NOCTUIDiE. AGROTIS. 1 13 



The species of this extensive genus diflFer exceedingly in ap- 

 pearance ; nevertheless, from their habits being similar, and their 

 structure varying but slightly, I have not attempted to disunite 

 them; neither have I ventured to subdivide the genus into sec- 

 tions, as the distinctive characters vary in the respective sexes: it 

 may, however, be remarked, that the males of the seven first 

 species have the antennae more deeply pectinated than the re- 

 mainder, with the terminal joints frequently simple. In common 

 with all the foregoing Noctuidse, and many of the following genera, 

 the individuals repose with their wings incumbent or horizontal, 

 as noticed under each genus ; a character which can only be used 

 as secondary, for if it be employed in a primary view*, such dis- 

 cordant genera as the present, and Leucania, must be unnaturally 

 associated together, while Semiophora would be placed in a di- 

 stinct subdivision from Graphiphora, to which it is so closely allied, 

 that Treitschke and others unite both under the latter genus. 



Without some practical acquaintance, both with regard to their 

 localities and periods of flight, it would be hopeless to attempt the 

 separation of all the numerous varieties of the respective species, 

 or place them with their legitimate partners, as their markings are 

 not only extremely similar, but many of the species are so prone 

 to vary; and they are, moreover, in general, of dull and sombre 

 colours, usually with three stigmata on each of the anterior wings. 

 Many of the species may be occasionally remarked flying, as if by 

 chance, in the afternoon; but they all fly at twilight, and some 

 throughout the night ; their larvse are naked, more or less spotted 

 with black, and radicivorous, and are consequently but seldom ob- 

 served. 



Sp. 1. lunigera. Plate 20. f. 2. Alis anticis fuscis, Jlavescente variegaiis, 

 stngis duabus gerninatis nigricantibus, stigmd anticd interne Jlavescente ; 

 posticis luteo-albis. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 8 lin.) 



Ag. lunigera mihi. — Steph. Catal. part ii. p. 65. No. 6081. 



Head deep fuscous ; thorax the same, varied with yellowish, with a large spot 

 of the latter colour on each side at the base of the wing : anterior wings rich 

 fuscous, varied with yellowish, with an angulated black streak at the base, 

 united to an abbreviated pale striga ; behind this, at a distance from the an- 



* As done by Fabricius, in 1775, and subsequently by Gmelin, Turton, 

 Stewart, &c., alluded to by me in page 87, in February last, and published as 

 an unnoticed character within the past month. 



Haustellata. Vol. II. 1st April, 1829. i 



