PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



tliea, Trichosca (exotic), Harrisimemna, Feralia, Momophana, IHphthera 

 \Moma], Microcoelia, Apatela [Acronycta] Arsilonche, Siniyra (exotic), 

 and Oxyccsta (exotic). 



Mrrolonchr is omitted, probably by accident, since it is referred to as 

 a division of Acronycta in another part of the paper. 



Taking this aggregation, whether as arranged by Mr. Grote or 

 myself, as a whole, it is impossible to define it without including also 

 all the other Noctuidae. Dr. Dyar linds, however, that the larvae of 

 Acronycta and some other genera differ from those of the normal Noc- 

 tuids, and for convenience his restriction can be followed, though it 

 leaves some ur> satisfactory situations. For tlie reasons which lead Dr. 

 Dyar to his conclusions, his notes on the larvae should be referred to; 

 it must suffice to say here that only Dcmas, Panthea, Gharadra, Harrisi- 

 mcmna, Mcrolotichc, ArsUonchc^ and Acronycta are included. Raphia 

 and Feralia are rejected from larval characters, and Momophana and 

 Moma from adult structures. Microcoelia is divided, and one of its 

 species is included in Acronycta on both larval and adult characters. 



As restricted above, tliere are two very sharply defined series, dif- 

 iering in important structural characters. Dcmas, Charadra, and 

 rantlira have vein T) of the secondaries quite as strong as any other on 

 that wing, and arising from the end of the median vein close to 4. The 

 median vein is, in this case, therefore, distinctly quadrifid. Subordinate 

 though congruent characters are hairy eyes and pectinated male 

 antennae in all the species, and a certain similarity in habitus and 

 type of mac-ulation. Bnt Raphia would seem to be, on adult charac- 

 ters, a proper member of this group, Avhich for convenience 1 ])refer for 

 the present to regard as a tribe, Panthcini, though it is rather entitled 

 to snbfamily rank. It has the venation of the secondaries almost 

 exactly as in Charadra and indeed agrees quite as well in the primaries 

 also. The type of niaculation is also similar and the body structure 

 and pectinated rtiale antennae are very like Charadra. The eyes are 

 naked, but this is an unimportant character and only the male geni- 

 talia which are typically Noctuid and do not agree with those of the 

 other species here associated bear out the larval indications. Raphia 

 is therefore omitted in this treatise as I am at present unable to assign 

 it a. satisfactory position. 



Among themselves the genera differ fairly well. Panthra and Demas 

 are both incapable of feeding because of tlie weak, membraneous 

 tongne, and both tend to a great variability in the origin of the veins 

 abont the accessory cell, which may be entirely absent or fully present 

 in the same species. Panthea has more evenly triangular primaries 

 with an almost straight inner margin, and the markings consist of 

 band-like transverse lines. Demas has tlie primaries narrower, more 

 abiuptly widened at the base, giving the inner margin a cnrve at that 

 point, and has the markings more normally developed. The differences 

 are obvious but not striking. 



