

OF THE 



f roofelp ^ntotnological Jwietg; 



VOL. IV. BROOKLYN, MARCH & APRIL, 1882. Nos. 11 & 12. 



A Synopsis of the North American Genera of the 

 Noctuiclae. 



B) |(ihx B. Smith. 

 Introductory Remarks.* 



The Noctuidae are as a rule robust, seldom slightly builtmoths, with 

 comparatively small, stiff wings, which except in Tortricodes bifidalis are en- 

 tire: the ocelli are nearly always present, and the wings have simple discal 

 cells, two free veins at inner margin of secondaries, (counted as one by 

 the German Entomologists) and one at inner margin of primaries: the 

 lattei usually have also an accessor) veil at the upper angle of the discal, 

 sometimes separated from it by a short stalk. The antennae are bristle- 

 form, generally simple in the female and pectinate or ciliate in the male. 



The sexes are readily distinguished by an examination of the frenelum, 

 a short spine-like process at the base of secondaries, beneath: in the ^ 

 this is simple, in the § bifid. 



In the Synopsis I have divided the group into three divisions, viz: 

 A. with the eyes entirely naked, B. with the eves naked but fringed above 



* Owing to the limited space at my disposal, I am compelled hereto omit 

 everything not obsolutely nec< ssary to explain the Synopsis: it will be publish- 

 ed in pamphlet form when completed in the Bulletin, with an exhaustive Pre- 

 face denning and limiting the group, giving the characters peculiar to it. and 

 containing also an analysis of the structural points on which genera are founded 

 and a review of the literature of tie' subject. 



