Mr, A. R. Grote on the Moths of New Mexico. 



51 



i 



our Noctuid fauna before me, from the time when there 

 were not half a dozen species correctly named in our museums, 

 a quarter of a century ago, to the present, when we have 

 more than fifteen hundred species recorded and more or less 

 well known, has necessitated a continual correction of my 

 views. A few of my genera have been shown to be the same 

 as European — as Acerra, which equals Perigrapka. Others I 

 have discarded after the discovery of forms bridging over dif- 

 ferences ; and again, in my search for points of distinction, I 

 have lost sight of characters of resemblance or agreement at 

 the time of describing the new genus, A comparison of the 

 Noctuida* of North America and Europe will finally show that 

 certain European species belong to genera established upon 

 American types, I think that after the discovery of C. occU 

 denta the genus Gopimamestra must be accepted for brassiccz 

 on the strength of the tibial claw. Superficial resemblances 

 must not be confounded with coincident structure. When we 

 examine the nervulation we must separate the American genus 

 Sparagmia, with its twelve species, from the European Erotyla, 

 with only one ; here the narrower wing and modified clypeus 

 also assist us. The American genera Eucirrcedia and Ripo- 

 genus are probably valid on a careful study of Cirroedia and 

 Eutelia of Europe, although the members of these genera look 

 much alike* In the North- American Noctuid fauna the re- 

 markable features are the number of species of Agrotis, Onco- 

 cnemis, and Catocala ; and again, the number of genera, such 

 as Etshtci) Homohadena , Trickorthosia^ Homoglcea, Trichocos- 

 tnia, &c, which are founded upon different combinations of 

 characters offered by such old and accepted genera as Agrotis, 



Had 



ena, Mamestra 7 Gloea 7 and 



Orthosicu The number of 



Helioth 



In concluding this brief introduction, I wish to mention that 

 Professor Snow's work in the different branches of zoology 

 reflects credit upon the institution which he represents in this 

 department of natural science* 



List of Species. 



Smerinthus gemniatus, Say. 

 Sphinx Oreodaphne, Hy. Edw. 



lugens, Walk. 

 Alypiodes flavilinguis, Grote. 

 Pygoctenucha Harrisii, Boisd. 



funerea, Grote. 



Lycomorpka constans, Hy. Edw. 

 Harrisina americana, Har. 



eoracina, Clem. 



Triprocris Smithsonianus, Clem. 

 Kola fuseula, Grote. 

 Crocota ferruginosa, Pack. 



quinaria, Grote, var. 



brevicornis. Walk. 



Halesidota ingens, Hy. Edw. 



anibigua, Streck. 



Alexicles aspera, Grote. 

 Xadata gibbosa, Abb. Sf St>u 



4* 



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