order of Insects ; but the
differences are still great, arising from the different
characters regarded as essential in deciding the
matter. M. Guenee included a small group, the
Bomhycice of Hiibner and Cymato]}1iorina of Herrich-
Schaffer, as well as the genus Breplios of Hiibner,
STEUCTUEE AKD LITEEATUEE. 25
in tlie Parnily, while excluding the Deltoids. Dr.
Herrich-Schaffer, who was the first author to use the
veining of the wings as giving decided family cha-
racters in the Lepidoptera, excluded the Cymatopho-
rina and Brephina, while including the Deltoids.
The late Julius Lederer followed Dr. Herrich-
Schiilfer in this course. He regarded as essential
characteristics of the neuration of the Noctuidse,
that vein 5 of the primary wing should be nearer
to 4 than to 6 ; and that there should be two in-
ternal veins on the secondaries, which have besides
seven other veins : 6 and 7, arising from the upper
and outer corner of the discal cell, and 8 from the
base of the wing, soldering more or less plainly with
the subcostal vein at the base.
Dr. A. S. Packard, jun., considers the characters
taken from the appendages as indecisive in estab-
lishing the families of moths, which he regards
from the point of view in which they were estab-
lished by Latreille. Dr. Packard depends upon the
relative size and shape of the clypeus, or front, be-
tween the eyes, as the best distinguishing mark.
This he finds in the Noctuidae to be " about as Ions'
as broad, narrowing slightly towards the front,
where it is emarginate ; the anterior edge is often
turned up ; surface full, convex, smooth, the con-
vexity greatest just below the middle, sometimes
becoming a tuberosity" (Proc. P. S. N. H. vol. i.).
Dr. Packard apparently follows M. Guenee in his
limitation of the Pamily. In my own lists and
papers on the Noctuidse of North America, I have
included the Deltoids with them, not being able to
26 STEUCTUEE AND LITEEATIJEE.
find any distinguisliing characters ; and I have
regarded the Cymatoplwinna and Brephina as sub-
ordinate groups of the Noctuidse, not being satisfied
that the neuration gives a determinative family
character. In Nolapliana, which seems otherwise
a Noctuid, vein 5 of the fore wings is situated mid-
way between 4 and 6.
AVhen we turn to the arrangement of the Eamily
into subordinate groups, or subfamilies, we find that
opinions again vary. Generally speaking, authors
seem to have recognized two divisions — M. Guenee
calls them Trifidce and QiiadrifidcB, and Dr. Packard
Noctuince and CatoGalince. The earliest designation
of these groups appears to be by Borkhausen, who
calls them No7ifasciatce and Fasciatce, from the
diff'ering pattern of ornamentation ; and these terms
I have adopted myself. Lederer, however, will
admit no subordinate groups whatever. Having
thrown out Cymatopliora {Bomhycia) and allies, to-
gether with Brephos, he allows the genera to follow
one after another, including the Deltoid forms,
without a break from Blloha to Rivula.
It seems to me that the Noctuidse are a large
group of but slightly diff'ering structural forms,
lying between the Geometridae and the group Noto-
dontidse, or Ptllodontes of the Bombycidae, and with
a more remote connection with the Sphingidge. Mr.
A. G. Butler says that " the Noctuida3 are in all pro-
bability descended from the Geometrites ; that their
ancestors were ' loopers.' " I find that there is a con-
stant modification of the markings and form in the
Noctuid moths, in the two followinf? directions. On
STEFCTUEE AND LITEEATUEE. 27
the oneliand, tlie upper surfaces of the hind wings
tend to resemble the lower surfaces of the primaries :
they are dull, unhanded except by one or two ex-
terior cloudy lines. In position these moths hold
the primaries over the secondaries, shielding the
upper surface of the latter from the light and air
during the daytime. It is as if the pattern of the
one was photographed upon the other. In the other
direction, the ornamentation tends to be uniform on
the upper and under surfaces of both pair of wings.
Tlie transverse lines run across both wings, so that
the upper surfaces of the primaries and secondaries
come to look alike. In this case the moths rest in
the daytime with the hind wings more or less ex-
posed and after the fashion of the Geometridae. In
comparing the method of variation, I have found
that in the Noctuidre, especially those belonging to
the first group, or Xoufasciatce, representative forms
differ first, and most strongly, in the appearance of
the upper surface of the primaries, then in the
secondaries, and lastly in the under surface of the
wings. Thus the American Catocala Relicta, which
belongs to one of the higher genera among the
FasciatcB, approacliing the NonfasciatcB in the posi-
tion of the wings at rest, and which represents the
European C. Fraxbii, difl'ers more or less noticeably
by the fore wing above. On the hind wing the
dusky blue band of the European species becomes
white in the American; while I have previously
shown that, in some specimens, there is a narrow
blue edging retained in C. Bellcta, throwing light on
the origin of the species (Can. Ent. viii. 231). In
28 STRUCTUEE AND LITEEATUEE.
the separation of the forms, exposure to a changing
environment has assisted in giving character to the
species. Por the results of some very careful studies
on the characters of allied species in the North-
American and European Noctuidse, the papers of
Dr. Speyer in the ' Stettiner ent. Zeitung ' should
he consulted.
Many of the North -American species more or less
closely resemhle European insects. There is an
almost perfect gradation hetween absolutely undis-
tinguishable forms, occurring on both continents,
such as Xauthia Silago, to perfectly dissimilar ones.
Again, the caterpillars seem to have submitted to
independent modification, while the moths produced
by them remain comparatively unaltered, e. g. the
genus Acronycta (cf. Ann. N. Y. Lyceum N. H.
Vol. xi.. Article xxviii). All these facts, and others
presented by myself in the ' Bulletin ' of the Buffalo
Society of Natural Sciences, point to the arising of
species by derivation. When we turn to the ques-
tion of the distribution of the forms of Noctuidse,
we must look to former geological epochs for most
of the explanation. The North- American Noctuidse
are evidently descended in great part from a former
circumpolar fauna during the Tertiary Period. In a
paper read before the American Association for the
Advancement of Science in 1875, and printed in Sil-
liman's Journal, 3rd series. Vol. x., No. 59,1 brought
together facts to show the way in which the Glacial
Period has influenced the present distribution of
our North-American insects. I also reprint, with
this Essay, a more popularly written paper, entitled
STEUCTURE AND LITERATUEE. 29
"A Colony of Butterflies," which contains the results
of my studies on this subject, and which first ap-
peared in the pages of the ' American Naturalist.'
Por myself I do not believe that there is any basis
of fact behind the myth of the Atlantis. I do not
think that there is any probability of a former con -
tinent between Europe and America, a bridge for
the fauna or flora and at the same time a surviving
memory in men's minds. E;atlier does it seem
reasonable that the observation of low-lying clouds,
in a sun-flushed, western sky, suggested the fabled
countries. The birth-place of the myth seems to
have been far from the shores of the Atlantic. The
myth must be separated, at all events, from any
e-eolosical evidence of the former existence of an
Atlantic continent.
At this time a large portion of the western and
south-western portions of the United States re-
mains unexplored, so that we have much to learn as
to the geographical distribution of our Noctuidse.
A good number of species are found to range from
Texas, through Arizona, and into California. There
is a general distinctive character to the Noctuid
fauna of the Eastern and Middle States as far as the
Mississippi Ptiver ; and, on the whole, the Eastern or
Atlantic fauna resembles the European less than
the Western or Pacific. There is also a seasonal
migration, from the South to the North, of many
species. The topography of the land is consulted
in their flights ; and the Southern species reach their
highest northern extension along the coast or up the
valley of the Mississippi Paver. EiUhlsanoUa Tmiais,
30 STEUCTUEE AND LITEEATUEE.
the Spanish Moth, which (as found by Mr. Thaxter)
breeds in Florida, is found on the coast of Long
Island ; Erehus Odora is found sometimes in Maine;
on the other hand, TJiyscmia Zenohia and Brotis
Vulneraria have been collected in Iowa and Wis-
consin. These are immigrants, and probably do not
breed within our territory. On the other hand, some
species seem to occur from Guiana to New York, such
as Homopyralis Tactus. The fauna of the southern
extremity of the peninsula of Florida is much like
that of Cuba and even Jamaica. The genus Cato-
cala is more largely represented in the United States
than elsewhere ; as remarked in my paper on that
genus, it seems to be confined to the Northern
Hemisphere, and does not cross the Equator.
As we progress southward the lower forms of
the Family, i. e. the Fasciatce, or CatocaUnce of
Dr. Packard, become more numerous in genera
and species.
Our knowledge of the Noctuidse of Texas and the
South-west and West has been increased by the col-
lections of the late Mr. Jacob Boll in Texas, as well
as those of Mr. Belfrage. Mr. Thco. L. Mead has
made some fine collections in Colorado, discovering
the yellow-winged American forms of Oncocnemis
described by myself. Mr. Berthold Neumoegen
has collected in the West, and employs a naturalist
in Arizona, whence many rarities have com.e, de-
scribed in part by Mr. Henry Edwards, who has him-
self made extended collections on the Pacific Coast.
Prof. F. II. Snow, of the University of Kansas, has
made some very fine collections in Colorado and
STEUCTUEE AND LITEEATUEE. 31
New Mexico, in the latter region not without risk
of his life from the Apache Indians.
