44 CARADRINHSTA 



the easiest or most attractive to study. The species are the 

 most truly nocturnal of all the Lepidoptera; few are readily 

 obtainable by day, but at night they are found in abundance 

 at flowers or sugar. Imago with forewings usually elongate, 

 body relatively stout, and densely scaled. It may be noted as 

 an established conclusion that antennal pectinations, if not 

 extending to the apex of the antennae, are in this family seldom 

 sufficient to mark generic distinction. 



Ovum spherical, more or less distinctly ribbed and reticulated. 

 Larva usually with few hairs (except in the earliest forms), 

 often nocturnal, sometimes subterranean; often very poly- 

 phagous. Pupa usually subterranean. 



The phylogeny of the leading genera is expressed in the 

 accompanying diagram. 



PHYLOGENY OF CARADRINIDAE. 



Cucullia 



I. 

 Polia Leucania Monima Harmodia 



I 

 Orthosia Agrotis Nonagria Melanchra 



I J I I 



i I 



Caradrina Hadena 

 I | 



I ~ 

 Acronycta 



TABULATION OF GENERA. 



1. Eyes hairy . . . . .2. 



,, glabrous . . . . .9. 



2. Abdomen more or less crested . . .3. 



,, not crested . . . .5. 



3. Tongue short, slight ; antennae of $ bipectinated 



to apex . . .16. NEURONIA. 

 ,, well-developed ; antennae of $ not bipec- 

 tinated to apex . . .4. 



4. Abdomen in $ acutely pointed . .18. HARMODIA. 



not acutely pointed 19. MELANCHRA. 



5. Palpi very short, with long rough hairs . 17. PANOLIS. 



normal 6. 



