VI 
FOREWORD. 
denominated today, have for the last 100 years and even longer, been known and simply classified with the 
type species and this has been the case even in the best arranged private collections. No one ever thought of 
taking exception to such a system. It is mainly due to Tutt, that the new system of denominating all shades 
of variety, has been introduced. While this was well known when Volume III was being published, it had 
not yet become a general practice. Therefore many specimens were illustrated as the type, which today, in 
consequence of the publication of some highly specialised monograqth, would have a separate distinct designation. 
In this regard some criticisms have not been merited and further, some denominations have been made, that 
are quite unjustifiable. For instance the naming of faded specimens. Even with the utmost care and when a 
collection is kept in cabinets, that are seldom exposed to the light, it is a well known fact, that just with 
the Noctuidae, the colour is liable to change, more or less, in the course of years. The grey-blue and slate coloura¬ 
tions are liable to alter to a yellowish brown hue, an occurrence, of which one has long been aw r are, but which, 
when taking a broad view, should be considered quite natural and of no particular moment. Further, owing 
to the many expeditions of later years, certain species have been found in large numbers, whereas formerly but 
a single faded, worn or damaged specimen was known. In such cases these naturally had to serve the artist as 
the model for the first illustration of a type. The artist is often in an unenviable position, when, for instance, 
the owner of an unique specimen, would not part with it even temporarily, but in order to show his good will, 
tried in an amateur way to make a drawing or a water colour sketch. This was often very unlike the real 
thing and not in the least true to nature. May we ask our readers to bear in mind, that the exact reproduction 
of the Noctuidae. is one of the most difficult tasks that exists and to crave their indulgence therefore, if every¬ 
thing in this Supplementary Volume is not up to perfection. 
It will be readily understandable, that had we give full consideration to all the recently published 
anatomical details, these would have proved an insurmountable obstacle to a rapid completion of the present 
Supplementary Volume. In any case, constant revision became necessary in an attempt to bring matters up 
to date and to keep in step with the many new publications dealing with examinations of the genitalia. The 
Volume was practically ready for final publication in 1935, when a second and yet a third Addenda had to 
be made in an attempt to include, as far as was possible, all the new material that had become available. 
The size, that this Volume would have assumed, can easily be imagined, had all the Genera been revised on 
the basis of recent anatomical examinations, in the same way as Dr. Corti has dealt with the Agrotis and 
Boursin the Athetisl Further revisions of this nature are indeed planned and already in preparation and the 
Editor has had to consider whether it would not have been better to wait with the completion of this Volume 
until these publications were available. The details they may reveal and which may help to complete our know¬ 
ledge, could then have been included here. At present also the most interesting parts of the palaearctic terri¬ 
tory, the regions where many a secret may yet be divulged — the entire centre of Asia and the greatest part 
of the Chinese territory — are just at the moment yielding such a wealth of new forms, as has never been 
known before. The systematic exploration and examination of the fauna of the numerous and diverse chains 
of mountains in the South and on the borders of Mongolia and the methodic collecting, that is now going 
on there, especially through the intrepid persistence and activity of Dr. Hoene, are giving the most astoni¬ 
shing results. It might therefore seem to many, quite incomprehensible, that this work should be completed 
just at a time, when in a relatively short period, its incompleteness and imperfections may become apparent. 
Nevertheless there must come a time for finality and the period, that had been set for the completion of the 
whole series of palaearctic Volumes, has already been far exceeded. Continual pressure has been brought to 
bear on the publishers to press forward with the final publication of this Volume. It may be remarked that 
the Editor himself is most reluctant and has only decided with a very heavy heart to desist from waiting 
a little longer in the hope of including some of the numerous, partly quite exceptionally interesting new disco¬ 
veries, which are now available, but which have not yet been comprehensively examined scientifically. 
All we can hope is, that this Supplementary Volume III will be found to be not merely an addition 
to the Main Volume, but in many ways, an improvement thereon. Some of the more recent publications and 
here Ave again especially mention Sir George Hampson's Catalogue, will then have in no mean measure con¬ 
tributed to this success and the help derived from them is here gratefully acknowledged. 
Darmstadt, May 1938. 
Dr. M. Drattdt. 