In classifying the Noctuidse the following cha-
racters have to he observed. The structure of the
antennae, which, in the males, are often pectinated,
or have brush-like surfaces beneath. The presence
or absence of ocelli, situate behind the antennae
near the margin of the compound eyes, must be
ascertained. The surface of the compound eyes is
either studded with hair or naked ; the rim of the
eye is fringed sometimes with longer hair-like scales.
The clypeus between the eyes is flat or bulging ;
again, it is horned or furnished with a pit or de-
pression. The tongue is usuallj^^ long, but some-
times weak and short. The labial palpi are subject
to some variation in the comparative length of the
joints and their vestiture. The tibise are either
spinose, furnished with prickles, or unarmed ; the
front tibiae are sometimes swollen, or, again, very
short ; the spurs on the middle and hind tibiae must
not be mistaken for these spines or thorns. In
addition the front tibiae exhibit a varied structure :
they have a simple claw-like spine at the extremity
(Oncocnemis and the Dicopid genera), or there are
additional smaller ones, as in the Heliothid group.
Again, the joint is terminated by a tridentate ex-
tension of the tegument, as in Triocnemis, to speak
alliteratively. The vestiture of the body should be
examined under the microscope and its nature
ascertained. In Bryophila and Chytonix, as also
in Tar ache and Tamila, the scales are in part or
wholly flattened, not hair-like. Then the crestings
32 STEUCTUEE AND LITEEATUEE.
of the thorax and abdomen on the dorsal line need
attention, and for this perfect specimens are requi-
site. The wings may have the outer margin scal-
loped {Trigo7iophora), even (Conservula), uneven
(Brotoloviia), or angulated {Scolioptei^yx). There
is a variation in the costal curve, and the apices
may be either sharp, pointed, or produced. As a
rule the wings are short rather than long ; but in
Cleoplicma and CiiculUa, especially the latter, the
wings are long and narrow. In approaching the
lower group, or Fasciatce, the wings broaden. The
veining is usually but little varied. The fore wings
have twelve veins, counted on the external and
costal margins,' and usually a small accessory cell
above and beyond the discal cell. Variations are
oifered by the method of branching of tlie sub-
costal nervules ; and in a paper published in the
' Canadian Entomologist,' vol. xi. p. 231 et seq.,
I have discussed these variations in closely allied
genera ; they chiefly affect veins 7 to 9. In a few
genera the males have an aberrant neuration, and
this becomes a sexual character. Such, for instance,
is the genus SeliocMlus, found from Alabama to
Colorado, and figured by me in the ' Proceedings of
the Entomological Society of Philadelphia,' vol. iv.
plate ii. figs. 3 6 , 4-5 $ . The subcostal vein is
bent downwards, leaving a large space above the
discal cell and between it and the costa, which
latter is thickened about the centre (see figure of
venation, ibid. p. 328). The Southern genus Fterae-
tholix, collected by me in Alabama, is also charac-
terized by a large pellucid impression near the base
STRUCTUEE AND LITERATUEE. 33
of the discal cell in the males ; underneath, the
ed*;^es, especially outwardly, arc overlapped by the
tegument. The median vein is bent downwardly
in a curve at base to make room for the impression,
and thus widens the discal cell. Pteraetholix BuU
lula is a mixed reddish species, smaller than HcllO'
chilus JParadoxiis, which, in its colour and markings,
is much like the larger Heliothis Umbrosiis, under
which latter name it appears I have described
American specimens of the European S. Armiger.
In another form, Chytoriza Tecta, Grote, Can. Ent.
viii. p. 190, there is a small pellucid impressed spot
on the male primary wing. This genus, in which the
wdngs are a little wider, seems related to J? teraetlioliXy
Anomis, and Aletla, while HeUoch'ilus is allied to
Heliothis and Ilelicleptria. While in the other
genera the wings are kept stiff when at rest, in
the curious genus Marasmalus, with two species,
Ventilator and Ilistrio, found from Massachusetts
to Texas, the wings are rolled together so as to
conceal their true size. When these insects alight,
they seem to disappear upon folding their wings;
at such times they may be fancied to " have the
receipt of fern-seed " and to " walk invisible."
The genus is related to Fencillaria and Eutella.
Of this latter we have a beautiful and rare species
in the United States, H. JPulcherrima, found in New
York and New Jersey hitherto.
The discal cell on both wings in the Noctuida3 is
open or partially closed by a thickening of the tegu-
ment. On the hind w^ngs vein 5 is sometimes free
and again connected by this cross vein with the series
c
34 STEIJCTUEE AND LITEEATUEE.
of median nervules. It is variably strong and some-
times wanting ; I have shown how it varies in the
genera related to Erotyla and Spragueia. It has no
value in establishing the subfamilies, and its varia-
bility suggests that, except in a general way and in
relation to the shape and form of the wings, the par-
ticular course and appearance of the veins cannot
be used to establish higher groups than genera ; in
these latter the characters offered by the veins are
often convenient to use. An examination of the
shape of the outer corneous pieces protecting the
male genitalia shows that occasionally they oifer
peculiar shapes in different genera. The pattern
of the wings is sometimes peculiar, and assists in
the work of locating the species ; but it is, on the
whole, very uniform. The colours vary somewhat
and, in the genera allied to SeUotliis, which frequent
flowers in the daytime, they are often very gay.
With regard to the immature stages, the North-
American Noctuidse offer several striking larval
forms. The caterpillar of Scm^isimemna Trisignata
is remarkable for its resemblance to that of the
Diurnal genus Basilarcliia of Mr. Scudder. The
larva has long, somewhat isolated thoracic hairs,
elevates the front of the body when at rest and,
when disturbed, sways the free portion from side to
side, which has caused it to be known as the " zig-
zag caterpillar." It lives on species of Syringa^ and
pupates by boring into the solid wood (in confine-
ment a piece of solid pine will serve its purpose),
carefully closing the orifice beliind it. Professor
J. Henry Comstock ('Papilio,' i. p. 147), who has
STRUCTURE AND LITERATURE. 35
discovered a true predaceous larva among the Phy-
eidse (N. Am. Ent. i. p. 25, with Plate), has also
found an aquatic larva among the Noctuida3. It is
that o^ Arzama Melanopyga, one of a genus belong-
ing to the Nonagrians, a stout Bomhyciform moth
having the abdomen of the female provided with a
large, terminal, close tuft. The larva is furnished
with nine pairs of spiracles, lives in the stems of
pond-lilies, and can remain below the surface of tlie
water a long time.
As to mimicry, the Noctuida3 which are grey or
brown often look like lichens or bark when resting
on the trunks of trees in the daytime. A curious
example of protective mimicry is given by Professor
Keilicott in the pages of the ' North-American En-
tomologist,' i. p. 30 (Oct. 1879). It is that of the
pretty Noctuid. Rhodophora Florida, which lives
concealed in the daytime in the withering blossoms
of tlie evening primrose {(Eiiotliera Biennis). The
moth has the inner two thirds of the fore wings
bright pink, while the outer third, the hind wings,
and al)domen are pale yellow. It enters the flowers
before day wdth its body resting upon the style, the
four-parted stigma projecting beyond the top of the
abdomen, appearing like a part of it. When tbe sun
comes, the two petals that were above the moth soon
wilt, and fall down over the roof-like wings conceal-
ing the hind portion, leaving the yellow part exposed
as part of the blossom. Sometimes the pink of the
wings is not wholly covered, but the tone of the con-
tinuous colours is such that the harmon}^ is com-
plete. The larva, which feeds on the floral organs
c2
36 STRUCTUEE AND LITERATUEE.
and seed-pods of the same plant, resembles the flower-
spike in its yellowish-green colour ; it is also clothed
with short white hairs, making the surface pubescent
like the plant. Prof. Kellicott's observations on
this species could doubtless be repeated with many-
others, and are very opportune. The grey larvae of
Catocala and the grey front wings of the moth
conceal themselves readily against the trunks of the
trees, or the branches where they usually rest. The
colours of the American species of GlcBa and Scojje-
losoma are brighter, as compared with the European,
and thus follow the example set by the autumn
leaves in which these moths conceal themselves by
day.
In May 1874 I published a List of the North-
American Noctuidse, classifying them as nearly as
I could according to Lederer's method, which I had
applied to many of the species in a number of sepa-
rate papers in various scientific journals. In 1875-76
I published a Check List of the species, and have
since then been working on a fresh Catalogue, giving
full references and adding what is known as to larvae,
food-plants, and locality. I have published lists of
detached genera in advance of the Catalogue, which
I may not be able to complete. In the pages of the
Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey, I
have catalogued the genera Hadena, Agrotis, and
Folia; in ' Papilio' I have catalogued ^ws^fro/ia and
Oncocnemis ; in the 'Canadian Entomologist' the
genera Mamestra^ Orthosia, and genera allied to Li-
tJiophane, Tarache, and several others. Mr. Henry
Edwards has in preparation a list of Catocalce.
STEUCTURE AND LITERATURE. 37
While there are a good many questions of syno-
nymy to settle, among which Mr. Walker's species
are not the least of the difficulties, yet a great deal
of preparatory work for the new Catalogue is already
accomplished. The student will find most of the
published information respecting the North-Ameri-
can Noctuidse, issued during the last twenty years
in America, in the pages of the following journals
and publications : —
The Canadian Entomologist.
