18 



and the extraordinary beauty of the minutest parts, far 

 surpassing many of the more popular microscopical 

 studies, especially when a little stain is used. 



PENCILS OF HAIR. 



Before proceeding to the descriptions of the various 

 species I should like to call attention to the hair pencils 

 possessed by many of the male Noctuidce, which appear 

 to be almost unknown. 



These beautiful tufts are often in close proximity to 

 the genital organs, but generally upon one of the earliest 

 abdominal segments. The usual construction put upon 

 them is that they are scent distributors. 



In the face of the wonderful power possessed by so 

 many Lepidoptera of assembling, one would expect to 

 find these scent organs in the female, and used to 

 attract a partner, as is customary in nature, instead of 

 which we find the sombre, and often portly dame 

 credited with chasing after the elegant, dandy, love sick 

 swain, attracted by the scent he distributes ! 



That the male does in some species possess scent 

 organs I cannot doubt, as it was unquestionably proved 

 by my old friend John E. Robson, who imprisoned 

 males of the genus Hepiahts in a chip box, and found on 

 opening, that it was impregnated with a distinct odour, 

 strongly resembling pine apple. My own experience 

 with H. humuli was, that the odour in this case 

 resembled violet powder, and a friend who was with me, 

 at the time I made the observation, suggested heliotrope. 



But then the colouring of the sexes, and the 

 observations made in pairing, prove that in this species 

 at any rate, the female is attracted to the male, not only 

 by the scent, but also by its brilliant white wings, 

 whilst it pendulates in the summer twilight, forming a 

 conspicuous object to perhaps, the none too sensitive 

 vision of its future spouse. 



