REVISION OF SPECIES OF THE GENUS AGUOTIS. 25 



The above i.s ^[r. Grote'.s oii<^iiiiil desciiptioii ; afterward, in Can. 

 Eiit., X, 2.55, lie refers to the species as of a " pale reddisii clay color," 

 and ill the J>iill. ISiirv., IV, 17.'}, says: "Nearest to cupidd; similarly 

 sized, Imt paler, with the orbicular incotiiplete superiorly. Varies by 

 the primaries becoming clay colored without inarkiii,i;s.. Collar mi- 

 ll nod." 



Mr. (^.rote lias confounded two distinct si)ecies in his characteriza- 

 tions — one with open orbicular, and one with the orbicular closed. A 

 long series of specimens in Mr. Neumoegen's collection are all of one 

 species and are regarded as typical, the more as Mr. Grote's references 

 ot orhis and lactida to this species is most consistent with this type. 



The species is common in the Western States, and I have seen long 

 suites, in none of which the orbicular showed any tendency to become 

 incomplete. They vary in color from very pale luteous to a very dis- 

 tinct red brown, the terminal space usually a little paler, but the color 

 very even as a whole. Sides of palpi black. Transverse lines and 

 ordinary spots much as in alteriiata, but generally indistinct and diffi- 

 cult to make out. Ordinary spots usually slightly and often consider- 

 ably darker and uarrowl}' annulate with a paler shade. Secondaries 

 and under side as in alternata. In size it ranges below the expanse given 

 by Mr. Grote (3!)"""), my largest specimen being 3;"»"""', ranging down 

 to 30""" (1.20-1.40 inches). The wing form is generally more trigonate 

 than in the other species, the primaries short and broad. The genital 

 structure is like 2>l<(ci<1a. 



Orbis was described by Mr. Grote as follows: 



"Entirely concolorous drab or pal(». olive fuscous, shining ; s. t. space 

 barely differentiated by its darker tint. All the lines faint, geminate, 

 as in allied species. Distinguished by its reduced, round, comi)lete 

 orbicular, and small, upright reniform spots, annulated with pale; the 

 orbicular distinctly margined. Head and thorax concolorous. Ilind 

 wings (H)ncolorous fuscous with interlined fringes; beneath with dis- 

 continued common line." 



In Bull. Surv., iv, 174, Mr. Grote says: "Closely allied to alternata. 

 Stigmata complete; orbicular very small, pale-ringed, spherical. Uni- 

 colorous olivaceous gray, shining; terminal space hardly paler. Pos- 

 sibly a variety of alternata but the spots are concolorous." 



In the Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, xxi, 155, the suggestion that this may be 

 a form of cupidissima is made, and I believe this is correct. At all 

 events it is easy in any series of cupidisHima to pick out orbis or what 

 fully answers to the description. 



Latnla is said to be " Allied to cupidissima. This species is smaller, 

 and has a line on the collar, and the thorax and fore wings of a burnt 

 brown, strewn with ocher scales, which till the stigmata in one speci- 

 men, and in the other leave the spots concolorous, while encircling them 

 and lining the geminate lines, l-'xcept in color, this form differs very 

 little from ciipidissiina, while seeming narrower and shorter winged. 



