THE NOCTUIDAE OF CALIFORNIA 181 



ways well developed, usually simple or sparsely ciliated in the female and 

 ranging from simple through serrate into bi-pectinate in the male. In the 

 Deltoid series the males frequently have curious twists, distortions or tuftings 

 before the middle, which are cjuite characteristic and useful for specific as well 

 as generic separation. The labial palpi in the typical series vary little, ex- 

 tending' upward along the front to the vertex. In the quadrifids the terminal 

 joint tends to elongate and becomes smooth and more slender. In the 

 Deltoids the palpi become very much elongated, more slender, or clothed 

 with upright scales on the upper edge, giving a blade-like appearance or 

 forming a snout. This snout-like appearance (Fig. 71) is sometimes seen 

 in the other series as well, but in those cases the scaly clothing is usually 

 directed downward, and a pointed frontal tuft adds to the effect. Only in 

 Hybluca. in our fauna, is there any trace of maxillary palpi, and it is a 

 question whether this should really remain as a Noctuid. The tongue is 

 usually well developed ; ]3ut in a few cases it is wholly aborted and in such 

 instances the head is usually small, retracted, and the palpi are reduced in 

 size. 



In the trifids three series are distinguished on eye characteristics : those 

 which have the eyes hairy, clothed with short, even pile ; those which have them 

 naked with overhanging ciliae or lashes, and those which have them naked, 

 without overhanging cilia; or lashes. The first of these series is well 

 defined and there is rarely a question as to whether a species belongs to it 

 or nut. These will be treated here as Mamcstrini. The difference between 

 the lashed and unlashed eyes is less obvious and no tribal or serial division 

 can be satisfactorily based on this feature. 



In a long series of species the middle and hind tibite (Fig. 71), and often 

 the anterior pair as well, are furnished with stiff, longer or shorter spines, 

 sometimes abundantly, sometimes sparsely; but always distinctly when they 

 are present at all. These spines are different from the normal spurs, a pair 

 of which occurs at the end of the middle tibiae, while there are two pair at and 

 near the lip of the hind tibia^. On the fore tibiae there are no spurs com- 

 paring to those of the middle and hind pairs, but there may be claws or other 

 corneous processes, and on the inner side there is always an appendage or 

 epiphysis which covers a depression or excavation. 



The term Ai^rotini has been applied to the series with spinose tibije and 

 this is made to include the Heli{jthid series in which the colors are brighter 

 and more contrasting, while the armature is much heavier on the fore tibiae. 



The term Iladcnimic has been aiijilied to those forms in which the eyes 

 are naked and the middle antl hind tiliiaj are not spinose; liut this is a mixed 

 mess and divisible in a number of smaller series based on minor characters 

 of vcstiture, tufting and the like. 



Claws or spines at the end or lip of the fore tibi^ may occur in any 

 series, and sometimes there are long, more or less curved claws on the tarsal 

 joints as well. 



On any or all the legs there may be sexual tuftings or other modifica- 

 tions in the males. These are rare in the trifid series, but common in the 



