vol. xiv.j PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 225 



li>91. 



roiitid, somewhat paler than ground color, tietined by a narrow black 

 line. Reniform large, normal in shape, paler than orbicular, but with 

 a fuscous median shade. S. t. line very distinct, yellowish, with promi- 

 nent W mark, inwardly shaded with nmlx'r brown and small black 

 si)Ots to the pale shade, outwardly irregularly shaded with black and 

 brown. Secondaries sordid smoky fuscous. Ilcneath, with a red<lish 

 shade, powdery, with dusky transverse lines and discal spot. Head 

 and thorax concolorous with primaries, tuftings distinct. Abdomen cou- 

 colorous with secondaries, with distinct dorsal tuftings. 



Expands 38-42""" (1.52 to 1.G8 inches). 



Habitat. — (ireenland, Lapland, Canada, Maine to Pennsylvania, 

 west to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota. 



Six specimens are in the Museum series; localities as follows: Wis- 

 consin (Meske) ; New Hamj)shire (J. B. S.); Illinois, October 29 (C. 

 V. K.). 



The Arctic localities are given by Walker, who, Jidc Grote, rede- 

 scribed the species, giving New \''ork as the locality. Boisduval 

 described the species as European ; but Guenee declares this an error, 

 and says the specimen is really American. 



In all habital features this f|)ecies is a close ally of suhjuncta, than 

 which it is larger, ami from which it differs in the pale s. t. shade which 

 forms a prominent feature in the appearance of the insect. 



The genitalia also clearly resemble those of suhjuncta, but the clasper 

 is small, single and acute. 



Mr. Thaxter has bred the larva on burdock. 



Mamestra invalida, sp. iiov. 



Dark ashen gray, all the lines distinct. Head darker, more smoky. 

 Collar with a distinct black median line. Patagia'; with a somewhat 

 indetinite black submarginal line. Abdominal tufts prominent. Basal 

 half line geminate, distinct, included space strongly white powdered. 

 T. a. linedistinct, geminate; inner line faint; outer line distinct, blacky 

 outcurved between the veins, as. a whole a little outwardly oblicjue. 

 T. p. line geminate; outer line vague, diffuse; inner line distinct, black, 

 lunnlate, outcurved over reniform and strongly incurved below, nar- 

 rowing the median space. S. t. line white, distinct, irregular, with a 

 well-deli ned W mark or) veins 3 and 4. A blackish clou<l precedes 

 and follows the line in the snbmedian interspace and follows it on vein 

 5. A row of black terminal Iiinules. Fringes dark, cut with white on 

 the veins. A dusky cloud through the basal space. A ilistinct median 

 shade line between the ordinary spots, then close to the t. p. line, reach- 

 ing the* inner margin at almost the same point. S. t. space grayish 

 white powdered, decidedly yet not prominently paler than the remain- 

 der of the wing, more dusky on costa, veins marked with blackish. 

 Claviform small, black margined, pale powdered, a black line from its 

 outer extremity extending to the t. p. line. Orbicular rather small, 

 Proc. N. M. Ul 15 