The North- American Entomologist.
The Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Phila-
delphia.
The Transactions of the American Entomological
Society.
The Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural
History.
The Bulletin of the BnfFalo Society of Natural
Sciences.
Reports of the Peabody Academy of Sciences, Salem,
Mass.
The Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences
of Philadelphia.
The Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science.
The Bulletin of the U. S. Geol. and Geographical
Survey of the Territories.
Reports on the N. Y. State Cabinet of Natural
History.
Check List of the North-American Bombi/cice and
Nocticelitce.
Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society.
' Psyche.'
' Papilio.'
38
NOTES ON MR. WALKER'S TYPES OF
NORTH -AMERICAN NOCTUID.E IN
THE I3RITISH MUSEUM.
By the favour of Dr. Albert Gihitlier I have been
permitted to view, for the second time, Mr. "Walker's
types of North-American Noctuidcfi in the British-
Museum Collection. I have not been able to ex-
amine the species here mentioned with the micro-
scope, but I have given my opinion on what was
clearly to be ascertained from a mere viewing of
the specimens, which, incomplete as it is, cannot
fail to be of interest to the student in America, from
the vague and unsatisfactory character of Mr.
Walker's descriptions.
Acronycta Cristifera, Wall-.
The type, from Hudson's Bay, is not an Acro^njcta.
The abdomen is tufted ; the species is dark stone-
grey, with kidney-shaped reniform, and seems a
Hadenoid form unknown to me.
Acronycta Fasciata, Wall:
Eour specimens under this name are^. Brumosa
of Guenee ( Verrillii m.).
WALKEE'S TYPES IN THE BEITISH MUSEUM. 39
Acronycta Impressa, Walk.
The type, from Hudson's Bay, seems to be a small
specimen of Brumosa ; it is rubl3ed, and apparently
differs a little from that species ; it is hardly recog-
nizable.
Acronycta Contacta, Wallc
Two specimens, from Hudson's Bay, belong to
the species described as Acronycta Aspera by Mr.
Morrison, and Folia D'lffiisllis by Dr. Harvey. It
is not an Acronycta. The species seems a Northern
one, and has been taken by Mr. Hill of Albany in
the Adirondack region of N. Y. State. It may be
known in future as Folia Contacta.
Acronycta Grisea, Wallc
I have hitherto correctly identified this species in
my own and other collections.
Acronycta Mixta, WalTc.
The specimen, from St. Martin's Palls, is Agrotis
Speciosa {:=Folia Perquiritata of Mr. Morrison).
Acronycta Circulifera, Walk.
As formerly stated by me, the specimens belong
to Charadra Dericlens, Guen. Mr. Walker had a
specimen of Jocosa wrongly named " Dericlens.''^
Acronycta Spiniger , Qum.
Two (the larger specimens) belong to Morula ,
the middle one is Harvey ana. Generally speaking,
Mr. Walker's identifications of Guenee's species do
not accord with my own.
40 WALKEE'S TYPES IN
Bryophila Discitincta, WalJc.
I do not recognize this species. It is not a Bryo-
pJiila. It is a dark, bluish-grey form, and may be
an Agrotis.
Bryophila Disci varia, WaR-.
Two specimens, from St. Martin's Palls, belong
to Parastichtls, and are respectively light and dark
varieties of GentlUs.
Bryophila Discinigra, Wall\
I do not recognize this species. It is decidedly
not a Bryopliila. It is a rather stout form, much
shaded with black, reminding me a little of Valeria ?
Conserta^ though different.
Cymatophora Viridescens, WalTc.
The specimen from Plorida is a Dlcopis, the fore
wings quite greenish, and close to D. Mitralis^ while
smaller.
Mythimna Obusta, Guen.
Evidently Guenee's type. A ITeliojjhila, and, ap-
parently, a red variety of Pseudargyria, but darker
than any I have seen.
Mythimna Ebriosa, Guen.
Evidently Guenee's type, and unknown to me.
Bright purple-red, with a pale mark for the reni-
from.
THE BEITISH MUSEUM, 41
Mythimna? Littera, Guen.
The specimen is evidently Guenee's type, and, as
I have long suspected, is my Pseudolimacodes
Niveicostatus, an insect which is certainly not a
Ilytldmna, and must l3e known in future as Fseu-
doUmacodcs Littera. It belongs, most probably, to
the Fasciatce.
Mythimna Decolor, Walh.
A discoloured specimen, apparently belonging to
Cosmia Infumata.
HytMmna Suhporphyria, ^Yallc.
The specimen is broken, and not, I think, a
Mythimna. It may be found to be an Agrotis, when
the tibiee are examined. I do not recognize the
species. There are no markings ; the median lines
vasue, broad, darker shades.
Mythimna Contraria, Wallc.
This is Mamestra Plcta, Harris.
Mythimna Tripars, Walh.
'Not Vi Mythimna, and probably an ^^ro^/s. Not
known to me.
Mythimna Vetusta, Walk.
The specimen is a much rubbed Agrotis ; one of
the white species, perhaps MvrcEmila. Prom these
identifications the student will recognize the fact,
that it is simply impossible to use Mr. Walker's
work without the specimens at hand to find out
42 WALKEE'S TYPES IN
what is meant by his Latin names ; while, from the
state in which they are in, one is often left not
much wiser than before.
Under the names Extincta, Linita, and Insueta,
different species are mixed up. Some of them may
really be Guenee's species ; but the work of that
Author must be compared.
Leucania Diffusa, Wall-.
The specimen is one of Haroeyi (Alhilinea of
Guenee ; I do not feel sure that it is Hiibner's), in
very bad condition. The specimen determined as
Videns (Guenee's type ?) is not a Heliophila, but
'Platysenta Atriciliata ; and Nonagria ? Indigens,
without locality, is the same species.
Eudryas Stse. Johannis, Wall:
This is evidently a good species ; the hind wings
have no terminal band, the fore wings are darker
at base than in Grata. The species is in no North-
American collection I have seen, and the locahty is
doubtful.
Hydroecia Salicarum, Wall-.
This is Jgrotis (Paclmohia) Orllliana. The ques-
tion as to Avhether my name or Mr. Morrison's
should obtain for the species is settled by Mr.
Walker taking it. It should be known for the
future as Agrotis (Pachnobla) Sallcarum. Mr.
Walker quotes Dr. Barnston's MSS.
Edema? Obhqua, Wcdh.
This is Sphida Obliquata, G. & R.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 43
Mamestra Contenta, WalJc.
This is Hadena Devastatrix^ Brace.
Mamestra Ordinaria, Walh.
This is Hadena Devastatrlx, Brace.
Mamestra Unicolor, WaJh.
This is Agi'otls Clandestina, Harris.
Mamestra Insulsa, Wall:
The specimen, from Canada, is evidently an
Agrotis, allied to Repentls, and unknown to me.
Condica Palpalis, Wall-.
This species, from Jamaica, is Hadena Confede-
rata, which ranges up the coast to New York as a
visitant. I am now inclined to place the species in
Ferigea, a closely allied genus to Hadena. The
species varies greatly, and, as will be seen, is
Guenee's P. Infellx, according to the B. Mus. Col-
lection.
Mamestra Vetusta, Walh.
The specimen is a rubbed, grey Agrotis, too poor,
I think, to make out specitically.
Mamestra Declarata, Walk.
The specimens are Agrotids, allied to A. Cam-
pestris.
Mamestra Binotata, WaVc
The specimen belongs to Hadena Curvata. It is
rubbed and very dark, with the pale brown reni-
form contrasting.
44 WALKEE'S TYPES IN
Mamestra Plagiata, Wall-.
Tlie specimen is Agrotis Bicarnea^ Guenee. It is,
I know, almost incredible, but nevertheless a fact.
Xylophasia Indocilis, ^Vul'k.
The specimens are Sadena Hemissa, Hlibn.
Xylopliasia Libera, Wall:
The top specimen is Mamestra Grandis, Boisd.
A second, perhaps a later interpolation, is Sadena
Finitima, Guen.
Apamea ? Insignata, ^VaR•.
The specimens are Sadena Sputatrlx, but Wal-
ker's name is preoccupied by himself; and, as else-
where stated by me, the species must be known by
the later name (see Bull. Buff. Soc. N. Sciences, i.
p. 190) proposed in consequence.
Apamea Demissa, Wall-.
The specimen is Mamestra Latex of Guenee.
Miana Atomaria, Wall-.
The specimens are Telesllla Clnereola of Guenee.
Miana Undulifera, WaJk.
The specimen is Siistrotia Apicosa, Haw. {=z Nl-
gritifla, Guen.).
Miana Vincta, Walk.
The specimen is Oligia Chalcedonia of Hiibner
and my collection ; not the var. Tracta, which has
pale tegulse and base to the primaries above. It is
THE BEITISH MUSEUM. 45
difficult to understand how these three forms, all
previously described, could he brought into one
genus not related to any of them, except the last
species. However, in America, I have recently
heard of a genus '''JEimjma^' with a "large number
of costal nervules," and a ^^Cosmia^^ from Florida,
which T believe is Syparjpax Aurora ! And then
there is that old mistake of my own, of which I
have lately heard so much that I have really lost
all interest in it, the description of a black Arctian
(GeomeMca) as a Zygsenid under a new genus.
