DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 73 



more conspicuous, with a di^tin-t black dorsal line, two lateral purplish-brown bands, 

 and with hairs white, sparse and string-lit. 



Individuals vary much : som have a black dorsal line, some have hut three distinct 

 black t nt'ts; sotue have a sixth tui't of black hairs on joint <), and others have a few- 

 black hairs on all but the thoracic joints. Just before spinning up, many of the hairs 

 are frequently lost, and tin- body acquires a dull livid hue. 



Moth. 9, front wings, white, linely powdered with dark atoms which give them a 

 very pale gray appearance ; marked with black spots as follows : a complete series of 

 small spots on posterior border extending on the fringes, one between each nerve ; 

 near the anal angle between nerves 1 and '2 a large and conspicuous spot bearing a 

 partial resemblance to a Greek p*\, placed side-wise, and from this spot a somewhat 

 zigzag line running parallel with posterior border, but somewhat more arcuated 

 towards costa, least distinct between nerves 3 and 4, and forming a large distinct 

 dart-like spot between nerves r> and 0; space between this line and posterior border, 

 slightly darker than the rest of the wing-surface on account of the dark atoms being 

 more thickly sprinkled over it ; four costal marks, one subobsolete in a transverse line 

 with the reniform spot, one conspicuous about the middle, and in a line with reniform 

 spot and anal angle, one about the same size as the last and looking like a blurred X 

 about one- third the length of wing from base, and one subobsolete, near the base; 

 orbicular spot flattened and well defined by a black auuulation ; reniform spot indi- 

 cated by a blurred black mnrk running on the cross-vein and sometimes somewhat 

 crescent-formed; a V-shaped spot pointing towards base half-way between costa and 

 interior margin, in a transverse line with the large costal spot which looks like a 

 blurred X ; a blurred mark in middle at base, and lastly a narrow spot on the inferior 

 margin, half-way between base and anal angle. Hind wings same color as front 

 wings ; somewhat more glossy, with the luunle, a baud on posterior border one-fourth 

 the width of wing, and sometimes a narrow coincident inner line, somewhat darker 

 than the rest ; the posterior border also with a series of spots one between each nerve. 

 Under surface of front wings pearly-white with an arcuated brown baud, most dis- 

 tinct towards costa, across the posterior one-third, all inside of this baud of a faint 

 yellowish-brown; luuule and fringe spots distinct, and with a faint trace of the pzi- 

 spot ; hind wings uniform pearly-white with a distinct and well defined dark wavy 

 line running parallel with posterior margin across the posterior one-third of wing, and 

 with the lunule and fringe spots distinct. Anteuu.-e simple and bristle-formed, gray 

 above, brown beneath. Head thorax and body, both above and below, silvery-gray. 

 Legs with the tarsi alternately dusky and gray. <? differs from 2 by his somewhat 

 stouter antenna? ; much narrower body, and narrower wings and fringes, the front 

 wings having the apes more acuminate, and the hind wings scarcely showing the 

 darker hind border. 



Described from 29,2^ all bred. In the ornamentation of the front wings this 

 species bears some resemblance to the European species triden* and pxi, but otherwise 

 differs remarkably, and especially in its larval characters. It bears a still closer re- 

 semblance both in the larva and imago state to the pale variety of a common species 

 known in England as the ' Miller" (A. Jeporina), but judging from the figures and 

 description in " Newman's Natural History of British Moths," it may be easily distin- 

 guished from Jeporina by the well defined orbicular spot, by the greater proximity of 

 the two large costal spots, by lacking a round spot behind the disk, and by the more 

 prolonged apex. It differs also in the larva state from Jeporina which feeds on the 

 Birch. It likewise closely resembles interrupta, though the larvie are remarkably dif- 

 ferent ; and it also resembles lepusculina, the larva of which is unknown; but the 

 specific differences will be readily perceived upon comparing Guenee's descriptions. 

 How near it approaches to Acromjcta oi.-cidentaUs, Grote, it is impossible to tall, as the 

 author's description is exceedingly brief, considering the number of closely allied 

 forms; but as that species has a bright testaceous tinge on the reniform spot, it evi- 

 dently differs from mine. Harris's ApatcJa [Acronycta] Americana, though very differ- 



