1898.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 241 



the ring emphasized by black and deep brown scales. A blackish streak 

 extends along the median vein forming part of the inferior margin of the 

 ordinary spots. The orbicular is elongate, oblique, and tends to or 

 actually does fuse with the large kidney-shaped reniform. Both spots 

 are incompletely outlined, a little paler, tending to a pale defining line 

 which is outwardly emphasized with black or brown scales. The blackish 

 shade along the median vein extends a little beyond the lower angle of 

 the reniform. Secondaries white, hardly soiled outwardly, veins a little 

 smoky. A blackish terminal line is distinct from apex to vein 2 and is 

 there lost before the anal angle. Beneath whitish, powdery, with a 

 dusky terminal line. 



Expanse 1.75 inches = 44 mm. 



Hab. Montana ; Nevada. 



Two male specimens in somewhat rubbed condition were 

 given me by Mrs. F. O. Herring, of Plainfield, N. J., some time 

 ago. I have had them associated with purpurissata and junci- 

 Diacula until the present time though convinced of their dis- 

 tinctness. 



I find now that we really have three closely allied, yet suf- 

 ficiently distinct species of the purpurissata group. The type 

 form is found in New England and the northeast generally and 

 extends through Canada into British Columbia. It is of quite a 

 deep bluish ash gray or purplish and the secondaries are smoky 

 in both sexes. All the usual markings are fairly distinct. 



M. juncimacula is from the mountains of Colorado, Dr. 

 Barnes having sent me several specimens taken at Glenvvood 

 Springs in August and September. I have listed this as a variety 

 of purpurrissata in which the ordinary spots are confluent ; but 

 I find now that this character is not uniform and that at least as 

 many specimens have the spots normally separated. On the 

 other hand, a series of other differences prove its specific distinct- 

 ness. The secondaries are much paler in both sexes, almost 

 whitish at base ; the primaries are much brighter in color with 

 reddish shadings and a decided tendency to lose the median 

 lines, while the wings themselves are distinctly narrower and less 

 trigonate. 



Finally, in nugatis, we have a distinctly smaller species, yet 

 paler in color of primaries and with the secondaries white in the 

 male at least. The forewings arc- as narrow as in juncimacula^ 

 with the outer margin yet more oblique and the apicis yet more 

 pointed. The median lines h.ivr disappeared and the wing has 