Dr. Boisduval's companionship in a similar case
consoled me long ago.
Apamea Eemissa, Walh.
The specimen is Fcrigea Zuxa, Grote ; Walker's
name is used in the group and for a species in a
closely allied genus, perhaps not separable.
The single specimens representing Celcena JPunc-
tifera, Infecta, and Egens are really so poor that
I do not think the species can be made out with
satisfactory certainty.
Celsena? Irresoluta, WaXk.
This is apparently a bad specimen of 0. Chalci-
donia.
Perigea Infelix.
The specimen (Guenee's type ?) is a dark variety
of P. Confederata, mentioned above.
Perigea Mobilis, Wailc.
This is P. XanthioideSi Gucn.
JBerigea JPaii])era, Otlosa, Indicisa, and Centralis
4:6 WALKEE'S TYPES LN"
need careful comparison with our Fahrefacta,
although not described from Xorth America. I
think the first foiu* are probably all one species,
and the same as Fahrefacta.
Caradiiua Miiltifera, Wdl:
This species is, as I have already stated, the F'ldi-
cidaria of Z\Ir. Morrison. There are a number of
good specimens.
I close my Xotes here for the present. In the
drawers of the first Case, here gone over by me. are
several forms of Xonagria and Agrotis, kc., mostly
not in good condition, and wliich need a careful
study of the structiu*al characters of the species in
order to verify the reasonableness of any susrsres-
tions as to what they are. Some names may be
rescued at great trouble; others, I am sure, must
be dropped for good. It will be only after much
laboiu* that Mr. TV'alker's names will cease to annoy
the student. I have shown here the necessity which
exists that this work should be undertaken by a
competent hand. It will need a great deal more
patience than the description of new species. In
order that some conclusion be arrived at, which
will allow the study of American Moths to go on
with safety to the describers of sp)ecies, I hope that
the Authorities of the British Museum will under-
take this work, which, imtil it is done, will always
be expected of the Institution which sanctioned
the printing of Mr. Walker's Cataloijues. It will
THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 47
not be forgotten that through Lord Walsingham's
accurate account of the Tortricidce, all the doubts
raised by "Walker's work in that group are solved.
Similar M^ork (it is to be hoped as well conceived)
is needed in the other families, and must in time
be accomplished.
48
SPECIMEXS OF XOETH-AMEPJCAN
TsOCTUIDJE.
1, Boinbycia Semicircularis.
This species has been collected in Washington
Territory by Mr. H. K. Morrison. The pale, creamy
tegulse and the basal patch, confined to the middle
of the primary wing, are distinctive. It differs from
B. Improvisa, by its quieter colours, the evenly
rounded anterior band, and the more continuous
apical streak. It is quite distinct from the species
from Japan, described by Mr. Butler, in which the
transverse lines are perpendicular. As yet this
e-enus in North America seems to be confined to
the West Coast, and thus furnishes an example of
the greater resemblance of the Western Lepido-
pterous fauna with that of the Old World. In the
Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences,
i. p. 276, is a paper by Dr. Leon F. Harvey on this
group of Moths.
Bombycia Semicircularis, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 75.
2. Thyatira Lorata.
This beautiful species is about as large as our
Eastern T. Fudens. The fore wings are a little
NOETH-AMEEICAN NOCTUID^. 49
broader, and the black, propinquitous, median lines
are visible. The apical patch of T. JPudens is want-
ing in T. Lorata, in which the basal patch is notched
superiorly and less extended. The stigmata are
completely defined in T. Lorata, which is found in
Washington Territory, and thus replaces T. Puclens
in the fauna of the West Coast. The types of this
species and Bombycia Semiclrcularis are contained
in the collection of Mr. Berthold Neumoegen, who
has kindly allowed me to figure them.
Thyatira Lorata, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 75.
3. Harrisimemna Trisignata.
This handsome Moth is found in many localities
in the Eastern and Middle States. The curious
larva has been reared by my kind friend Mrs.
Bridgham at her country residence, Seekonk, Rhode
Island. The figure is taken from a specimen pre-
sented to me by Mrs. Bridgham. It appears that
Dr. Harris's name for this Moth was not published
until after his death, and in the mean time the
species had been described in the British Museum
Lists. The genus, which differs strongly from any
other, I have named in memory of Dr. Harris ; and
the common term for the Moth is " Harris's Zig-
zag."
GrammopTiora Tnsignata, Walk., C. B. M. Noct. p. 29.
Notodonta Sexguttata, Harr,, Ent. Cor. p. 174 (figs.).
Harrisimemna Sexguttata, Grote, Tr, Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 293.
4. Mastiphanes Edolata.
This species, collected by Mr. Doll in Arizona,
D
50 SPECIMENS OF
belongs to a section of the genus Apatela, charac-
terized by the long and narrow, but hardly pointed
primaries, the abdomen well exceeding the hind
wings, tlie thorax elevated. It is allied to the Texan
Extricata ; and probably Xyliniformis and Litho-
spila will be found congeneric when the immature
stages of all are known. The Calif or nian species
described by me as Spinea and Luplni belong to a
diflPerent section. The wings are wider, the species
more Bombyciform, the thorax globose, the head
sunken. I have recently indicated the sections into
which the North- American Apatelce seem to fall.
I propose to designate the section of which Spinea
is type by the name Ilerolonche.
Apatela Edolata, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 153.
5. Eulonche Lanceolaria.
This interesting form is allied to J^. Oblinita of
Abbot and Smith. It differs in both sexes by the
narrower, more lanceolate primaries. It is more
bluish than Abbot's species, with less markings;
but the transverse posterior line is to be made out,
continuous and angulated, not fragmentary and
sinuate as in its ally. The hind wings are pure
white and have no discal marks. My friend Mr.
Holand Thaxter has collected this species in June
in Massachusetts. To me it is in many respects
the most interesting of all the Apatelce. The section
Eulonche contains Oblinita, Lanceolaria , and In-
solita ; it is characterized by the long, pointed,
almost Notodontiform primaries and sunken head ;
NORTH- AMEEICAN NOCTFID^. 51
the hind wings have the cell open, vein 5 a mere
fold (B. B. S. N. S. i. p. 81).
Eulonche Lanceolaria, Grotc, Proc. A. N. S. P. p. 418 (1875).
6. Chytonix Sensilis.
The species of this genus are allied to Bryophila^
and have the vestiture of the thorax composed of
mixed, in part flattened scales. The dorsal line of
the body is tufted ; the form is more robust than
Bryophila ; in ornamentation there is a white spot
attached to the outer median line. M. Guenee
placed one species in Brijophila, one in Apamea. The
species are Jaspis and Balllatricula (perhaps not
distinct) and Sensilis. This latter has been col-
lected in Massachusetts by Mr. Thaxter. I have
not yet seen the male.
Chytonix Sensilis, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p, 49.
7. Agrotis Perattenta.
This species is found from Canada over the Eastern
and Middle States to the southward. It resembles
Agrotis Sigmoides in ornamentation, but it is a
smaller species, and wants the creamy shading over
the costa of primaries above from the base out-
wardly. I have collected it at Buffalo, N.Y., and in
the Katskills in June and July.
Agrotis Perattentus, Grote, Can. Ent. vi. p. 131.
8. Agrotis Conchis.
This fine species has been collected by Professor
Snow in Colorado. It is allied in ornamentation to
d2
52 SPECIMENS OF
Bicarnea or C-nigrum, while quite different from
either. The head and collar are bright ochre, the
teguloe brownish ochre. The stigmata contrast with
the blackish primaries, which have an overlying
lilac-grey cast. All the tibise are spinose. With
Jlillicma and M'dleri, it is one of our handsomest
species in the genus.
Ayrotis Concliis, Grote, N.-Am. Ent. i. p. 43 ; id. Tr. Kan. Acad.
Sci. vii. p. 66.
9. Agrotis Semiclarata.
This species, of which I figure the male type, has
been collected by Mr. H. K. Morrison in Washing-
ton Territory. It is allied to Vcmcoiwerensis and
Gravis from the West Coast. The species is note-
worthy from the sharp division, on the hind wings
beneath, of the brownish costal region and the white
inferior portion of the under surface, on which latter
there is no darker border. The Eastern allies of
these three Western species appear to be Volubilis,
Stlgmosa, and Venerabilis.
Agrotis Semiclarata, Grote, Can. Ent. viii. p. 132.
10. Agrotis Clodiana.
This species has a resemblance to the group of
Gravis ; it is larger, with longer wings, the mark-
ings more effaced. The fore wings are of an odd
shade of purplish broAvn with a tinge of yellowish ;
the fringes have a narrow pale yellowish line at
base. Head and collar russet-brown, the latter with
a pale line above a darker shade. The female has
the fore wings entirely obscure yellowish brown,
NOETH-AMEEICAN NOCTUID^. 53
with the markings lost. Taken by Mr. II. K. Mor-
rison in Washington Territory.
Agrotis Clodiana, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 76.
11. Agrotis Fernaldi.
This fine Agrotis has been collected in Maine by
Professor C. H. Pernald, after whom the species is
named. It is, perhaps, nearer to Tmhalis than any
other Eastern form; the markings are bolder, and
the ground-colour more uniform and even. The
specimen figured is a typical one, received by me
from my good friend Professor Pernald.
