236 REVISION OF MAMESTRA SMITH. 



harpe. Below this arises a membranous process, rather obtusely ter- 

 minated, and about half the-length of the harpe. Nearer to base is a 

 stout, twisted, hook-like process, and still nearer is a slender, short, 

 acute, curved hook. This is the most remarkable aggregation of hooks 

 and claws found in the genus. 



A close examination of the $ abdomen, and of the short, retracted 

 ovipositor, fails to show any peculiarities calling for so complicated an 

 arrangement of grasping organs. 



Mamestra passa Morr. 



1874. Morr., Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vii, 139; Mamestra. 



1875. Grt., Can. Ent., vil, 102,^= pensilis. 



Pale fusco-luteous, with a reddish flush. Transverse lines indistinct. 

 A longitudinal basal black streak. Basal line visible. T. a. line gemi- 

 nate, rather markedly curved between veins, as a whole, outwardly con- 

 vex. T. p. line superiorly almost obsolete, below reniform distinct, and 

 strongly incurved. S. t. line white, very even, marked by a preceding 

 dusky shade, most distinct near hind margin. Claviform large, concol- 

 orous, black margined. Ordinary spots large, pale, incompleteh' out- 

 lined. Orbicular broadly oval, slightly oblique, open superiorly on costa. 

 Reniform kidney-shaped, inferiorly absorbed in the ground color. Be- 

 yond reniform the median space is flushed with luteous reddish. S. t. 

 space strongly powdered with white scales, most marked oi)posite cell 

 and at sinus of t. p. line. Secondaries fuscous. Beneath, sordid fus. 

 cous, powdery, with dusky outer line and lunate discal spot. Head and 

 thorax concolorous with primaries. Collar with a black line. 



Expands 34"" (1.36 inches). 



Habitat. — California. 



The 9 type from Mr. Tepper's collection is the only specimen known 

 to me. The species resembles a small latex somewhat, but has a very 

 even, pale, s. t. line, which serves at a glance to separate it. With^^en- 

 silis it has nothing in common. 



Group ADJUNCTA. 



Four species are referred here, agreeing in the white blotchy macula- 

 tion of primaries, the white median lines and obvious though not promi- 

 nent W-mark in the primaries — never distinct enough to cause a ques- 

 tion as to the group to which it should be referred. The wings are 

 trigonate. 



^(T/imc/adiflers at once by its black ground color and comparatively 

 large size. The sexual characters also differ from those of the others 

 with which it is here associated. 



The other species all have moderately broad, trigonate primaries, with 

 acute apices and obliquely rounded margin, the fringes unusually long. 

 The male antennae have the joints marked, though not serrate, laterally 

 ciliated and furnished with a longer bristle. The genitalia are peculiar 



