NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OP NOCTUID MOTHS. 237 



• Coleopterologische Hefte,' in describing some new species of 

 Diacantha, said that Chapuis was mistaken in describing the 

 claws as " bifid ; " D. bidentata, Fabr., which should be looked 

 upon as the type, having appendiculate claws. I consequently 

 followed von Harold, and excluded all species with bifid claws 

 from Diacantha. In this I am, however, as well as von Harold, 

 wrong, for the reason that, although D. bidentata is the oldest 

 described species, it cannot be looked upon as the type, not 

 being one of those mentioned by Chevrolat ; and that Chapuis's 

 diagnosis, giving the claws as bifid, must be accepted; while 

 Hypercantha, Chap., will serve for the reception of species 

 having the four posterior tibiaD mucronate, and possessing 

 appendiculate claws. 



My other remarks in regard to M. AUard's arrangements are, 

 however, I think, justified. In his * Synopsis of the Galerucinse 

 with a transverse thoracic groove,' the descriptions of D. picea, 

 Fabr., and D. chevrolatii, Guer., are wrong and misleading. Of 

 D. picea a type specimen, from the Hope Museum, is contained 

 in the National Collection. This species has, however, nothing 

 to do with Diacantha, but is identical with Stenoplatys pascoi, 

 Baly. 



In justice to M. Allard I thought this explanation necessary. 



7, Hemstall Eoad, W. Hampstead. 



NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OF NOCTUID MOTHS. 



By Arthue G. Butler, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



The present paper was sent to the Entomological Society of 

 London in continuation of articles already published in their 

 * Transactions ' upon the same subject. It was read at a meeting 

 held the 3rd June ; but in the middle of August was, for financial 

 reasons, returned to me by order of the Council. Much as I 

 deplore the fact that the continuity of a series of articles on the 

 same subject should be interrupted, it can hardly be expected 

 that I should hold over important facts respecting the specific 

 identity of types in the National Collection until the Entomo- 

 logical Society is in a position to print them. 



The present paper completes the earlier group of Noctuse 

 represented by the Trifidae of Guenee, and commences the 

 Quadrifidse. This natural grouping of genera was, unfor- 

 tunately, not strictly followed out by its discoverer or by later 

 authors, and its importance had to be insisted on by my friend, 

 Mr. Hampson, before it was appreciated. 



CYMATOPHORID^. 

 Xylina mirahilis, from Japan, belongs to this family, and 

 may be placed in the genus Saronaga, with which it agrees in 



