38 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. vin. 



attribute to //(^/V, 20 each oi phaierafir ^i\d vitfata {decorata) . The 

 nais vary much in the degree of obsolescence of the bands and in the 

 color of the hind wings ; but they all agree in having the costal edge 

 of primaries narrowly black. The species is double brooded, flying 

 in June and August. 



Concerning the larva, I can find no description that can be reliably 

 referred to this form. I have, however, a blown specimen from the 

 Riley collection (no. ZZZ) ^^''^ notes from the Department of Agri- 

 culture (no. 2582) with the moths correctly associated. The larva is 

 brownish black or brown with a very faint, narrow, whitish, dorsal 

 line, not at all contrasted. The hairs are short, stiff, grayish black, 

 reddish subventrally. 



Professor French describes the life-history (six stages), but his 

 determination of the moth is doubtful. One specimen seems to have 

 been ///rtZ^niA? anci of the other the determining character is not given. 



The full grown larva may be taken early in Spring, hibernating under 

 stones. It is a common species, and ought to be fully worked out soon. 



7. Phalcrata resembles nais, but the costal edge is yellow and 

 there is scarcely any tendency to the obsolescence of the markings. 

 My 20 specimens are very uniform. This does not prove specific dis- 

 tinctness, of course ; but I was impressed with the fact that a gap 

 seemed to exist between this form and uais at the time that I was col- 

 lecting both forms at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. I have taken plialcrata in 

 August, and have a date of issue, March 30th (Dept. Agric. 2580), 

 making it double brooded with hibernation as mature larva, as in 7iais. 

 Concerning the larva. Professor French's descrijjtion, seemingly refer- 

 al)le here, gives it a dorsal nankeen yellow line, expanded somewhat 

 in the middle of each joint. This would be quite distinct from the 

 other forms ; but the notes of the Department of Agriculture, of 

 which I have the moth before me, an undoubted phakfata, are differ- 

 ent. They give a black larva resembling virgo, but the warts not pol- 

 ished ; no dorsal line is mentioned. 



The members ought to settle this contradiction and work out the 

 full life history of this interesting form. 



8.- Vitfata (decoi-ata) is closely allied to piialerata. The costal 

 edge is likewise yellow, but there is a great tendency to melanism ; 

 the W-mark is lost in all the females and rarely complete even in the 

 males. The hind wings vary from yellow to red, but tend to a very 

 broad outer black border. The abdomen, too, is often largely black. 



