52 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



standing in our lists. The three genera to which the " cut-worms " are 

 referable, Agrotis, Hadena and Mainestra, are separated in the Preface to 

 my list of the Noctuidfe, p. 3, April, 1874, by their characters. 



The genus Agrotis is recognized, in a more or less extended sense, by 

 all modern writers upon the N'octuidce. It is very numerous m species, 

 over two hundred and twenty-five being described from our territory. 

 The perfect insects may be known by their rather narrow and pointed 

 fore wings, which are even along the short external margin, and the rather 

 full and rounded hind wings. They are usually of a brown or gray color, 

 and the primaries above show the stigmatal marks plainly  the two ordi- 

 nary spots on the cell are often relieved by a black or dark shade spread- 

 ing between them and on either side of them, setting them off. The 

 median lines are usually not very distinct ; they are often double, darker 

 than the wing, and form little scallops, as curves between the veins. The 

 structure of the genus must be made out with the help of a lens, under 

 which the compound eyes will be found to have the surface naked ; the 

 ocelli are present ; the middle and hind tibiae are always, and usually the 

 front tibiae as well, spinose, or covered with prickles, similar to those 

 usually present on the tarsi of all Noctuids. Besides these characters, 

 the body is deprived of tufts along the dorsal line which signalize the 

 allied genera of " cut-worms," Hadena and Mamestra. The labial palpi 

 are not very prominent ; the tongue is well sized in almost all the species ; 

 the front is smooth : the vestiture or clothing of the body is of a hairy 

 character, rather smooth than rough. The antennae of the males are of 

 varied structure ; sometimes they are simple, merely provided with little 

 hairs or cilice ; again they are brush-like, serrated, or again quite lengthily 

 pectinated or feathered. The ty])e of Agrotis is Segeti/jii. and we owe the 

 generic name to Hubner. 



Subdivisions of the genus can be undertaken when the form of the 

 genitalia is studied. This character, taken in connection with the antennal 

 structure, will give us sub-genera and assist in the identification of our 

 numerous species. 1 cite '206 species in my late Check List, one ( rufi- 

 pectns) has been forgotten ; 1 have described nearly twenty since, not all 

 at this writing published (in a paper in the Annals and Magazine for 

 Natural History, Jan., 1883, will be found several new forms found by 

 Prof Sno\\' in Ne\\" Mexico). I ha\e separated from Agrotis the genus 

 Agrotiphila. founded on the constricted eyes, a good character which, 

 indeed, allies the moth { Montana) to Anarta and the Heliothid genera ; 



