( 2C ) 



7. " Rippe 8 der Hinterfliigel nahe an der Wurzel init der \oidereu Mediana 

 vereinigt iind da^ielbst mehr oder wenigei- verdickt." 



In this respect the Afjaristidae and Koctuidae are identical, and exhibit rather 

 imjiortant variation. In most Agaristidne the basal partition of tlie subcostal 

 nervure (vein 7), before touching vein 8, is very feebly developed, and veins 7 and 8 

 apjjear, therefore, to be shortly stalked together, the more so as vein 7 is mostly not 

 anastomosed to (confluent with) vein 8, but joined to it by a very short thick bar, 

 which has such a position as to appear to be a prolongation of the main part of vein 7 

 (compare Epistenne victrix Westw., dentatrix ^^'estw., A&jocera, Metagarista, Omos). 

 In Affarista agricola Don. and allies the basal partition of vein 7 is obliterated, so 

 that veins 7 and 8 are actually stalked, as in many Arctiids. Sometimes veins 7 and 

 8 are merged together for about i mm. (Pycnodmitis Ve\d., Clitis Wlk.) ; or they 

 touch one another, remaining separated by a slight fun-ow (Milu Auriv., Dia/iniuin 

 Wlk.), or by a deep and rather broad one (GodoMf, Wlk.). The liasal partilion of 

 vein 7 is mucli thicker in Godasa, Mila, Clitis, etc., than in Episteme, Agarista, 

 Pludaenoides, Aegocera, etc. 



8. '•Hinterfliigel mit Haftborsten." 



This character the Agaristidae have in common with the Nuciiddae, 

 Arctiidae, etc. 



9. " Die FUhler gewohnlich vor der Spitze melir oder weniger verdickt." 

 There occur very diflerent typeij of antennae in this family. The typical 



antennae are more or less club-shaped (Agarista, Episteme, Aegoc&i-a, Rothia, etc.), 

 but very often the antennae are not thickened towards the apex, or they are even 

 setiform (Phalaenoides fthnebris Moore, albamedia Luc, Zalissa-apecies) ; and 

 there are a good number of genera with serrate and pectinate antennae (Apina 

 adlisto Wlk., Ancrda Wlk., Pycnodontis and Leiosoma Feld., Psychomorjiha, Harr., 

 and others). Clubbed antennae are found, besides Castniidae. also among other 

 families of moths — for example, in Cistidia HK, a genus of GeometHdne. 



As it becomes pretty clear from the above short notes that none of the nine 

 ix>ints of Aurivillius's definition of the present family are really decisive, every one of 

 them either occurring in other families or being found only in part of the true 

 Agaristidae, an exact definition of the family remains still a desideratum ; hut as we 

 believe that, before our knowledge of the earlier stages of Agaristidne, which seem 

 to exhibit some constant characters, has increased, and till we know more of the 

 anatomical and morphological details of the Noctuoid and Bombycoid moths, an 

 exact delimitation of Agaristidae will be impossible, we think it after all best to 

 accept, for the present, Aurivillius's view, and to unite to the Agaristidae all 

 Noctuid-like moths with vein 5 of the hindwings originating in or before the middle 

 of the discocellulars, and to exclude all other forms, with the exception, I am sorry to 

 say, of Agansta belangeri Guer. 



To the Agaristidae of Kirby's CaUdogue of Lep. Ifel. we have to add some 

 genera and .species which are uiidoiihtedly Agaristids, and to remove some which 

 belong to other families. 



Apina callisto Wlk., Kirby's Cat. p. 442, is certainly an Agaristid. Apina 

 aru/ast Wlk. is by no means gonerically identical with callisto ; it is no Agaristid. 

 ^ein 7 of the liindwing is in angasi anastomosed to vein 8 for about 2 mm. ; the 

 same character we find in Satara aequata Wlk., Kirby's Cat. p. 33 (= Arctioneura 

 lorqaini Feld.), which is likewise no Agaristid, but an Arctiid s.l. 



