212 REVISION OF MAMESTRA — SMITH. 



shell at base, from which proceed a seiiiimembraDOus, cyliudrical, 

 curved hook, euhirged toward base, and a spoou-sbaped appendage, 

 furnished at tip with a stout pointed spine. 



The species is not uncommon in the more northern part ot its range, 

 but seems not often taken southwardly. 



Mamestra gnata Grt. 



1882. Grt., Cau. Ent., xiv, 170; Mamestra. 



Dark ash gray, with a sordid luteous shade added through center of 

 primaries. The transverse lines are geminate, not very well defined, 

 their course as in the allied species. S. t. line narrow, pale, sinuate, 

 marked more distinctly by the contrast between the dark terminal and 

 paler s. t. space. Basal line present, but imperfectly marked. Ordi- 

 nary spots moderate, slightly paler, with whitish aunuli. Claviform 

 small, concolorous or dark, outlined in black. Between veins 1 and 

 2 and between the t. p. and s. t. lines there is a defined pale patch? 

 giving the species a characteristic appearance. Secondaries white, 

 with soiled veins and outer margin. Beneath, pale, powdery. Head 

 and thorax concolorous with primaries; a black line crossing collar. 

 Tuftings distinct but not prominent. The antennte of the male are dis- 

 tinctly serrate and laterally tufted. 



Expands 32™™ (1.28 inches). 



Habitat. — Arizona, New Mexico. 



A single specimen from New Mexico (J. B. S.) is in the Museum col- 

 lection. Mr. NeumcBgen has the male type. The species is easily 

 known by the resemblance to the vicina group and the large pale spot 

 near hind angle, a unique combination with the antennal structure. 

 The harpes of the male are broad, nearly equal, and obliquely truncate 

 at tip, where they are furnished with a row of stout spinules. The 

 clasper consists of a simple, small, slightly curved, corneous hook. 



Mamestra distincta Hiibner. 



1810. Hbn., Samml. Ex. Sclimett, i, PI. 194; Achatia. 



IdlG. Hbu., Verzeicbniss, 219; Astrap^tis. 



18.V2. Gn., Sp. Geu. Noct., ii, 91 ; Hadena. 



lS'i7. Wlk., C. B. Mus., Lep. Het., xi, 583; Hadena. 



1868. Grt. &Rob., Trans, Am. Eut. Soc, ii, 197, PI. 3, f.72; Hadena. 



1874. Grt., Buff. Bull., ii, 156; Mamestra. 



vitis French. 

 1879. French, Can. Eut., xi, 76; Dicopis. 

 1879. Grt., North Am. Eut., i, 16 ; pr. syn. 



Whitish gray, darker shaded through median space above claviform 

 and in s. t. and terminal spaces. Basal space pale, the half line indefi- 

 nite. T. a. line geminate, evenly curved outwardly and oblique. T.p. 

 line geminate, lunulate, one-fourth from and nearly parallel with outer 

 margin. Ordinary spots large, paler than the surrounding space, not 

 distinctly outlined. Claviform large, broad, concolorous, from the apex 



