On the Noctuid Oenus Mclipotis, fliibn. 315 



XXXIX. — Bevision of the Noctuid Genus Melipotis, IfUhn.j 

 with Descriptions of Tioo new Species. By ARTHUR G. 

 Butler, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



The genus Melipotis {Bolina, Guen., and Leucanitis, auct.) 

 has been wrongly made the type of a separate family — 

 Bolmida? — by Guenee. As a matter of fact it is closely 

 allied lo the Old-World genus Ercheia (confounded by some 

 authors with Melipotis, Hiibn.), and varies precisely in a 

 similar manner. 



The earlier authors imagined that the variation which 

 exists in the species of Melipotis^ and more particularly in 

 individuals of the female sex, represented permanent and 

 distinct types ; but a careful examination of a series obtained 

 from any one locality soon demonstrates the fact that, whereas 

 there is little variation in the pattern of the posterior wings 

 and the under surface of all the wings, the variation of the 

 upper surface of the anterior wings is often quite remarkable 

 and has led to the needless multiplication of species. 



Since taking up the study of the genus I have come across 

 a paper on West-Indian species of Melipotis by the late 

 Dr. Moeschler, in which he shows that he evidently arrived at 

 much the same conclusion as I have done. Unfortunately 

 his material was inferior to that of the Museum collection. 

 Though I could wish that we had finer series of some of the 

 s])ecies, there are very few forms of which we do not possess 

 representatives, or, at any rate, examples of nearly allied 

 types. I have therefore come to the conclusion that it will 

 be advantageous to students to publish the result of my study 

 of our material. 



Melipotis cailino. 

 Ophiusa cailino, Lefebvre, Ann. Soc. Linn. Paris, vi. p. 96, pi. v. 



Asia Minor, Caucasus, Schuscha. In B. M. 



Our three examples of this species show very little varia- 

 tion; but a large series would probably exhibit the usual 

 variability of the genus. 



Melipotis inepta. 



2 . Thria ? inepta, Butler, P. Z, S. 1881, p. 620. 



Chaman, S. Afghanistan. Type B. M. 

 I think it possible that this may be the female of M.jiexu- 

 osa; but the borders of the primaries below are broadly white, 



