""^l' J PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ML'SEUM. 2-15 



Mamestra legitima Grt. 



l':'G4. Grt., Proc. Ent. Soc. Pliila. III. H-J, PI. ^f. 4; .ipamea. 

 1874. Grt., Proc. Ho.st. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvi, 241; Mamestra. 



Blue gray, more or les.s sutt'usetl with bright red-brown. Median lines 

 distinct, though not prominent, obsolete^' geminate. Basal line evi- 

 dent. T. a. line with an even outward curve, slightly dentate on the 

 veins. T. p. line about even with outer margin. S. t. line narrow, 

 pale, sliglitly dentate on veins 3 and 4, markeil by the dusky terminal 

 shade and a di.stinet re<l-browii pieceding shade. Clavitbrrn very small, 

 blaek marginetl. Orbicular large, gray, not distinctly delined. Keni- 

 form large, completely defined, with a narrow, pale annulus, brown red 

 in color, inferiorly dusky. The red shade occupies a variable part of 

 the wing; usually nearly the entire basal space, the median space above 

 claviform, and the costal portion of the s. t. space is of that color. A 

 row of geminate, black venular dots through s. t. space. Secondaries 

 luteo-fuscous, outwardly darker. Beneath, powdered with violet red 

 toward margins. A small discal spot. Head and thorax concolorous 

 with primaries, collar with a black line. 



Expands 33-38""" (1.32 to 1.52 inches). 



Habitat. — Canada; Eastern, l^Iiddle, and Central States. 



Nine specimens are in the Museum collection: New Jersey; Lewis 

 County, New York, June 30, July 4 (Meske) ; Washington, District of 

 Columbia, August 22, September 9 (C. V. K). 



This is a very pretty species, readily recognizable by its gray and red 

 colors, and small claviform. The antenn;e of the male are laterally 

 bristled. The harpes are angulated toward tip, the angle superiorly 

 prominent; tip enlarged and superiorly acutely drawn out, inwardly 

 spiuulose. Just behind the angulation of the harpe arises the small, 

 beak-like ciasper. 



Mamestra lilaciua Ilarv. 



1874. Harv. Buff. Bull., ii. 111); Mamc8tra. 



illahej'acta Morr 

 1874. Morr., Proc. Po.st. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvn, 141 ; Mamfstra. 



1874. Grt., BulT. Bull., ii, 211 ; pr. syn. 



1875. Grt., Can. Ent., vii, 58; pr. syii. 

 187'.). Grt. Can. Ent., xi, 128; pr. var. 



Bluish gray, with a dark, somewhat reddish fuscous shade through 

 superior half of wing, interrupted only at apex. Terminal space also 

 dusky. Median lines evident, geminate. Basal line present. T. a. lino 

 outwardly oblicpie, lunate. T. p. line crenulate, parallel with outer 

 margin. S. t. line coucolorous, broad, marked by the dark terminal 

 -l)ace and a preceding narrow, dusky shade. A row of brown terminal 

 lunules. A narrow transverse shade through median space, rather 

 darkening the cell between the ordinary spots. Claviform moderate 

 in size, darker. Orbicular large, ob]i<pie, gray. Reniform rather large, 

 somewhat constricted at middle, black margined, inferiorly dusky. 



