16 BULLETIN 38, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The clasper is long, corneoas, and curved, single. In the remainder 

 of the species, cupida and alternata excepted, one general form of clasper 

 obtains. Clasper and harpes are practically combined in an excavate 

 corneous main shank, with a long carved superior process. In cupida 

 the same general form obtains, but from the upper inner margin jno- 

 jects a short finger-like process. 



Alternata differs in having from the middle of the main shank a coni- 

 cal chitinous process prolonged into a short acute and slightly curved 

 hook. 



The species arc otherwise readily separated, Mirabilis and inelegans 

 are aberrant in having a more or less evidently discolorons thoracic 

 disc and fore and aft tufts, which at once distinguish these species; w- 

 elcgans has the reniform concolorous; in mirabilis it is pale, discolor- 

 ous. Vittifrons and bimarginaUs agree in the general dark color, and the 

 broadly pallid contrasting costa, differing among themselves by the 

 otherwise even color of vittifrons, and the contrasting ferruginous thorax 

 and gray terminal space of bimarginaUs. Together they are most nearly 

 allied to mirabilis, and through it to stellaris, in one direction, and ex- 

 sertistigma in the other. The remaining species are exceedingly varia- 

 ble iu ground color, which ranges from clay yellow or drab to olivaceous 

 gray or deep red brown, and in the details of niaculation. Yet with a 

 little care the species are easily recognized. Minimalis and cupida 

 have elongate, narrow primaries ; in the first the lines are simple, in the 

 second they are geminate, and at the inner margin of s. t. line is a dark 

 costal patch, which through all color variations holds its own and 

 marks this species to a certainty. It is a purely eastern and ratber 

 northern form. 



Inplacida the wings are proportionately shorter, the apex and outer 

 margin are strongly rounded, and the species as a whole looks stouter 

 than ciqnda. The terminal space is usually distinctly blue gray, but 

 occasionally iu a pale drab specimen, the contrast is hardly apparent. 

 The species is usually western. 



Variata, alternata, and cupidissima are wider-winged species. Alter- 

 nata is easily recognized. It is larger than the others and the color is 

 nearly always pale drab or clay yellow ; the terminal space is always 

 paler, and the maculation is very distinct. It is an eastern form. 



Variata is also a large species with the maculation subobsolete, the 

 lines powdery, and the terminal space pale bluish-gray; varix Grt. is 

 applied to a pale form of this species. It is western. 



Cupidissima is a smaller insect with usually more evident maculation 

 and less contrasting terminal space; or/>ts and laetula are applied to 

 forms of this species. It is western. 



It is noticeable that while the eastern species of the second subgroup 

 differ from the western forms, and inter se, in the form of the S geni- 

 talia, the western forms show a remurkable agreement in tliis respect. 

 Mr. Butler has made some synonymical references in this group which 



