53 



Harpe without corona, bifurcate, pointed at each 

 extremity of the margin ; the only indication of the 

 clasper is a fold ; the sacculus extends far into the 

 cucLillus, and is rounded and scobinated ; the uncus is 

 barely broader in the centre, with a curved tip ; 

 aedoeagus scobinated at the orifice; juxta thin. It is 

 quite possible the TcBniocampids branch off here. 



The following group of five species is strongly generic, 

 and is an example of a failure of the genitalia for specific 

 classification, the points of difference being very minute. 

 In Professor Smith's work on the Agrotidce, he calls this 

 group Carneades, and records some 120 species, mostly 

 with the harpes so similar that he in some cases makes 

 one figure do for 13 species. It is not, therefore, 

 surprising in dealing with a group of this kind that 

 little, if any, difference can be detected in tritici and 

 aquilina, and if they are to be proved to be distinct 

 species resource must be had to other characters. 

 Reasoning by analogy that seeing two such distinct 

 species as obelisca and tritici are almost undistinguish- 

 able from the genitalia, it is feasable to believe that the 

 same resemblance may occur in tritici and aquilina. The 

 following is an attempt to collate the points of difference. 



Obelisca. From E. R. Bankes. Pencils absent. 



Harpe acutely pointed at the apex, anal angle obtuse, 

 with corona ; clasper long, curved, curled at the tip 

 and clothed with short fine spines, almost to the base ; 

 clavus absent ; sacculus produced to a long arm, 

 projecting beyond the anal angle of the harpe ; uncus 

 tapered ; aedoeagus with indefinite structure ; vesica 

 with two short fine cornuti ; juxta upright, deeply cleft 

 to a point in the centre, the two peaked heads being 

 squamose. 



Nigricans. 



Harpe similar to preceding ; clasper slightly broader, 

 set with a number of coarse spines ; clavus produced, 