Agrotis Fernaldi, Morrison, Proc. A. N. S. Phil. p. 429 (1875).
12. Agrotis Biclavis.
This species has more pointed primaries, and is
more distinctly marked than some of the other
whitish Western species oi Agrotis. The veins are
inconspicuously marked in white. The distal stig-
mata are fused, the lines obliterate ; there is a hue
black basal dash extending into the long claviform
spot The hind wings are pure white in the male,
somewhat soiled in the opposite sex. This species,
kindly given by Mr. Hy. Edwards, was collected m
Arizona. My figure is taken from the female. In
the male the antenna? are brush-like, with the joints
prominent. All the tibi« are spinose.
Agrotis Biclavis, Grote, Bull. U. S. Gcol. Surv. v. p. 206.
13. Agrotis ParentaUs.
This handsome species has been collected in
Colorado by Professor E. H. Snow, who has done so
54 SPECIMENS OE
mucli to add to our knowledge of AVestern Moths.
It is allied to another species described by me under
the name JDeciplens ; and both have a dorsal ele-
vated ridge of scales on the thorax, which is a cha-
racter of Lederer's genus Ammoconia. Otherwise
the structure is like Agrotis. The present species
differs by the distinct black median lines and red-
dish shading of the primaries above.
Agrotis Parentalis, Grote, N.-Am. Ent. i. p. 44; id. Tr, Kan.
Acad. Sci. vii. p. 66.
14. Agrotis Specialis.
This is a richly coloured, red-brown species,
which, from the pattern of ornamentation, would
be referred by some entomologists to Ochrojdew^a,
a genus which does not seem to possess any struc-
tural characters to separate it from Agt'otls. The
present species is from California, sent me by my
kind correspondent Mr. James Behrens, who has,
I believe, reared it from the larva. Its nearest ally
is Agrotis TFilsonii, an olive-coloured species de-
scribed by me from the same locality.
Agrotis Specialis, Grote, Bull, BiiflPalo Soc. N. S. ii. p. 62.
15. Agrotis Vocalis.
This species has iron-grey fore wings ; the median
lines are black, thick, single, dentate, the subter-
minal obsolete. Orbicular spot decumbent, pyri-
form; reniform incomplete. The hind wings are
whitish, with soiled veins and a faint terminal line.
The species is found in Colorado.
Agrotis Vocalis, Grote, Can. Ent. xi. p. 56.
NOETH-AMERICAN NOCTUID^. 55
16. Agrotis Pluralis.
This interesting species is grey along the margins
of the fore wings, which are ditfusely shaded oyer
the middle with ochreous ; the cell is filled in with
brown ; the lines are double, marked on costa, else
merely indicated. The veins are marked with
blackish; veins 3 and 4 edged with whitish; a
dark shade before subterminal line, resolved into
dashes between veins 2 and 5. Hind wings smoky ;
thorax grey, collar and tegulse shaded with
ochreous. The species has been sent me from
Nevada by Dr. James S. Bailey.
Agrotis Pluralis, Grotc, Bull. U. S, Geol. Surv. iv. p. 174.
17. Polia Theodori.
This fine species, from Colorado, is almost white,
shaded with red over the primaries. The tibiifi are
unarmed ; the eyes naked. In the shape of the
thorax it is allied to Epicliyds and Aedon, and
together the three seem to form a group of Folia.
I have described another white Californian species,
which, however, has the W-mark more prominent,
as Sadena Olorina, which resembles the species of
this group somewhat, but appears to me to be a
true ILadena. This species is named after Mr.
Theodore S. Bailey.
Apatela Theodori, Grote, Can, Ent. x. p. 237.
Polia Theodori, Grote, Can. Ent. xii. p. 219.
18. Poha Epichysis.
This species is purple over grey, with the mark-
ings after the pattern of Theodori, than which it is
56 SPECIMENS or
slenderer. It was taken by my kind friend Mr.
James Behrens, at Soda Springs, California.
Polia Epichysis, Grote, Can. Ent. xii. p. 219.
19. Heliophila Dia.
This comparatively short-winged species differs
from our Eastern forms by the absence of dark
shades accompanying the median vein and other
comparative characters. A number of fresh ex-
amples have been received from San Prancisco by
Dr. Bailey.
Heliophila Dia, Grote, Can. Ent. xi. p. 29.
20. Zosteropoda Hirtipes.
This singular genus is allied to Heliophila. The
eyes are naked. The labial palpi rather long ; the
middle and hind legs tufted. The fore wings are
narrow, with parallel margins ; the hind wings
have a fringing of longer scales on their upper
surface along the main nervures. The abdomen is
without dorsal tufts, and well exceeds the secon-
daries. The markings are very simple, and the
colour is a brownish orange-yellow. The species
has been collected by several entomologists about
San Erancisco, and was originally sent to me by
Mr. Henry Edwards.
Zosteropoda Hirtipes, Grote, Bull. BujBf. S. N. S. ii. p. 68, May 1874.
21. Lithophane Querquera.
This species has the primaries above of a smooth
dusky green. The orbicular is incomplete ; the
reniform is large, with nebulous reddish centre.
NORTH-AMERICAN NOCTUID^. 57
Body flattened ; abdomen untufted ; head and thorax
dusky green, the tegulge lined outside with black,
and a black tuft-point at the middle of the thoracic
disk. It was first sent me from Missouri by Pro-
fessor C. V. Kiley; since then it has been taken
almost everywhere through the Middle and Eastern
States and in Ontario ; but nowhere is it common.
The Moth hibernates, as in other species in this
group.
It is incorrect, in my opinion, to call this genus
Xylina. This latter name, spelled with an " e,"
is first used by Hiibner for Lithoxylea. The term
Lithophane is used for Fetrijicata and four other
Noctuae by Hiibner in the ' Verzeichniss.' In 1874
I took Socia {Petrificata) as the type, and referred
Gra])tolitlia as synonymous or to be used as a
subgenus.
Lithojpliane Querquera, Grote, Sixth Ann. Rep. Peab. Ac. Sc. p. 34.
22. Lithophane Viridipallens.
This apparently very rare species is of a pale,
somewhat bluish, grey-green. It is allied to Quer-
quera, but differs by the colour, the narrower reni-
form, and the absence of the black accentuations
to the subterminal line. Hind wing fuscous, with
whitish fringes, not ruddy as in its ally ; beneath
with a faint flush. This is a very delicately coloured
and ornamented species ; it agrees with Querquera in
having a neat black dot on the middle of the thorax.
Several specimens have been taken by my friend
Mr. Roland Thaxter, at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
LithopJianeViricUpallens, Grote, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 180.
58 SPECIMENS OF
23. Calocampa Cineritia.
There are three species of this group in Xorth
America, strictly congeneric with the European
Vetusta. Mr. Morrison regards the Eastern C. Nu-
pera, Lintner, as representing the European C. Ve-
tusta in America (Bull. BufF. S. N. S. ii. p. 195).
The present species seems to have the widest range,
extending across the Continent. C. Cineritia has
the thorax black : there are no brown shades on the
internal portion of the wing, nor is the terminal
space ochraceous, except opposite the disk and as
the contir.uation of the discal shading; the black-
ringed ordinary spots are so close as to nearly meet ;
the orbicular is not represented by superposed dots
as in the European species. This species was sent
to me first by Mr. E/oland Thaxter from his captures
in Massachusetts.
Calocampa Cineritia, Grote, Proc. Ac. jS". Sci. Phil. p. 210 (1S74).
24. Gortyna Rigida.
This species has somewhat the colours of G. Ca-
taphracta, but the exterior median line is nearly
straight ; the terminal fields are purple, the rest of
the primary light straw-yellow. The hind wings are
pale. It has been taken in Illinois and Pennsylva-
nia, and also by Mr. Thaxter in the Eastern States.
There is a tuft behind the collar ; the eyes are naked ;
the front smooth. I refer it to Gortyna, Hiibner
(= Jli/dracia of Lederer), although, with Ceri?ia, it
may find a more natural position when we know its
immature form.
Gortyna Rigida, Grote, Can. Eut. ix.p. 87.
NORTH- AMERICAN NOCTUIDiE. 59
25. Gortyna Cerina.
This handsome insect has the colours of Xanthia
Togata (Silago), but they arc transposed, the ter-
minal field of the fore wings being reddish purple.
The ground-colour is yellow, with the markings in
broken reddish blotches. There is a long sharp
tuft behind the collar ; the eyes are naked ; front
smooth. The head is more sunken and the costa
not so straight as in Xanthia as defined by Lederer.
Tlie female is much larger and heavier than the
male Cerina. This species is found from Kansas to
Massachusetts, where Mr. Thaxter collected the
male now figured.
Gortyna Cerina, Grotc, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Thil. p. 200 (1874).
2(). Cliariclea Triangulifer.
This golden-yellow species was originally referred
by me as the type of the genus Clrrhophanus. I
believe that there is a slight claw concealed by the
vestiture of the fore tibicc, but have not clearly
observed it. The antennae are simple in the male,
scaled above, ciliate beneath, with thickened scape.
