224 REVISION OF MAMESTRA SMITH. 



coDColorous, outlined in black, the line forming its inferior margin 

 I)rolonged across the median space and connecting the median lines. 

 Orbicular round, moderate in size, reddish, black margined. Reni- 

 form kidney-shaped, also narrowly bordered with black; a rufous 

 suffusion and central dusky shade. Secondaries fuscous, basally paler. 

 Beneath, powdery, with common outer line and discal dot; primaries 

 shaded with reddish. Head and thorax like primaries, collar with a 

 black line. 



Expands 38-42 °^« (1.52 to 1.68 inches). 



Habitat. — Canada, Eastern and Middle States, Ohio, Minnesota, 

 Nebraska. 



Six specimens in the Museum series, others in the duplicate collec- 

 tions. The localities are: Albany, New York, June 2(Meske); Ohio, 

 West Point, Nebraska, June (U. S. N. M. Coll.). 



Distinct from all others by the uniform coloration, combined with the 

 obvious transverse mark between median lines. The genitalia are 

 essentially as in liquida. The harpes are angulate, the angle inferiorly 

 prominent, tip strongly dilated, rounded, inwardly spinulose. Ciasper 

 consisting of two small curved hooks, one of them with dilated tip. 



Speyer thinks that (luenee had this^ species before him when he 

 referred to W-latinum as American, and professes himself unable to 

 understand what Grote's atlantica represents. I think Speyer is right 

 in supposing that Guenee had subjuncfa before him, and as atlantica 

 has not been sanctioned by a proper description it should, strictly, be 

 cited as a synonym to tbis species. But as the species have become 

 well known under the Grotean terms it would only introduce confusion 

 were they changed now. 



Mamestra grandis Boisd. 



1840. Boisd., Gen. ct Tnd. Metb, 120, No. 9r)0 ; Hadena. 



1841. Gueu., Noct. Ind. Meth., 244 ; Hadena. 

 1852. Gueu., Sp. Geu. Noct., ii, 105; Hadena. 

 1857. Wlk., C. B. Mns., Lep. Het. xi,578 ; Hadena. 

 1857. Led., Noct. Eur., 90 ; Mamestra. 



1883. Tbaxter, Papilio III, 17; Mamestra. 



libera Wlk.' 

 1856. Wlk., C. B. Mus., Lep, Het., IX, 179; Xylophasia. 

 1882. Grt., 111. Essay, 44 ; pr. syn. 



Fuscous, somewhat reddish brown ; somewhat irrorate with bluish 

 gray; a distinct bluish-white shade through s. t. space, the outer mar- 

 gin of which is rigidly oblique; inwardly it shades to the t. j). line. 

 Transverse lines usually completely traceable, indistinctly geminate, 

 the included space pale. T. a. line outwardly scalloped between the 

 veins. T. p. line lunulate, about parallel with the outer margin. A basal 

 dark streak, above which the s})ace to costa is somewhat paler. Median 

 space often with a reddish cast ; usually the internal margin somewhat 

 irrorate with bluish gray. Clavifonn absorbed in a brownish-black 

 streak which connects the transverse lines. Orbicular rather large. 



