232 KEVISIOX OF MAMESTRA SMITH. 



iiiferiorly with pure white tilled with gray above; orbicular reduced to 

 a white poiut. T. a. liue distinct, strougly sinuate. T. p. line lost in 

 the brown, except inferiorly, where it forms an angle well marked on 

 the submedian vein. S. t. line distinguished solely by the difference 

 in tints. Secondaries of a deep gray, with the fringe pale rosy. 

 Beneath, glossy, shining, of a pale carneous gray with traces of a line, 

 but without discal spot. Thorax deej)er in color. 



Habitat. — Florida (Doubleday). 



The above is a free translation of Gueuee's description, which I can 

 not at present apply with any certainty. The curious change of name, 

 entirely destroying the meaning the author intended to convey, has 

 been already referred to. The reference to Mamestra has been made 

 by Mr. Grote in his lists, assuming that the species is congeneric with 

 picta. 



Group LATEX. 



Rather large species, with rather narrowly trigonate primaries, some- 

 what produced or rectangular apices, o'.ilique outer margin, and some- 

 what retreating hind angle. The anteunaj are simply ciliated in the 

 male. Body and abdominal tuftings usually distinct and sometimes 

 rather prominent. No very close relationship exists between the forms 

 associated in this group, which in that respect shares the fate of the 

 preceding. 



Cristi/era, which on Mr. Butler's dictum replaces luhens, stands by 

 itself. The dark ground color, contrasting reniform, and bluish irro- 

 ration in s. t. space, render this species recognizable at a glance. 



Assimilis is also singular. Its deep black ground color, the velvety 

 lines and borders to the ordinary spots, and the punctiform, white s. t. 

 line — the spot nearest internal angle most prominent — form an aggre- 

 gation of characters that is i)eculiar. 



Latex is a very jtale form, with large ordinary spots, the reniform 

 red marked, and the s. t. line ver^^ irregularly and strongly angulate 

 and sinuate. The male organs have a surprisingly varied assortment 

 of hooks and claspers. 



Passa seems allied to latex, and is, like it, pale in color, but smaller 

 in size. The even s. t. line readily separates it. The 9 only has thus 

 far been examined. 



In tabular form the species separate as follows: 



Outer margiu of primaries not distinctly dentate. 

 Large, dark blackish gray, with a violaceous powdering; reuiform upright, pale, 



contrasting; s. t. space with prouiineut violaceous shadings crlstifera. 



Smaller, black; lines fine velvety black, as are also the outlines of ordinary spots; 



s. t. liue white, i)Uuctiforni, a prominent white .spot near hind augle.. assimilis. 



Outer margin of primaries dentate, hind angles more evidentlj" retracted; wings 



narrower. 



Color pale ; ordinary spots large, distinct ; reniform with a reddish shade ; s. t. liue 



very irregularly dentate latex. 



Reniform without the reddish shade; s. t. line even, pale; size smaller passa. 