Eyes naked ; thorax tufted ; front roughened, tuber-
culate ; palpi slender, short ; legs unarmed. The
projected ochre-yellow lines form two sul)triangular
fields on the primaries, which are yellow beneath,
with the discal field somewhat fuscous. The species
is found from Ohio to Missouri, where I first saw it
in Professor C. Y. Riley's collections. Afterwards
it was sent me by several correspondents for de-
termination. I think it has been redescribcd by
60 SPECIMENS OE
Mr. Morrison as Chariclea Pretlosa ; and this deter-
mination lias led me to believe a separate genus
unnecessary.
Cirrlioj)lianus TrianguJifer, Grote, Can. Ent. iv. p. 187 ; id. Proc.
Ac. K Sci. Phil. p. 421 (1875).
27. Chariclea Pernana.
This species has the colour and markings of the
European BeliMiii ; but it is hardly more than a
third of the size, and the terminal held, outside of
the transverse posterior (t. p.) line on primaries,
is olivaceous. A number of specimens are in
Mr. Neumoegen's collection, taken by Mr. Doll in
Arizona. I have not noted the structure of the
fore tibise. The eyes are naked, the front roundedly
projected ; the surface of the clypeus shows a cir-
cular rim, enclosing a perpendicular protuberance.
Chariclea Pernana, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p, 155.
28. Annaphila Superba.
This very pretty little species is the only one of
the Californian genus Anncqjliila w^hich has crimson
hind wings. The type of the genus, ^. i)if« (Bull.
Buff. S. N. S. i. plate iv. fig. 14), has them w^hite. The
genus is related to Eustrotia (Erastria of authors),
with some resemblances to Omia and the Heliothid
genera. The ocelli are unusually large, remote from
the constricted, naked compound eyes. Antennae
scaled, eiliate beneath ; clypeus full, globose, ex-
ceeded by the heavily fringed labial palpi. Body-
parts slight in comparison with the wide wings. It
NORTH-AMEEICAN NOCTUID^. 61
differs from Brephos by the presence of ocelli. The
species look like diminutive Catocalcu. The hind
wings are brightly coloured, in most of the species
yellow. They are all Western, from California to
Nevada, and are active in the daytime.
AnnapMla Superla, Hy. Edwards, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci.
29. Grotella Sexseriata.
This genus is related ioEuleucyptera and Pippona\
the species look a little like Lithosians, from their
long, white, shiny wings. The type of the genus is
G. Septem])unctata, Harvey, figured in the Bulletin
of the Buff. Soc. N. Sci. ii. plate iii. fig. 1. G.
Sexseriata has the primaries crossed by two very
distinct black irregular lines, while the subterminal
line is represented by a series of black spots. Body-
parts yellowish white. Eront with a circular pro-
jection ; eyes naked ; fore tibise furnished with a
claw and a terminal spinule ; the tarsi are feebly
spinose. Collected by Mr. Doll in Arizona.
Grotella Sexseriata, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 155.
30. Spragueia FuneraUs.
The tiny and prettily marked Noctuidae foruiing
this genus differ structurally from the European
Erotyla Sulphur alls by the neuration of the secon-
daries— the European genus being 8-veined, the
American 7-veined. On the fore wings also (except
in Onagrus) veins 8 and 7 are not branched. The
clypeus is narrow and smooth in the species of
Spragueia, flat or but slightly bulging. In Erotyla
the surface is rough, the infra-clypeal plate is pro-
62 SPECBIEXS OF
minent, and the front terminates in a wide-lipped
protuberance. I have very fully discussed the
genus and allied forms in the ' Canadian Entomo-
logist,' xi. pp. 231-23S. The present species is from
Arizona. The genus is numerous in kinds ; eight
are known to me, mostly from the Southern
States. The genus is named after my friend, the
Entomologist, Henry S. Sprague, of Buffalo, ^\Y.
Spragueia Funeralis, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 158.
31. Adonisea Pulchi'ipennis.
This brilliantly coloured Californian species differs
from the other Heliothid forms by the constricted
eyes ; the fore tibite with a longer inner and two
outer claws ; the middle and hind tibiae spinose.
The fore wings are stained with brilliant reddish
purple with blue-shaded median lines. A rariety
has been described by Mr. H. Edwards, in which
the wings are blackish.
Adonisea PidcJwipennis, Grote, Bull. Buff. S. X. Sci. ii. p. 220.
32. HeUosea Pictipennis.
This slender Californian species has a single inner
claw to the fore tibire. The fore wings are pale
clay-colonr, with two vinous lines, the inner arcuate,
the outer subsinnate. Costa and fringes vinous
purple.
HeUosea Pictipennis, Grote, Bull. Buff. Soc. X. S. ii. p. 220.
33. Rhododipsa Volnpia.
In Hlwdophora Florida, Gnen., the fore tibiae are
NOETH-AMEEICAN NOCTTJIDiE. 63
provided with an outer claw and two inner spines ;
the joint is also furnished with spinules. In
Bhododipsa Voliipia, from Texas and Colorado, the
joint wants the spinules ; there is an outer claw and
two spines on the inside, followed by a third more
slender. The hind and middle tibise are armed ;
palpi a little longer and more closely scaled. The
wings differ in shape and pattern. The head and
thorax are dark yellow ; the fore and hind wings are
bright crimson, the median lines x)ropinquitous,
irregular, indistinct, yellowish white. Whether this
is the species described by Dr. Pitch under the
same specific name is doubtful ; but the name need
not be changed, unless Fitch's species is different
and yet belongs to Rhododipsa, which is unlikely.
BhododipsaVolupia, Grote, B. U. S. G. S. iii.p. 797 ; id.B. B. E.
S. iii. p. 47.
34. Lygranthoecia Acutilinea.
In Lygranthoecia 3Iargiuata, the type of this
genus, the eyes are naked. The fore tibicE have, on
the outside, four stout blunt spines, in a decreasing
series towards the base of the joint; all the tibiae
are armed. The group needs re-examination, and
some of the numerous species should be separated
if possible, i. Acutilinea is a very distinct species,
characterized by the raggedly toothed silvery median
lines on the ochre-fuscous primaries. The hind
wings are white, with diffuse blackish discal spot
and terminal band. I am indebted to Mr. E. L.
Graef for my type, which came from Colorado.
Lygranthoecia Acutilinea, Grote, Can. Eut. x. p. 232.
64 SPECIMEN'S OE
35. Exyra Rolandiana.
This, the most beautiful species of the genus, has
been bred by Mr. Koland Thaxter from the larva
feeding on the pitcher-plant, in Massachusetts. The
genus is parasitic on the species of Sarracenia. It
differs structurally from Xanthoptera, of which the
type is X. Nigrofimhria, Guen., by the thicker and
longer vestiture. In the type, E. Semicrocea, Guen.,
the 12-veined primaries have the accessory ceU.
greatly elongated, veins 8 and 7 united at base, 9 a
very short furcation. Hind wings with vein 5
nearly as strong as the rest. Pront not elevated,
with a slight inferior tiibercle. The primaries have
the apices blunted. Eour species of Exyra are
known, viz., Semicrocea^ Midlngsii, Fax, and Ro-
landiana.
Exyra Rolandiana, Grote, 'Psyche,' ii. p. 38.
36. Fala Ptycophora.
This singular genus has a number of strong cha-
racters. By the conformation of the clypeus it is
allied to Stlria and Stihadium. The front is entirely
cup-shaped, excavate, raised around the edges like
a rim ; from the centre a broad wedge-shaped pro-
tuberance arises. Tibiae unarmed ; fore tibiae with
a terminal claw. Eyes naked, unlashed. Thorax
without tufts. Male antennae simple. Pore wings
grey, shaded with ochreous, the stigmata distinct
on the wide median iield. Eringes checkered.
Aspect of an Agrotis. My type is from California.
Fala Pttjcophora, Grote, Proc. Ac. Is^. Sci. PhH. p. 426 (1875).
NORTH-AMERICAN NOCTUID^. 65
37. Aedophron Snowi.
The eyes arc uaked, the tongue stout, the fore
tibige sliort, with terminal and lateral claws ; hind
and middle tibia3 spinose. The wings are shaped as
in the European A. HhodUes ; the American species
is stouter and larger, and while the colours are
much the same, the roseate hues are less extended.
I received the beautiful species from Professor
Snow, after whom it is named. It is the only true
Aedophron yet described from America. A species
is named Aedophron grandls in some collections ;
but this is a synonym of Qopahlepharon Ahsidimi,
in which the deep-yellow wings are differently
shaped, and shaded variously with greyish fuscous
parallel with the margins.
Aedophron Snowi, Gioie, Proc. Ac. N. Sci. Phil. p. 422 (1875).
38. Scopelosoma Graefiana.
This bright orange-yellow species is very dis-
tinctly marked. Like others of its genus, the Moth
hibernates. It has been beaten from oak-leaves in
the autumn by Mr. Moffat of Kingston, Ontario,
and occnrs with S. Ceromatica ; both of these
deeply-coloured species are concealed by the tints
of the autumn leaves in which they conceal them-
selves. It has been collected by Mr. E. L. Graef,
after whom the species is named, in New Jersey,
and is found also in the Eastern States. The genus
is numerously represented in North America. A
list of the North-American species belonging to the
E
6G SPECIMENS OF
genera from Orthosia to Llthomia will be found in
the Can. Eut. xii. pp. 155 to 157.
