AMERICAN LEPIDOPTERA. 115 



Agrotis excellens, n. sp. 



S 5 . — The type of auxiUaris has the costal region from the base 

 outwardly and the collar ashen. A second specimen, received from 

 Mr. Belfrage, agrees with the type. Another Texan specimen differs 

 by the costal region and lower half of the collar being light brown and 

 contrasting. Otherwise the specimens nearly agree, differences of color 

 excepted. In particular the specimens have the wide secondaries and 

 narrow primaries in common. Credit is due to Mr Morrison for the 

 determination that the last named Texan specimen may be considered 

 to belong to auxiUaris. I had sent it to Mr. Morrison determined as 

 a new species together with the type of auxiUaris. From Mr. Henry 

 Edwards I have now received four specimens in excellent preservation 

 which agree very nearly with the Texan specimen above alluded to but 

 differ by the broader primaries and smaller secondaries as well as in 

 color and some details of ornamentation. The collar is produced in 

 front and there are slight metathoracic tuftings. I have noticed 

 dorsal crestings in saucia also, and it is evident to me that our observa- 

 tions on the genus are as yet far from complete. The ground color is 

 rich purple brown with the costal edge, the internal margin and the 

 subterminal space shaded with white. The large stigmata are shaded 

 with whitish and the reniform is less kidney shaped than in auxiUaris. 

 The males have these portions of the wing, except the stigmata, more 

 of a bright ruddy brown. Compared with auxiUaris the subterminal 

 space seems a little narrower. The claviform and the pale ray above it 

 are like auxiUaris. The species seems a little stouter bodied. Above 

 the hind wings are similarly colored, while less ample, but beneath there 

 is but faint trace of the common line and the terminal dark border is 

 obsolete in excellens, in which the under surface of both wings is more 

 irrorate than in auxiUaris. Expanse 40 — -iG mm. 



Hab. Vancouver Island (Mr. Henry Edwards, No. 5570). 



Heliophila ligata, n. sp. 



■J, 9- — This slender species has pure white secondaries and fringes in the 

 female while in the opposite sex these are slightly soiled. Fore wings whitish 

 ocher-gray, faintly purple tinged, with the veins obsoletely white marked and 

 accompanied by longitudinal blackish shades. Median nervure covered by a 

 white streak, culminating in a white spot relieving a single inferior black dot, 

 and accompanied by a black shading which continues diffusely to external 

 margin, and leaves a clear ochery streak above it on the cell, reaching beyond 

 the dotted transverse line. T. p. line indicated by a series of black uervular 

 points. Very minute marginal black points; fringes a little paler than the 

 wing. Thorax and head like primaries. Beneath without discal dots or com- 

 mon lines; a terminal dotted line on both wings; primaries and costal region 

 of secondaries somewhat rosy gray, else the secondaries are whitish, subpellucid. 



