Preface. 
In the introduction to the 13. Volume we have, in speaking of the general character of African Lepi- 
doptera, laid stress upon the prevalence of gaudily coloured day-flying Noctuids over the unicolorous, grey 
or brown groups solely consistmg of night-flying species. 
In the same place we also have spoken of the influence which the climatic and geographical condi¬ 
tions prevailing on that gigantic continejit must of necessity exercise upon the Fauna hi general and the Le- 
pidoptera in particular. All that we have there stated in regard to other groups, may also be applied in an even 
higher measure to the Family of Noctuids treated in this Volume. Etheopian Africa has nothing whatsoever 
in common with its Palearctic northern portion, and the change of animal forms observed by any one crossing 
the Sahara Desert is just as absolute as though an immense Ocean separated the North from the South. Even 
on the southern slopes of the Atlas Mountains we are struck by a decided retrogression of vegetable life, with a 
corresponding decrease in the development of animal forms. But the still comparatively rich Lepidopterous 
Fauna of the mountain regions of North Africa, as we find it f. i. in Cabylia, disappears cpiite abruptly as 
soon as, going South, we enter the Zone where rain is either almost or altogether unknown. The Desert which 
in places is absolutely devoid of plant-life, is completely dead; no insect may exist on the glowing hot sand- 
dunes kept in constant motion by burning whids. Whereas, however, until we pass In-Salah, the endless 
stretches of lifeless Waste are still occasionally interrupted by Oases or narrow, verdant valleys with relatively 
luxuriant vegetation, where a close search will reveal some few fonns of animal life that have escaped the 
general destruction wrought by sun, sands and lack of water, — we find, on entering the Tropic of Cancer, 
also the last traces of animal life disappearing, and only occasionally one may see a stray bird, shyly flitting 
about the crags, or observe some strong-winged insect carried thither in its aimless flight. 
It is not until, coming from the North, we reach the well-watered Region of Timbuctoo, with its nu¬ 
merous lakes and streams, that the first signs of re-awakening Life appear. But even in the hot and humid 
valley of the Middle Niger, insect-life is limited to very brief periods, being cut short by long intervals of rest. 
Fevers and dangerous infectious diseases of many kinds prevail m the districts where, in close correlation with a 
more luxuriant Flora, Insect-life beghis again to show a higher development. But how totally changed it 
is! Of all the species that we left behind on entering the Sahara Desert, we meet hardly one greeting us again 
as we leave it. This sheer endless Desert proves indeed for all Lepidoptera an invincible barrier. 
To the south of this tremendous dividing zone, we fmd indeed also the whole character and aspect 
of the country completely changed, having lost the last traces of similarity with Southern Europe. An excess 
of sunshine, the most intensely bright, glaring light alternatiiig with deep black shadows, a clear, dry atmos¬ 
phere and an almost everywhere unusually open landscape have ijnpressed their peculiar stamp upon the whole 
animal world, and in particular upon the more easily influenced Lepidoptera. Endless.steppe almost everywhere; 
but the often very high and coarse grass is thin and sparse, leaving between it, like our rushes, thousands of in¬ 
tertwining paths. — Occasionally we meet also some patches of forest; but whereever this is the case, the trees 
are so far apart, that one may see for long distances in every direction. Also in the steppe itself trees are by no 
means rare, but appear during the greater part of the year stripped of their leaves as if by wintery frosts 
or by insect-ravages. Only within the 20th degree of North and South Latitude we observe a more luxuriant, 
dense Eorest-zone, snch as in India and South America covers almost every part of the country that has not been 
artificially cleared in order to serve the purposes of cultivation. 
Passing to the s])ecial part of the present volume, we find that the first group of Noctuid Heterocera, 
the Agaristidne, are particularly well developed m the hot and moist parts of Tropical Africa. But we have 
here refrained from imiting this group which in every way belongs to the Noctuidae, with them, for the sole 
reason that we do not consider the present compendium the right place to deal with the lengthy proofs necessary 
to support reformatory theories. Whereas in Palaearctic North Africa the Agaristidae are not at all represented, 
they reach in Etheopian Africa such a wonderful development that in number of species as well as in the magni¬ 
ficence of their forms they far surpass those of most Indian countries. The first plates of this volume, which 
represent practically all the known African Agaristidae, show a most beautiful display of characteristic, rich 
