THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 151 



nimbosa and inibri/era, but distinct from both by the dark ashen gray 

 of the primaries, as against the pale shading in nimbosa, and the luteous 

 shading in imbrifei-a." The secondaries in discalis are ahiiost pure white, 

 in mystica rather dark smoky, and in imbrifera still darker luteous 

 smoky. The palest discalis and the darkest mystica sometimes require 

 comparison with a series to satisfactorily place. Mystica is a slightly 

 broader winged species, and seems to have rather more acute apices, 

 but in many species I find wing form just as subject to variation as 

 some other characters. The claviform spot is a little larger, but tlie 

 most obvious difference that I can see besides that of colour, is that the 

 entire maculation in this species is more distinct. This feature in 

 combination with the darker colour seems to obviate the suggestion of a 

 colour variety. The type is at Washington. 



284. M. imbrifera, Grt.- One ^ at head of Pine Creek in 1S94, 

 by Mr. Hudson. I liave the species from Assiniboia and Manitoba. 

 It seems easily distinguishable from discalis or mystica, as Prof. Smith 

 points out, by the luteous, almost olivaceous coloration throughout. 

 In my three specimens (all 1^ f, ) the blackish shadings before the 

 s. t. line are much more suffused and produced towards the t. p. than in 

 any of my mystica. In each of the tiiree last species there seems to be 

 sometimes a tendency in the orbicular and reniform to join. 



285. M. purpiirissata, Grt. — Common. July and Aug. The dis- 

 coridal spots are sometimes confluent. 



286. M. jiincimacula, Smith.— One ^ at light, Aug. i2ih, 1901, 

 which Prof Smith says is smaller than his specimens. It is below the 

 average size of my purpurissata, but exceeds the smallest. A brief 

 comparison of these two species with each other and with nugatis, 

 Smith, will be found in Ent. News for December, 1898, p. 241. 

 The joining of the discoidal spots, on which the name is based, is 

 not a constant feature. My specimens show the following difference 

 from purpurissata : Wings narrower, costa of primaries straighter, apex 

 less rounded, colour paler, with more distinct reddish shade. Basal, t. a. 

 and t. p. lines more sharply angulated, and s. t. line more sharply 

 toothed inwards above the W; secondaries paler. The sharper angulation 

 of the lines gives the primaries a reticulated appearance not noticeable in 

 purpurissata. These differences are all well marked in Dr. Holland's 

 figures of the two species, by which they should be easily separated. 

 As a matter of fact the secondaries in my juncimacula are more smoky 



