^'°i89l"''J PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 241 



wings are pale ocliery clay color, the lines double, faint; stigmata con- 

 colorous, with dark defining lines. Thorax coucolorous with primaries ; 

 no lines on collar. Hind wings whitish at base, with discal luunle and 

 bread exterior fuscous band. Beneath there is a discal cbnid and com- 

 mon extra mesial dotted line, which is joined to the discal spot on pri- 

 maries by dusky scales along the median nervules. Size of trifoUi. 

 Two specimens. Santa Clara, California, May 23, collected by Barou 

 OstenSacken." 



The above is Mr. Grote's characterization. I have seen two speci- 

 mens, also from California, which agreed well with what there is of the 

 description, except that my specimens seemed darker than described. 

 Both of the specimens are females, and the males may agree better 

 with the description. I have no doubt whatever of the correctness of 

 my identitication of this species, which is easily known, first, from its 

 resemblance to trifolii, and second, by the character of the s. t. line, 

 which is dark and has no W-mark. It seems a rare form. 



Mamestra chartaiia Grt. 



1873. Grt., Buflf. Ball., i, 138, Pi. 4, f. 12; Mamestra. 



Pale to dark luteous gray, powdered with white, median lines gemi- 

 nate, distinct. Basal line present, also geminate. T. a. line outwardly 

 oblique, inwardly angulate on vein 1. A white dot, with black shad- 

 ing on vein 1, just within the tooth of t. a. line. T. j). line lunulateor 

 crenulate, nearly parallel with outer margin. S. t. line pale, irregularly 

 sinuate. A row of black terminal lunules. Ordinary spots large. 

 Orbicular round, pale, with concolorous center. Keniform incompletely 

 dark ringed, inferiorly dusky, slightly constricted at middle. Clavi- 

 form large, concolorous. Secondaries in $ whitish, in 9 fuscous. 

 Beneath, i)owdery, with dusky outer line and discal spot. Head and 

 thorax concolorous, collar with a black line. 



Expands 32 to 37'""'., (1.28 to 1 .48 inches.) 



Habitat. — California, Washington. 



Three specimens are in the Museum collection : California (J. B. S.); 

 Alameda County, June (through C. V. R.). 



The species bears a most deceptive resemblance to trifoUi in color 

 and maculation, and indeed in general habitus; but it can be always 

 distinguished by the course of the s. t. line, which has not the promi- 

 nent W-mark, and by the very peculiar harpes of the male, which have 

 not the slighest resemblance to those of trifoUi. The harpes are irreg- 

 ular, broad, corneous, sending out a finger from upper margin, then 

 [narrowing to the tip, which is squarely truncate and furnished with 

 single, long hair. No separate clasper. 



The species is not common in collections. 



Proc. N. M, 01 IG 



