March, 1914] FORBES : NoCTUID^ OF NoRTH AMERICA. 3 



from the following parts: the collar or tegulae, a pair of loose pieces 

 forming the front quarter of the dorsum of the thorax; the patagia 

 or patagiae lying over the base of the wings, and curving down in 

 front of them; the mesothorax or disc of the thorax lying between 

 them, and the metathorax or narrow posterior ridge, extending out 

 under the tips of the patagia to the base of the hind wings. The 

 principle tufts usually on the front and back of the mesothorax 

 the last sometimes combining with a mass of hair on the metathorax. 



The abdomen has a series of tufts on the middle line in many 

 cases, the first of which is usually larger than the second. 



The tympanic opening lies at each side of the first segment of the 

 abdomen, behind the base of the hind wings, sometimes it is covered 

 by a flap of scales. There is usually a slit, often concealing a pencil 

 of hair, just above it. 



It should be noted that all the Noctuidte have spines on the under 

 side of the tarsi, the outer and inner of these form a regular row on 

 each side, while those in the middle line are irregular and vary indi- 

 vidually. In many Agrotids there is a fourth row toward the upper 

 outer side of the tarsus usually of only four or five spines. Catahapta 

 also has this fourth row. 



I should be very grateful for additions and corrections to this 

 table, and especially for information as to any characters that can be 

 used to separate the genera related to Hadena, Mamestra, Xylina, and 

 the female Deltoids. 



1. Eyes hairy 2. 



Eyes naked (without hair arising from the eyeball) 28. 



2. Venation of hind wing quadrifid ( i ) 3. 



Trifid 5, 



3. Palpi reaching to middle of front or rather beyond ; tuft on basal joint of 



antenna scaly Charadra (2). 



Palpi very short and hairy, the second joint shorter than width of eye, 

 tuft on antenna hairy 4, 



4. Female antennae simple, fore wing with decided W-mark in subterminal 



line, orbicular a dot or absent Panthea (2). 



Female antennje serrate below, fore wing with st. line only a little 

 irregular, orbicular a ring Demas (2). 



5. Fore tibia with a strong claw at the tip, very short Barathra. 



Fore tibia normal, unarmed 6. 



6. Eyes about half the width of the front, and oval Anarta (3). 



Eyes about as wide as the front 7. 



