I 
Introduction. 
Vol. 3 of the present work comprises the Agaristidae and Noctuidae of the Palearctic countries, and 
we deal accordingly in vol. 11 with the same two families as far as they occur in the Indo-Australian Region. 
In the general characterisation of the Agaristidae (p. 1) it is stated that the two families are so very closely 
allied that the Agaristidae might be placed among the Noctuids as a subfamily. As this has only lately been 
recognised by an exact study of the anatomical details, while formerly the classification of the Lepidoptera 
was almost exclusively based on facies and external characteristics, the Agaristids being placed in the older 
schemes of classification far away from the Noctuids near the Arctiids, which at that time stood widely separ¬ 
ated from the Noctuids. However, since a closer phylogenetic connection between the Arctiids and Noctuids 
has been established, the former position of the Agaristids is shown not to have been so very erroneous after 
all. The family is best placed in the phylogenetic tree at a point near which the Noctuid and Arctiid branches 
originate. On the other hand, the habits — which, however, must be considered as purely secondary adaptations 
— are very different in the groups dealt with in this volume. However diverse the habits of the various sub¬ 
families of Noctuidae are, no Noctuids have those habits which are found throughout the Agaristidae. The 
Agaristids of the Indo-Australian and African countries — the American forms stand perhaps mostly somewhat 
away from them — are far more pronouncedly heliophile than any Noctuid. There are plenty of Noctuids 
which fly in the sunshine, e. g. Heliothis, Heliaca, certain Plusiids, etc.; but these occur in the North or at 
high and temperate altitudes. But no Noctuid can stand the blazing sun of the tropics, which burns down 
on the damp hot lowlands of India, and heats the rocky precipices of Australia and Africa to such an extent 
that the heat of the stony ground is felt through the soles of the boots. If the day-flying Noctuids of the tro¬ 
pics are flushed, such as Tarache, Eustrotia , Lithacodia, Eublemma , Spirama, Miniodes, Palindia, etc., they 
flit away fast and adroitly over the sun-baked steppe or clearing, but all seek again the shade of a leaf or 
stalk among the herbage. 
Quite different is the behaviour of the Agaristids. They are most lively at noon when the sun is hottest. 
Then they roam through valleys and over hill-sides with a characteristic, alternately whirring and soaring 
flight; and when from 1—3 p.m. the burning rays of the sun are too hot even for the butterflies, the Aga¬ 
ristids are seen circling around the tree-tops in the most rapid flight, almost too fast for the observer and collector. 
The flight of the Agaristidae commences early on warm days. They first drink large quantities of water 
at moist places in the roads, congregating at dewy spots and road-puddles in the company of species of other 
families, e. g. Papilios, Pierids, Nymphalids, Geometers, etc. This is the time for collecting them. Towards 10 
o’clock hunger and thirst have become craving; the dampness on the roads has disappeared, and the flowers 
begin to attract the Agaristids. Flowering trees especially are visited in numbers by the commoner species, 
but also the blossoms of herbage spreading low on the ground are not neglected. The large bright-coloured 
Agaristids are at this time exceedingly wary as a rule. They stay and suck at a flower only for a moment, and 
on the most careful approach the moth, with a jerk of the wings, soars high into the air and whirs away with 
astonishing rapidity, being soon lost to sight. They are then more difficult to catch than an Apatura or a Charaxes, 
which explains why species so common in cultivated districts as to be injurious are quoted by dealers at prices 
usually only obtained for species which are very rare or occur in countries difficult of access. The attitude assum¬ 
ed when sucking at a flower already reveals the wariness of the moth, the wings being held upright or half 
closed as in the case of butterflies and are frequently in a trembling motion. A hasty movement by the collector, 
a bird passing by, or a gust of wind moving the grass, are sufficient to drive the specimen off, which, with 
a flick of the wings, shoots into the air, hurrying away over the plains with an alternately soaring and whir- 
ing flight, and now visiting this flower and now probing that, always making a careful selection before settl¬ 
ing at any flower. The common Australian Phalaenoides are seen nearly all the year round in the gardens 
and even in the main streets of the large towns, flying swiftly above the hurrying people, but very rarely, and 
only under special circumstances, did I observe one of them resting. It is remarkable how easily obstacles 
are taken in the flight. The specimens of Phalaenoides only exceptionally follow the direction of the street 
or road, but, without apparent effort, float upward at houses and trees, and in gardens on the roofs or on 
the tops of hills often are seen disappearing in the blue of the sky. 
In contrast to this family with its fairly uniform habits we have the vast mass of Noctuidae with its 
numerous groups presenting an almost endless variety in all stages. The diversity in the habits of the moths 
