XVi INTRODUCTION. 



says " the moths he examined did not exactly correspond, and I keep 

 provisionally the distinct name for the American form." I fail to find 

 any distinction between Xylophasia rurea and X. (Hadena) vultuosa, 

 Mamestra atlantica seems identical with our Hadena dissimilis and the 

 Hadena finitima of the American list, appears to be most certainly a 

 colour variety only of Apamea basilinea ; whilst apart from size, 

 Graphiphora augur appears to be identical with the American Agrotis 

 haruspica, although Mr. Grote finds a difference in the genitalia, and 

 is supported in his view by Professor Smith. 



REPRESENTATIVE NORTH AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SPECIES. 

 Apart from these identical and probably identical species, there are a 

 vast number of species certainly distinct, which have the facies of our 

 European species and replace them, often in somewhat similar localities 

 in America. Thus our Hyppa rectilinea, Brotolomia meticulosa, Amplii- 

 pyra pyramidea etc. have their representative species in H. xylinoides, 

 1>. iris and A. pyramidoides. Endless other examples are recognised in 

 comparing the faunas of the two countries. 



Which are really identical and which representative species can 

 scarcely be assumed now, much less determined, in the present state of 

 our ignorance. Some of our own British species, well known to be 

 distinct by the difference in the earlier (larval, pupal) stages, are so 

 very similar in the imago state even when we are conversant with them, 

 that we can only with the utmost difficulty separate them. The diffi- 

 culty is, of course, greatly increased, where we are not intimate with 

 such similar and allied species found elsewhere, and when the early 

 stages of one at least is practically unknown. 



With regard to a comparison of the Noctuidae of Europe and North 

 America, Mr. Grote writes : " The study of the North American 

 Noctuid fauna has shown its close relationship to the European. There 

 is first, a comparatively small percentage of identical species to be 

 considered. Then we must take into account that all the leading 

 genera of European Noctuidce are represented in North America, and 

 show a larger number of species as a rule, and all with the European 

 facies. The identical species are found almost without exception in 

 the typical Noctuidse, or Noetuinas. So far as these are ascertained at 

 present they are as follows : Agrotis chardinyi, conflua, baja, c-nigrum, 

 fennica, plecta y speciosa, rava, fusca, ypsilon with its variety idonea, 

 saucia with its variety margaritosa, occulta and prasina. Except as to 

 conflua, the identity of American examples with these species of 

 Agrotis, in sensu Lederer, does not admit of real doubt. Two species, 

 determined as conjiua and per conflua, the former from Anticosti, the 

 latter from New York, are contained in the Grote collection in the 

 British Museum. There is no doubt that the species determined as 

 perconflna is distinct from the European, but it is not clear whether 

 the Anticosti specimens represent a distinct species equivalent to 

 Walker's jucunda and differing from the European. Mamestra grandis, 

 trifolii, Hadena lateritia, arctica, Dipterygia pinastri, Euplexia lucipara, 

 Gortyna nictitans with its forms erythrostigma and lucens, HeliopJiila 

 pollens, PyropJiila tragopoginis, Tceniocampa incerta, Pachnobia carnea, 

 Cosmia paleacea, Xanthiaflai>ago,Scoliopteryx libatrix, Phisia hochenwarthi 

 and devergens, Anarta cordigera and several other species of this genus 

 inhabiting northern or elevated Alpine regions, Melaporphyria ononis, 

 Heliothis armiger, with an olive-coloured variety, umbrosus, apparently 



