238 J. B. SMITH. 



ML prorupta, Grt., Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. 4, p. 294 (Melir.liptria); venusta, 

 Hy. Edw., Pac. Coast Lep. No. 12, 10 (Melicliptria) ; PI. VII, fig. 38, tibia, PI. 

 VIII, fig. 50, wing. 



Stouter than the other species of this genus, and with two terminal 

 spines on anterior tibia ; the wings are very simply marked, and the spe- 

 cies is readily recognizable. The form of marking is sufficiently shown 

 in the figure, and the color is given in the table. In superficial appear- 

 ance it is very close to Melicliptria, from which in fact it differs only by 

 the longer anterior tibia, armed with spines instead of claws. This spe- 

 cies as well as the following would be placet! in Heliothis under Lederer's 

 definition of that genus ; they differ from immortua in having rather 

 narrower wings. Expands 1| inch, 26—28 millim. 

 Habitat. — California. 



M. ononis, Fabr., 81, S. V. (Noctua); Led. Noet. Eur. (Heliothis); oregona, 

 Hy. Edw., Proe. Cal. Ac. Nat. ScL, May, 1875 (Melicliptria) ; PL VIII, fig. 51. 



This species is common to both Europe and America, though found 

 here only in the Western States. I have carefully compared specimens 

 from Colorado and Nevada with those from Europe, and there is no 

 appreciable difference between them. It was placed in Melicliptria by 

 Mr. Henry Edwards, and if is catalogued in Staudinger's list as Helio- 

 this. I have placed it here as better located than in either of the others. 

 I would fain have made this the type of the genus, and placed immortua 

 as an aberrant representative with it, but this is now impossible. Ex- 

 pands 1 inch, 26-28 millim. 



Habitat. — Colorado and Nevada. 



The caterpillar is said to feed on Ononis spinosea et arvensis, and to 

 prefer the flowers. It is cylindric, tapering toward the extremities, and 

 is said to vary in color and maculation with every moult. It varies from 

 dark green with yellow lines to rosy or crimson red, or even brown with 

 more or less distinct paler longitudinal lines and always darker transverse 

 lines; finely pubescent. 



M. belladonna, Hy. Edw.. Papilio 1, 20 (Melicliptria) ; PI. VIII, fig. 52. 



Undoubtedly congeneric with ononis. Unique in appearance, and 

 readily recognized by the deep black color, contrasted with the white 

 central spaces in both wings. The figure is from Mr. Edwards' type. 

 Expands li inches, 28—30 millim. 



Habitat. — Southern Utah. 



PSKUDOTAHILA, Gen. nov. 

 Eyes naked, ovate, small ; head retracted, small ; clypeus prominent, 

 bulging ; tongue moderate ; palpi exceeding front and nearly reaching 

 to vertex, slender, as usual fringed beneath: thorax stout, convex; ves- 