Scopdosoma Graefiana, Grote, Bull, BufF. Soc. N. S. ii. p, 69.
39- Synedoida Sabulosa.
This handsome Moth belongs to the Fasciatce.
It is found in Southern Colorado ; and the typical
example I figure has been given to me by Mr. B.
Neumoe!?en.
tSi/nedoida fSahulosa, Hy. Eflw., ' Papilio,' i. p. 26.
40. Catocala Abbreviatella.
This distinctly marked species is smaller than
C. NuptiaUs, Walk, (of which 3IyrrJia is a syno-
nym). It appears to be a more Northern and
Western species, occurring in Iowa and Kansas
with the more recently described C. JFhitneyi,
which latter is nearer to it in some respects than
Mr. Walker's species is. C. JVhitneyi, however,
has hoary fore wings, and the ornamentation con-
stantly differs in detail in series of specimens of
both forms collected by Professor Snow. C. Abbre-
viatella lias smooth, pale brownish-grey primaries,
but little shaded, somewhat darker terminally.
The transverse anterior line is black, distinct, and
outwardly oblique to below median vein opposite
the subreniform, thence lost and obliterate. Eeni-
form annulate, with a black spot inferiorly, not
black and pyriform as in Nujitialis. The trans-
verse posterior line is faint, plainest opposite the
disk, encircling the open subreniform, which is
distinctly marked inwardly. Hind wings bright
NOETII-AMEEICAN XOCTUID.E. (')^
yellow. A rather narrow, slig-litly constricted me-
dian black band, expires much before the margin.
Hind border not wide, interrupted. Beneath, the
median band is aborted superiorly. The species
has been collected in Texas by Mr. 13elfrage, in
Illinois by Mr. Bean, and in Kansas by Professor
Snow.
Catocala Ahbreviatdla, Grote, Tr. Am. Eat. Soc. iv. p, 14 (Jan.
1872).
41. Catocala Cliehdonia.
This species has dark fuscous-grey, slightly hoary
primaries. Beniform shaded with grey; subreni-
forni independent, stained with brown. The sub-
costal teeth of the transverse posterior line more
distinct than in C. SIdiUIs ( = C. Formula), which
this species somewhat resembles. Hind wings dark
yellow. Median band rather narrow, swollen on
the disk, angulated opposite the interruption of
marginal band, not reaching internal margin. A
number of coinciding examples of this species have
been taken by Mr. Doll in Arizona, and are in
Mr. B. Neumoegen's collection, to which I am
indebted for my types.
Catocala Ghelidonia, Grote, ' Papilio,' i. p. 159.
42. Catocala Beaniana.
This fine species has been collected in Illinois by
Mr. Thos. E. Bean, after whom it is named. It is
allied to C. Mcskel and C. Briseis. It is perhaps a
little larger than C. Briseis ; the primaries have a
different and paler tint, the transverse posterior
line is more dentate, the brown subterminal space
68 SPECIMENS OE
paler ; the suhreniform spot open. Hind wings
pinkish red, like Ifeskei ; the middle band narrower
than in Brisels, and more transverse, less rounded .
Catocala Beaniana, Grote, Can. Eut. x. p. 195.
Catocala Beaniana^ Hy. Edw., Bull. B. E. 8. iii. p. 55.
In ' Papilio,' i. p. 16i, I gave a list of the North-
American species of Catocala described by myself,
from which the present form was accidentally
omitted. Almost all of these were published by
me some time ago, and are now recognized gene-
rally in collections. The species of this genus have
attracted the attention of collectors from their
gay colours and usually large size ; and much has
been published upon them since the date (1872) of
my general paper on our species in the Trans-
actions of the American Entomological Society.
Of a few of the following kinds the opinion has
been expressed that they are " varieties." It is
now nearly twenty years since I described Cato-
cala JPlatriv; and since that time I have ex-
amined a very large material in the genus, so that
I am reasonably confident that the following list
contains none but valid species, constantly recur-
ring forms which do not intergrade with others. At
the outside there are but two or three of which I
have not seen many specimens, as, for instance,
Dulciola, of which, however, Mr. Pilate assures me
he has taken a certain number of perfectly con-
stant examples. C. Alabama? is a Southern form,
allied to, but perfectly distinct from, Grynea, and
which I have recently seen again in a collection
NOETH-AMERICAN NOCTUID.E. ()9
made in Ploricla, and thus feel confident tliat the
species is valid. I illustrate here two other species,
which have heen considered varieties, but never by
myself; and it is probable, as proved in the case
of C. Ccelebs, that the writers who discussed these
species had really never seen them, and must have
been influenced by other than scientific motives in
what they published upon them. The list of species
I have described is as follows : — Retecta, Rohln-
souii, Flehilis, Levettei, Residua, dugiisli, Arkoucc,
Ileskei, JBeaulcma, Semirelicta, Coccinata, Verrll-
liana, Siibnata, Riatrix, Adoptlva, Habilis, Ccelehs,
Radia, Anna, Clintonii, Abhreviatella, Frederici,
Mira, Alabamce, Rr cedar a, Rulciola, Fratercula,
Chelldonla— in all 28 species.
The species of Catocala may be arranged in
groups, from the colour of the hind wings. I have
arranged them in this way, giving the sections the
names used by Iliibner in the ' Verzeichniss,' in a
paper contributed to the Sixth Annual Eeport of
the Peabody Academy of Sciences, Salem, Mass.
The black-winged species {Mormonia of Hiibner)
should inaugurate the genus, and fall into two
series, from the colour of the fringes to the secon-
daries, which are either white or dusky. The orauge-
and yellow-winged species can hardly be kept sepa-
rate, as the colour of the hind wings varies to this
extent in a single species. In the colour of the
collar and fore wings, C. Conciimbcns, a species with
lovely pink hind wings, resembles C. Illecta, a species
with golden-yellow secondaries ; the little C. Trlstis,
the smallest species with black hind wings, rather
70 SPECIMENS OF
resembles some of the smaller yellow-winged forms,
such as C. Gracilis, than those of its own group.
The type of the genus is the European C. Fraxini,
which is represented in the North-American fauna
by C. Relicta-, the two agree in the comparative
proportion of the body and wings, the body vesti-
ture, cut of wing, colour and ornamentation. That
they have a common origin is suggested by the
survival of a blue edging to the white band in some
specimens of C. Relicta.
43. Catocala Mira.
This form belongs to the series of Folygama,
Gratcegi, and JPretiosa. It is perhaps a little larger,
but in colour of primaries nearest to Polygama,
from which it differs by the absence of any deter-
minate greenish or brown and pale shades on the
more uniform fore wings. Tlie lines are more den-
ticulate than in the other species. The hind wings
are of a deeper, almost orange-yellow, and at base
and along internal margin noticeably free from
dusky hair and scales. Professor Snow has col-
lected this species commonly at Lawrence, Kansas.
Catocala Mira, Grote, Can. Ent. viii. p, 230.
44. Catocala Frederici.
This species has clouded pale greenish-grey fore
wings, quite unlike any other described species.
The hind wings are largely clear bright yellow. A
narrow median black band, tapering inferiorly, and
discontinued shortly beyond its inward projection,
expiring much before internal margin; terminal
NORTH-AMERICAN N0CTUID.7E. 71
Land narrow, abruptly discontinued at vein 2 ; a
small spot at anal angle. Beneath, both wings clear
yellowish, with narrow bands. This very distinct
species was first collected in Southern Texas by
Eriederich, after whom the species is named. My
types are in the Imperial Museum at Berlin. The
species was afterwards re-discovered by Belfrage.
Catocala Frederici, Grote, Traus. Am. Ent. Soc. p. 14 (1872).
45. Strenoloma LuuiHnea.
This fine Moth has been found in Virginia, and
also in Ohio, where Mr. Dury collected it about
Cincinnati in some number. Professor Snow has
also taken it in Kansas ; and my figure is drawn
after a male specimen furnished by him. The Moth
lias delicate dove-coloured grey wings ; the costal
edge is marked by four distinct brown liturate
spots, marking the inception of the subobsolete
transverse lines. The collar is more brownish and
darker than the body and wings. On the primaries
the exterior margin is a little darker shaded, often
in the males with a shade-spot about the middle.
My original specimen was collected by Mr. Theo.
L. Mead. The middle tibia^. are sparsely spinose.
Spiloloma Lunilinea., Grote, Bull, B. 8. N. S. i. p. 127.
Strenoloma Lunilinea, Grote, N. Am. Ent. i. p. 99.
Grote. N. Ain. Noct.uidse.
Plate I.
A.H. Sesirle, deletlith.
l.Sernicircularis. 2.Lorata. 3/Prisignata. 4.Edolata.
b.Lanceolaria. 6. Sensilis. 7. Perattenta. S.Conchis
9.Semiclarata. lO.Clodiaxia. ll.Fernaldi. Ig.Biclavis. IS.PareniaJis
Miiitei-n Bro's imp
PLATE I.
Fig. 1. Bombycia Semicircularis.
2. Thyatira Lorata.
3. Harrisimemna Trisiguata.
4. Mastiplianes Edolata.
5. Eulonche Lanceolaria.
6. Chytonix Sensilis.
7. Agrotis Perattenta.
8. Concliis.
9. Semiclarata.
10. Clodiana.
11. Fernaldi.
12. Biclavis.
13. Parentalls.
Grote. N. Ana. TSToctuid^e .
