AMERICAN LEPIDOPTEKA. 29 



antennae of the male have very feeble lateral ciliations. The male 

 genitalia are of the type that has been already described for this 

 section. The triangular tip is well marked and the inner face is 

 well set with short, stiff spinules. The clasper is of moderate size 

 and well curved, with the upper edge distinctly and strongly serrated. 



Hydroecia speoiosissima G. and R. 



1868.— G. and R., Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, i, 342, pi. 7, I'. 52, Gortyna. 



1873.— Grote, Bull. Buff. Sou. Nat. Sci., i, 111, Hydrocecia. 



1881.— Grote, Bull. Geol. Surv., vi. 269, Gortyna. 



1893.— Smith, Bull. 44 U. S. Nat. Mus., 177, Hydrcecia. 

 Ground color yellowish brick red. with darker powderings. Head and thorax 

 more or less shaded by purplish brown. The lower portion of the collar and the 

 edges of the patagiae are particularly well shaded. Primaries with all the lines 

 fairly well marked. The s. t. space is purplish brown, and is the only contrast- 

 ins portion of the wing, so far as ground color is concerned. The basal line is 

 geminate, rusty brown, and extends to the middle of the submedian interspace. 

 T. a. line geminate, brown, the inner portion most distinct, as a whole forming a 

 very even, slight outcurve to the submedian vein, and then bending outward 

 abruptly to the hind margin at about the point which is reached by the median 

 shade. T. p. line geminate, brown, the outer portion of the line broader and 

 more purplish. The line is outwardly oblique to vein 5, then bent rather 

 abruptly, and runs inwardly oblique to the hind margin. S. t. line defined by 

 the differences between the s. t. and terminal spaces, and as thus defined showing 

 sharp teeth outwardly on the veins. There is a narrow, brown terminal line. 

 The median shade line is distinct, rather narrow, fairly well defined and angu- 

 lated on the median vein just before the end of the cell. The ordinary spots 

 are narrow and upright. Orbicular narrow, oval, upright and white. Ren i form 

 very slender, narrow, defined by brown scales and white. Claviform also up- 

 right, very short and broad. All the veins purplish brown, so that their course 

 is traceable throughout the entire wing. Secondaries very pale yellowish or 

 purplish, the veins darker. Beneath shaded with purplish ; the secondaries with 

 a distinct outer line, primaries with an indication of a similar line, which is not 

 complete in any specimen before me. Expanse 1.74-2.10 in. ; 44 53 mm. 



Hab. — Massachusetts in September ; Ridgewood, X. J., August 

 30th. Long Island, N. Y.; New Hampshire. 



This is the largest of the species belonging to this series. In 

 general appearance it very much resembles inqucesita, hut in all 

 eases the ordinary spots are narrow, upright and perfectly white. 

 This, in addition to the strongly angulated median shades makes 

 the insect an easily recognizable one. Of this species I have seen 

 no males. I have had, perhaps, from all collections, a dozen fe- 

 males; but I have not been able to get hold of the opposite sex. 

 Were it not for the fact that both sexes of inqucesita were represented 

 in my collection I would have been inclined to consider these two 

 as sexes of one species. 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. XXVI. M \V. 1899. 



