( 375 ) XIV. Synonymic notes on the moths of the earlier genera of Noctuites. By Akthur G. Butlee, F.L.S., F.Z.S. [Eead June 5th, 1889.] During a recent re-an-angement of the genera Agrotis, Mamestra, and allies, I have discovered a considerable number of synonyms, which I now propose to record. In my re-arrangement I have in the main followed the classification employed in A. R. Grote's ' Check List of North American Moths ' of 1882, as being on the whole more natural than that of Lederer (adopted by Staudinger and Wocke) ; at the same time I have, to a certain extent, broken up the very heterogeneous group Agrotis, and, on the other hand, have amalgamated the homo-geneous material separated under the names Mamestra, A'pamea, Hadena, &c. In some instances, as in the case of Triphcena, I have adopted the generic name rather as representing a well-marked and easily recog-nised group than because it actually possesses any strictly generic value ; but, as a rule, I have endeavoured to use only such names as appear to represent groups differing structurally from their nearest allies, though occasionally the structural distinctions are slight, and such as might be considered by some lepidopterists insufficient. It should, I think, always be borne in mind that the object of genera is to simplify as much as possible the study of nature, and therefore, that in the arrangement of such unwieldly genera as Agrotis, any single structural character ought to be considered sufticient, if it enables the student to break them up into groups of more manageable dimensions. Ageotis, Ochs. I have restricted this genus to species the males of which have either pectinated or serrated antennse, the serrations terminating in short cilia-like pencils. The type of the genus is A. segetis. TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1889. — PART III. (OCT.)
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