Plate n.
A.H. Seai-Ie, del et lith. Mit.tne-n Bro's irop.
14. Specialis . IS-Vocalis. 16.H\Jiralis. 17. Theodori.
IS.Epichyais. IS.Dia. SO.Hirtipes. 21. Quercpiera.
22.1^riaipaILens. 23.Cin.eriLia. E't.Rigida. 25.Cerina.
74
PLATE II.
Fig. 14. Agrotis Spccialis.
15. Vocalis.
16. Pluralis.
17. Polia Theodori.
18. Epicliysis.
19. Heliophila Dia.
20. Zosteropoda Hirtipes.
21. Lithopliane Qucrquera.
22. Viridipallcns.
23. Calocampa Ciiicritia.
24. Gortyna Rigida.
25. Ccrina.
Grote. N. Am. Noctuidse.
Plate IIL.
•J8.
81.
32.
fc
26.
37.
-^^ /
29.
30.
^1^
35.
38.
A.H. Searle, del. et lith. Mintern Bro"s imp.
. 26.Triangulifer. 27.Pernana. 28.SuperlDa. 29.Sexseriata.
SO.P-uneraJis. Sl.Pulchripennis. 32.Pictipenms. 33.Volupia.
34. Aciatilinea 35.Rolandia,Tia. 36.Ptycopliora. 37.Snowi.
38 . Graefiana, .
75
PLATE III.
Fig. 26. Chariclca Triangulifer.
27. Peruana.
28. Anuapliila Superba.
29. Grotella Sexseriata.
30. Spragueia Funeralis.
31. Adonisea Pulcbripennis.
32. Heliosea Pictipennis.
33. Rliododipsa Volupia.
3^!. Lygranthoecia Acutilinea.
35. Exyra Rolandiana.
36. Fala Ptycophora.
37. Aedophrou Snowi.
38. Scopelosoma Graefiaua.
Grote. N. Am. Noctuids
Plate IV.
43.
44?.
A.H. Searle, del. et Ktli.
39.Sa,biilosa,. 4.0.Abbreviaiellia,. 41. GheHdoma. 42.Beaxiiana.
43.Mra. 44. Frederick 45.LunilirLea.
Miniem Bz-d's imn.
76
PLATE IV.
Fig. 39. Synedoida Sabulosa'.
40. Catocala Abbreviatella.
41. Chelidonia.
42. Beaniana.
43. Mira.
44. Fredcrici.
45. Strenoloma Limilinea.
A COLONY OF BUTTERFLIES.
BY
AUGUSTUS R. GROTE.
TO THE
flEiiiflrij
OF
THOMAS SAY.
A COLONY
B TJ T T E I^ IF L I E S .
About one hundred thousand years ago, during
the decline of the Ice period, a colony of Butterflies
settled in New England. They chose for their
territory Mount "Washington, in New Hampshire,
and their descendants occupy the rocky summit of
that mountain to this day.
Mount Washington is 6293 feet high, and the
White-Mountain butterflies are not found below an
elevation of about 5600 feet. Between this height
and the often cloud-capped summit, the butterflies
disport during the month of July of every year.
The bare and inhospitable mountain-top afi^ords
little vegetation, yet the White-Mountain butter-
flies find there food upon which they thrive. Both
Mr. Sanborn and Mr. Scudder have found the cater-
pillar feeding upon the sedges, which grow, as best
they may, in hollows and between the rocks. The
dusky brown butterfly, which succeeds the cater-
pillar, measures about one and eight tenths inches
from tip to tip of the extended front wings. Above,
the four wings are feebly marked ; beneath, the hind
pair are crossed by a dark median band with its
outer edges deeper brown and irregular, while be-
yond the band the wings are marbled, brown and
white.
Naturalists know the White-Mountain butterfly
by the name of Oeneis Semidea, and its first bio-
82 A COLONY OF BUTTERFLIES.
grapher was Thomas Say, who described it in the
year 1828. Previously, Mr. Thomas Nuttall, the
botanist, had collected specimens of the butterfly,
while Say's original figure of the species was drawn
from an individual presented to him by Mr. Charles
Pickering, of Salem.
It is 1800 miles west from Mount Washington to
Long's Peak, Colorado. In this direction, over all
the level stretch of country, no butterflies like our
White-Mountain butterfly are to be met with. But,
in Colorado, species similar to the White-Mountain
butterfly, and probably one exactly like it, are
found again occupying elevated lands. To the
northward it is 1000 miles to Hopedale, Labrador,
and here again very similar butterflies are found
living in that barren region.
This is a strange distribution for a butterfly, and
so the question comes up as to the manner in which
it was brought about. By comparing what has
been found out, with regard to past conditions of
the earth and the present state of things, a solu-
tion of the question has been offered. This solu-
tion gives us the Ice period in North America as
the agent, which induced the j)resent distribution
of the genus to which the White-Mountain butterfly
belongs. And the colonization of the butterfly, on
our New-England mountains, would have been
effected in this wise.
Before the Ice reign commenced in New Eng-
land, it had extended itself over the north of the
continent. The ice gradually and very slowly
advanced, year by year, to the southward. Always
A COLONY OF BUTTERFLIES. 83
more snow fell than was melted, and this snow
stayed, sum.mer and winter, and accumulated more
and more. It consolidated into iiche and glacial
ice. Forming on the highest lands, the ice-rivers
filled the ravines and joined, upon the plains, the
main body of ice which was pressing southward
from the pole. Summer and winter still alternated,
but, as is the case now in the extreme north, the
summers were short and the winters long. The
advancing ice destroyed, or drove before it, the
insects and animals of the warmer climates, which
it chilled by its approach. But it was kind to its
own children. It brought down with it the Oeneis
butterflies and the reindeer. Before its feet it
spread food for both of these, year by year, always
pushing food and animals to the south. At the
probable rate of less than a mile in a hundred
years, it brought them at last from the farthest
north into Virginia; not the Virginia of to-day,
but Virginia changed into an Arctic scene*.
At length the climate began again to change.
The point of farthest advance reached, the ice com-
menced to retrace its steps. And it called its own
back with it, alluring them by their food, scattered
ever farther and farther to the north. At some
time, the lengthening summers and shortening
winters brought the main Ice-sheet back into New
Ensrland. Prom Southern New York to Connecti-
cut, to Massachusetts, to Vermont, to New Hamp-
* Consult A. R. Grote, ' Proceedings of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science,' p. 222 (1875) ; also ' Silliman's
Journal ' for the same year.
8i A COLONY OF BUTTERFLIES.
sliire, it retreated all the way. It was as the falling
back of an army, with all its baggage and equip-
ments, and in perfect order. Year by year it called
upon its plants, its butterflies, its animals, and they
followed in its royal train. It had overridden all
obstacles, all lives and constitutions, and in its
retreat it shed, over the lands which again saw the
sun, floods of water, the source of fresh life and
civilizations.
But it was careful of its own plants and animals ;
they were to go back with the ice, nor be seduced
by the lakes and streams its retreat unveiled, and
so become companions to the mammoth. And it
succeeded, for the most part, until it reached the
White Mountains. Though, year by year, the indi-
vidual butterflies perished, they planted their suc-
cessors ; the longer-lived reindeers laid their bones
by the way, and in the Connecticut Valley itself,
but fresh herds still were ready to follow the north-
ward march of the great glacier.
Out of the valley of the White Mountains, the
main ice-mass gradually retreated ; and here it lost
some of its followers. At that time the White
Mountains must have presented an appearance not
unlike the Alps of to-day — an aspect which, owing to
their inferior elevation, they have since lost under
a climate growing in warmth. The local glaciers,
which then filled the mountain-gullies, attracted
some of the wayward, flitting Oencis butterflies by
a display of the food-plants which they had har-
boured and detained from the main glacier.
Year after year the great glacier retreated farther
A COLONY OF BUTTEEFLIES. 85
and farther north, followed by the main body of its
train — plants, butterflies, and animals, — the while
some of these foolish butterflies were beguiled by the
shallow ice-torrents which then filled the ravines
of Mount "\Vashin2^ton. Return became at lenjjth
impossible. They advanced beliind the deceiving
local glaciers, step by step up the mouutain-side,
pushed from below by the warm climate, which
to them was uncongenial, until they reached the
mountain-peak, to-day bare of snow in the short
summer. Here, blown sideways by the wind, tliey
patiently cling to the rocks. Or, in clear weather,
on weak and careful wing, they fly from flower of
stemless mountain-pink to blue-berry, swaying from
their narrow tenure of the land. Drawn into the
currents of air that sweep the mountain's side, they
are, at times, forced downwards, to be parched in
the hot valleys below. Yet they maintain them-
selves. They are fighting it out on that line. They
are entrapped, and must die out by natural causes,
unless certain entomologists sooner extirpate them
by pinning them up in collections of insects.
"What time, on " Bigelow's Lawn," I see the ill-
advised collector, net in hand, swooping down on
this devoted colony, of ancient lineage and more
than Puritan afliliation, I wonder if, before it is too
late, there will not be a law passed to protect the
butterflies from the cupidity of their pursuers.
This is the story of a New-England colony of
butterflies. I commend this colony to the protec-
tion of all good citizens of the State of New
Hampshire.
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