250 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



geographical race or else a new species. I have no material from other 

 localities. 



398. A. Californica., Speyer — Common. I have records from May 

 to September. I believe it hybernates here, and is almost certainly a 

 migrant. Ou seems to be a closely allied species of which I have two 

 specimens from Louisiana, Mo., sent me as such by Mr. Henry Engel. I 

 see differences, but as they are not very strongly marked I dare not risk a 

 comparison without more material. Dr. Ottolengui in liis notes on 

 "Plusia and Allied Genera" (Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc. X, 57-82, June, 1902), 

 states that the two are quite distinct. 



399. A. pseudogamma, Grt. — Not common. Middle July and early 

 Aug. There seems to have been a good deal of confusion in the past 

 between this and the preceding species. I had both named for me by 

 Prof Smith some years ago. and his determinations were corroborated by 

 Dr. Ottolengui at the time he wrote his paper. The differences between 

 my two series are also in accordance with Dr. Ottolengui's figures, which, 

 however, are unfortunately not clear enough in detail to bring those differ- 

 ences out plainly. Of the two, Californica has the most acute apices. It 

 has far less of the greenish or bronze lustre seen in pseudogamma, and is 

 much more reticulated in appearance, chiefly owing to the transverse Hnes 

 being more clearly marked and more irregular, though actually finer. 

 One of the most constant points of difference is seen in the outer margin 

 of primaries. In Californica the lunulate dark terminal line is duplicated 

 by another at the base of the fringes, and preceded by a third, finer and 

 more direct one, in the terminal space. It has thus the appearance of 

 being treble. In pseudogamma the terminal line is obviously single and 

 less lunulate, and though bordered anteriorly by a narrow shade of the 

 pale ground colour, is not preceded at a short distance from it by a fine 

 and separate line as in Californica. Dr. Holland's figure standing as 

 psendogamma is not sufficiently clear to bring out points of difference with 

 any exactness, but from the distinctive characters in the terminal area which I 

 have just pointed out, there can be little doubt that the specimen figured 

 is really Californica. Precationis is a species which, until I obtained and 

 compared a good series, I had considerable difficulty in separating from 

 pseudogamma. There is a difference in the sign, I admit, the upper 



portion being more open in pseudogamma, but unless I have more than 

 one species wwA^x precationis, the sign seems a much more variable char- 

 acter in this than in most of its allies. It is really a brighter coloured 

 specieSjWith more of a bronze or coppery lustre, and has finer transverse lines. 



