298 PROCEEDixGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [March, 



A NEW SPECIES OF NYCTALEMON. 



BY HENRY SKINNER. 

 Nyctalemon curvata -f n. sp- Plate XIII. 



Upper side. Primaries dark smoky-brown, almost Ijlack. The costa 

 is crossed by a number of very narrow, pale slate-colored lines which 

 break up the ground color into spots. A distinct white band or fascia 

 crosses the wing from the costa to the interior margin; this band com- 

 mences on the costa 30 mm. from the base of the wing, measured 

 along the costa; it ends on the interior margin 34 mm. from the base 

 of the wing. The band is 3 mm. wide at the costa and gradually 

 grows narrower. Its white color ends before it reaches the exterior 

 margin. The iDand is distinctly divided into seven white spots by the 

 dark nervures and it is markedly curved, the concave side being in- 

 ward. There are no other markings except that the apices are slightly 

 lighter in color. Secondaries. The wings are the same color as 

 the primaries and are crossed by a band or fascia some shades lighter 

 than the ground color of the wing; from this toward the base are no 

 markings. Beyond the band toward the outer margin the wings are 

 lighter in color and are marked with a long l^lack shade and a number 

 of somewhat linear black markings. The exterior margin is l^roken 

 into two small and one long point and there is also a long broad tail 

 to the wing. Commencing in the larger point is a black band about 

 2 mm. wide and forming the edge of the wing and extending to the in- 

 terior margin. It crosses the larger tail al^out 10 nnn. from the ti]"). 

 leaving the latter white from where it crosses to the end. 



Under side. Primaries. The ground color of the wings is much 

 lighter; the white band is the same as above, except that it extends 

 unbrokenly white to the exterior margin. There is a black shade beyond 

 the ])and on the apex side and numerous black, somewhat linear 

 markings ; the tip of the wing is whitish. There is also a black shade on 

 the inner side of the band and the linear markings are also found toward 

 the l)ase of the wing. The secondaries are marked in the same 

 general way and the l^and is distinctly white l)ut narrower than on 

 the primaries. It terminates in an irregular black band-like spot 

 which reaches the interior margin. Expanse (from body to apex of 

 wing on one side) 62 mm. The very dark color, the comparatively 

 wide and very distinct, curved white band serve to distinguish 

 this species from the others in the genus. DescrilDed from two speci- 

 mens presented to the Acadeni}^ of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 

 bv Prof. Levi W. Mengel. They are from Tonga, off Santo, New 

 Hebrides, Occanica. 



