254 KEVISION OF MAMESTRA SMITH. 



Color can uot be used iu this group, for there is a most distressing 

 amouut of variability in this respect. Olivacea especially has an exceed- 

 ingly wide range of variation, and it requires a long series to adequately 

 show the connection of the extremes. 



It would not be a matter of much surprise if eventually all the spe- 

 cies here referred proved forms of the same type. 



Mamestra olivacea Morr. 



1874. Morr., Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. hist., xvii, 143; Mamestra. 



1875. Grt., Can. Eut., vii, 27 ; Mamestra. 



1877. Grt., Bull. U. S. Geol. Saw., in, 797; Mamestra. 

 1887. Smith, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., X, 465; Mamestra. 



comis Grt. 

 1877. Grt., Bull. U.S. Geol. Snrv., in, 85; Mamestra. 



Var. OBSCURIOR Smith. 

 1887. Smith, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., X, 465; Mamestra. 



Gray to brown fuscous, median space darkest, basal space paler to- 

 ward t. a. line, subterminal space pale gray, terminal space variable, 

 but always darker than the subterminal. The whole wing is often more 

 or less completely suffused with mossy green and with a more or less 

 evident pinkish shade in basal and s. t. spaces. Basal line geminate, 

 black; included space paler than ground color, sometimes reddish. A 

 short, often not evident, basal dash. Median lines geminate, the in- 

 cluded space pale. T. a. line with an ev^en, somewhat oblique outward 

 curve, rarely with a slight tooth on vein 1. T. p. line even, outwardly 

 curved over reniform and inwardly curved beneath. The outer por- 

 tion of the line is often indistinct, the included space always pale. S. 

 t. line pale, irregularly sinuate, sometimes marked onl}^ by the contrast 

 between the terminal and s. t. spaces, but more usually preceded by a 

 dusky shade. Claviforra always outlined but usually very indistinct, 

 lost in the dark ground color. Orbicular small, ovate oblique, slightly 

 paler. Reniform upright, oblong, often with a median constriction, 

 whitish, prominent. The s. t. line is often accompanied by a greenish 

 shade, and there is sometimes a reddish shade near hind margin. On 

 costa the median space is of the ground color. Secondaries smoky fus- 

 cous to blackish, paler at base. Beneath, dusky, with outer dark line 

 and discal spot. Head and thorax concolorous with primaries, patagiae 

 often discolored, white. 



Expands 23-26"^'^ (.92 to 1.04 inches). 



Habitat. — Atlantic to Pacific, through northern and middle United 

 States ; Canada. 



Nine specimens are in the Museum series, others in the duplicates. 

 Localities are : New York (C. V. R., J. B. S.) ; Sharon, New York, July 

 28, August 10 (Meske) ; central Missouri, northern Illinois (C. V. R.) f 

 Montana (J. B. S.); Utah (from Department of Agriculture). 



This is decidedly the most variable of our species of Mamestra. It 

 varies in ground color and in degree of contrast between the pale and 

 dark portions of the wing. Sometimes it is almost evenly gray; often 



