^^i^fth^'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 259 



A decidedly variable form, often as distinctly marked as marinitincta 

 or even laudabiUa, with reddish tinted median spaces, and from that 

 form varying to an uniform dark ash-gray witli only the white shade 

 on the t. p. line and dark dash on vein 2 distinct. These features, how- 

 ever, seem always present, and in addition to the white secondaries 

 serve to identify the species. 



Mamestra mariiiitincta Harv. 



1875. Harv,, Butt' Bull., ii, 273; MameHira. 

 1877. Harv., Butt". Bull., in, 6; Mamestra. 



Ground color pale grayish, with a slight rufous flush ; median space 

 darker, blackish fuscous. Lines and spots as in laudabilis, from which 

 this species differs oidy in the ground color and in the sexual characters. 



Expands 25-27""" (1 to 1.08 inches). 



Habitat. — Texas. 



Five specimens are in the Museum collection, all from Texas, October 

 9-2G (Belfrage coll., 0. V. R.). 



A comparatively long series of specimens, compared with a much 

 greater lot of Imidabilis, demonstrates that there is no feature in the 

 maculation of one which is not paralleled in the other. The only constant 

 superficial character is in the groundcolor, which in laudabilis is always 

 green, in mariiiitincta always with a reddish shade. The median space 

 in all the si)ecimeus examined is strongly narrowed inferiorly, and the 

 vestiture is more even and less squammose than in landabilis. It is 

 easy to separate out the species, though it is most difldcult to specify 

 wherein the differences consist. The difierence in tbe sexual characters 

 already described is constant. 



It is evident, from Dr. Uarvey's description, that his type was a form 

 of Jai((labilis. It is equally evident that he considered the form here 

 described as a variety, and in tbe Belfrage collection this form bears 

 Dr. Harvey's name, and to this form the name must be restricted. 



Mamestra laudabilis Gn. 



1852. Gn., Sp. Gen. Noct., il, 30, pi. 8, f. 4 ; Hecatpra. 

 1857. Wlk., C. B. Mus., Lep. Het., xi, 511; Hecatera. 



1874. Grt., Proc. Bost. Soc. Nut. Hist., xvi, 241; Mamestra. 



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

 indicans Wlk. 



1857. Wlk., C. B. Mns., Lep. Het., x, 359. 



1868. G.& K., Trans. Am. Eut. Soc, li, 78; pr. syn. 



var. iLLAUDABii.is Grt. 

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

 1881. Grt., Can. Ent., xiii, 129; Mamestra. 



Pale sea-green, in cabinet specimens often yellowish: median space 

 varying from reddish brown to black, inferiorly often of ground color. 

 Basal line geminate, black, included space concolorous, sometimes 

 broken, rarely wanting. T. a. line obsoletely geminate, inner part of 

 line often absent, included space whitish. Its course with an outward 



