REVISION OF SJ'ECJES OF THE GENUS AGROTIS. 115 



gotJdca iiiul allies, but tlio style of inacuhition is entirely ditterent in most 

 si)ecies, ami they all ha\e either the orbicular entirely complete or 

 entirely obsolete. The costa is never pallid, but on the contrary, where 

 there is any dillerence in general shade, the costal region is the darkest 

 portion of the wing. Two well-defined subgroups are indicated by the 

 antennal structure. In the first, the antenme ( 6 ) are distinctly bi- 

 pectinate, the i)ectinations ciliate, in the second they are serrate, the 

 serrations furnished with branched spines. In no two species are the 

 3 anteunai exactly alike; but as they vary to an extent in specimens 

 of the same species, and as the variation is one of degree rather than 

 kind, the character is not one made use of here, except in instances where 

 species else not easily separable can be thus readily distinguished. 



The species with pectinate antenna; are but three in number, and are 

 readily distinguished. Circumdata is recognizable at a glance by the red- 

 dish brown terminal space ami inner nuirgin, as well as the oblong upright 

 <liscolorous reniform. Gladiaria^ of which monisoniana is a synonym, 

 is distinguished by the pale venular streaks, showing some resemblance 

 to subfiothica, especially in the distinct pale streak surmounting the 

 claviform. The s. t. line is always visible, pale in color, and preceded 

 m by a series of sagittate black spots. Venerabilis is a darker species, 

 often considerably i)owdered with white or gray ; the veins are narrowly 

 nuirked with black, the transverse maculatiou obsolete. 



From the species in the second division of the group, anncxa and 

 malcjida may be separated by the longer, acute clasper of the $ , as well 

 as by the larger, nu)re distinct head and more elongate primaries. An. 

 nexa is always readily known by the small ordinary si»ots, connected 

 by a neat distinct black dash. In malejida the ordinary spots are large, 

 and not connected. 



Of the remaining species, gravis, of which vajjularis is a synonym, is 

 distinguished by its small size, and the annulate ordinary- spots. The 

 reniform is somewhat constricted, and at its inner inferior angle often 

 sends out a slight spur, sometimes connecting with the orbicular. Van- 

 couvcrensis, of which semiclarata is a synonym, is an exceedingly vari- 

 able species, scarcely two specimens being alike. The color varies from 

 dirty reddish yellow to bright yellow brown, often irrorate, with bright 

 pur[)lish gray scales. Usually a deep black claviform is a [jrominent 

 feature in the appearance of the specimens, but sometimes this is hardly 

 traceable. From gravis the si)ecies is distinguished by the larger size 

 and lack of pale annuli to the ordinary spots. The paler lorms of this 



I species I have often seen in collections labeled aeneipennis. Indeed, 

 Mr. Grote himself is not guiltless of some errors of this nature m col- 

 lections. The type oi' aeneipennis is nu)re evenly colored, with obsolete 

 maculation, and with much broader and more lengthily bristled S an- 

 tenu.e. Volnbilis, of which stigmosa is a synonym, also varies greatly, 

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