AMERICAN LEPIDOPTERA. 17 



band joins a blackish ray from base, but appears beyond as a black spot on thf 

 margin. Hind border constricted but not disconnected before anal angle. Ex- 

 panse 40 to 50 mm. 



Eastern, Middle and Southern States. Quite common and not at. 

 all variable except in size. Cramer's figure of this easily recognised 

 species cannot, I think, be mistaken. 



48. Catocala praeelara, G. & R. 



Catocala praeelara, G. & R. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. Vol. 6. Plate 4, fig. 4 (1866). 



^ 9- — Slighter tban C. grynea which it imitates, but is quickly distin- 

 guished by the brilliant green reflection of the fore wings, the deep brown 

 color of the subterminal space superiorly, which soils sub-apieally the terminal 

 space, and the pale yellow secondaries on which the hind border is disconnected. 

 Expanse 40 to 44 mm. 



Eastern and Middle States; less frequently occuring than C. grynea. 



This species is fully illustrated as above cited. It does not vary and 

 cannot be confounded with any other from the unusually strong gloss 

 or sheen of the fore wings above. 



49. Catocala fratercula, G. & R. 



Catocala f rat ercula, G. & R. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. Vpl. 6. Plate 4, fig. 3 (1866). 



^ 9- — A moderate species, varying in the distinctness of the median black- 

 shade, which ascends as usual to external margin. The median space is some- 

 times shaded with whitish before the reniform. There is no sinus to the t. p. 

 line. The shape of the median band varies in being more or less acutely pro- 

 duced opposite anal constriction of the hind border. The primaries above vary 

 in depth of color. Fxpanse 42 to 46 mm. 



Rhode Island to Virginia (Kanawha). Not common. 



50. Catocala minuta, Edwards. 

 Catocala parvula, Edwards. 



^ 9 . — Smaller than the preceding species which it resembles in color. Pri- 

 maries dull wood ashen with something of an ochraceous tint. T. p. line acutely 

 dentate. Subterminal white serrated shade vivid and distinct, especially at 

 costa, and this is a quick character. The general appearance of the primaries 

 varies immensely. Sometimes the base is dead black; again the black color 

 Bpreads to t. p. line; again it is confined to the internal margin; this latter 

 variety is C. parvula, Edwards. Again the whole wing is blackish, except the 

 vivid white subtermiual shade which rarely is obsolete inferiorly. The thorax 

 is always pale. Hind wings pale yellow ; median band narrow, flexuous ; hind 

 border usually continuous, generally broken in var. parvula. Exp. 35 to 40 mm. 



Rhode Islaud, New York; very common. 



Some of the varieties of this little species are exceedingly pretty. I 

 have been told the larva is to be found on the common Locust (Robinia). 



51. Catocala gracilis, Edwards. 

 Catocala similis, Edwards. 



% 9- — Primaries clear bluish grey varied with blackish. Lines faint, obso- 

 lete. A basal dash. Internal margin washed with blackish, broadly and 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC. IV. (3) JANOAEY, 1872. 



