24 



STRUCTUEE AND LITEKATUBE. 



The moths belonging to the Family called Noc- 

 tuidEe, or Noctuse, by authors, are among the most 

 interesting of the Lepidoptera. Comparatively 

 uniform in shape, and more often of various shades 

 of brown in colour, there are a surprising number 

 of different kinds, separable, usually, by modifica- 

 tions of the pattern of the upper surface of the front 

 pair of wings. As might be expected from the 

 greater extent of territory, the species are more 

 numerous in North America, north of Mexico and 

 the West Indies, than in Europe. I have entered, 

 up to the present time, the names of 1460 species 

 in my notes ; while, in a few instances, these names 

 may refer to the same species, it is evident, from 

 the partial exploration, that a great many remain 

 to be discovered. I think, finally, that about 

 two thousand species of Noctuidse will be found in 

 our territory. 



There is comparatively more agreement among 

 authors as to the limit of the Family than in some 

 other cases in the same Order of Insects ; but the 

 differences are still great, arising from the different 

 characters regarded as essential in deciding the 

 matter. M. Guenee included a small group, the 

 Bomhycice of Hiibner and Cymato]}1iorina of Herrich- 

 Schaffer, as well as the genus Breplios of Hiibner, 



