19 



In the case of H. hectus, another species in which 

 the male attracts the female, the scent distributors are 

 understood to be on the hind leg, the tibia of which has 

 no terminal joints, but is round like a bladder. This 

 species does not possess hair pencils. 



These pencils are situated at either side of the 

 ventral surface of one of the earliest segments of 

 the insects body. There is a large base, from which 

 the pencils spring ; the hairs are generally about half 

 as long as the body, the basal portion being aglutinated 

 together, they then spread out into an expanded tuft. 

 As a rule they are invisible to the eye, being cunningly 

 concealed in two long lobed pockets. In fresh specimens 

 these hairs can easily be withdrawn by the aid of a pin. 

 Whether the moth has power to replace them I am unable 

 to say. But as we rarely capture a specimen with them 

 extended we can only conclude 



1 . That they can be replaced, or 



2. That they are seldom used, or 



3. That they fulfil their functions in their natural 

 position within the pockets. 



They are of no generic value. In the undoubted 

 genus Hydroecia, nictitans does not possess them and 

 the others do, and also Nonagria arundineta does not 

 possess them and neurica ; edelsteni does. 



Where, in the course of my dissections I have come 

 across them I have recorded the fact of their presence or 

 absence. Where this is not stated the species still require 

 examination. 



NOMENCLATURE. 



I have adopted the specific names generally used by 

 British Lepidopterists, and have also added the name 

 used by Richard South in his " Entomologist List " ; 

 merely for identification purposes, leaving the question 

 of priority and synonomy for abler hands than mine. 



