72 VARIETIES OF NOCTIT/E 



to considerable differences found in the palpi and antennas. The unique 

 species in the genus was discovered almost simultaneously in Germany 

 and in England some years ago, and published by Doubleday under 

 the name of hwnidalis, and by Wocke under that of turfosalts. Of 

 these names it is difficult to choose, but the last having been pub- 

 lished in the body of (Herrich-Schaffer's) work, appears to be 

 preferable " (' Histoire naturelle ' etc. (Deltoides), vol. viii., p. 43). 



This is the smallest and most delicate species in the family, and 

 likely to be passed over at first sight as belonging to a different group. 

 It has a somewhat superficial appearance to Scoparia pallida. In 

 neuration it appears to be closely allied to Hypenodes. Altogether it 

 may be looked upon as forming a link between the Hypenidce and 

 Herminidce. 



2. Family : Herminidce, Dup. 



The strangest structural character of this family is the presence 

 on the fore legs of the males, of a large tuft or brush of hair which has 

 obtained for the members of the genus Herminia the popular name of 

 " fan-feet." With the exception of the rare Sophronia emortnalis, all the 

 other members of this family are fairly common, indeed, frequently 

 abundant. 



Guenee writes of the Herminidce : " We now reach the most 

 varied and most interesting family of the Deltoides, that in which 

 anomalies abound, and in which the organs differ infinitely. As I 

 have already spoken of them in detail in the general notes I have 

 written on the Deltoides, I will only here indicate some differences 

 and the manners of the insects." " The imagines compared with 

 the Hypenidce have the palpi more arched or hooked, like a beak, 

 (some females alone being exceptions to this rule), they offer generally 

 much more variety and difference ; such often following the sexes. 

 The antennae are'subject to a crowd of modifications not seen in the 

 Hypenidce. The frontal crest is absent or almost so, instead of forming 

 a sharp prominence between the eyes. The wings are thicker, the 

 inferior wings less developed and always partaking, at any rate 

 towards the anal angle, of the designs of the superior wings. The 

 Herminidce have not altogether the same habits as the Hypenidce. They 

 prefer the shady and even humid parts of woods, although some are 

 found in dry localities. Their flight is short but rapid, and during 

 the day they never leave one hiding place but to seek another. The 

 species of Herminia rest under leaves like GEOMETRY, those of Helta 

 settle on tree- trunks like NOCTU^E, whilst Eivula frequents marshy 

 fields " (' Histoire naturelle ' etc. (Deltoides), vol. viii., p. 45). One 

 recognises the anomalous character of many of the structures in this 

 family, Jbut,* besides a certain degree of sexual dimorphism, the British 

 species do not exhibit that great amount of general variation which, as 

 Guenee suggests, characterizes the family as a whole. Of this family 

 which he calls Herminiini, Grote writes : " The type of this tribe is 

 the European Herminia tentacularis, to which our North American 

 Philometra is related. The wings are concolorous, marked with con- 

 tinuous lines, reminding us of the Pheocymini and the Geometridce. 

 The antennae are often furnished with sexual nodosities. The species 

 fly in grass upon which the larvas generally feed. One of the most 

 variable Noctuidce known to me belongs to this tribe, Zandognatha 



