240 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, 



NOTES ON THE GENUS MAMESTRA OCRS., WITH 

 DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 



By JOHN B. SMITH, Sc.D. 



Since the publication of my Revision in 1891, Proc. U. S. 

 N. M., xiv, pp. 197-276, few new species have been described 

 in this genus. A number of forms not properly referable to any 

 described species have gradually accumulated, and on a careful 

 review of the material I find it necessary to separate some that 

 heretofore I had been inclined to hold together. Several species 

 not known to me in 1891 have been since identified, and the 

 genitalia of the males of some species have been studied for the 

 first time. 



This accumulation of material and its renewed study indicates 

 that my arrangement of the species must be in some respects 

 modified. The character of the antennal structure is not so 

 important as I believed at first and would, if strictly adhered to 

 now, separate species closely allied. As it appears now, the 

 change from shortly pectinated to simply ciliated is so gradual 

 that no dividing line is possible, and the rearranged groups will 

 in some cases contain forms with simple and with pectinated 

 antennae. On the other hand, all the genitalic groupings have 

 approved themselves, and I am inclined to attribute increased 

 importance to this character in arranging the species of a large 



genus. 



There are yet in my collection and in some others, a few speci- 

 mens, females or rubbed, which may be new. But these must 

 await the arrival of more satisfactory material. 



Mamestra nugatis, n. sp. 



Ground color bluish ash gray over a somewhat obscure yellowish base, 

 more or less powdery. Front with two blackish transverse bands. Collar 

 with two obscure gray bands.' Patagise with a dusky submargin. Pri- 

 maries with the median lines faintly marked on the costa only. S. t. 

 line narrow, whitish, irregular, very close to outer margin, with outward 

 teeth on veins 3 and 4, which reach the outer margin. The line is 

 inwardly shaded with dee]) blackish brown or black, most emphasized in 

 in the sub-median interspace opposite the anal angle. A more or less 

 broken black terminal line, beyond which is a whitish line at the base of 

 the fringes. Kdge oi win- a little scalloped and a little drawn in before the 

 anal angle. There is a short black basal dash, connected by brown or black 

 les with a moderate claviform which is pale ringed, the outer edge of 



