March. 1903. J Smith: New Noctuid.i-: for 1903. 3 



more obscure and sordid as well as smaller in size. There is also a 

 difference in the details of maculation which can be better brought 

 out by comparing the descriptions. The tendency in this species is 

 to an obsolescence of the maculation and in one example it is trace- 

 able with difficulty only. 

 Rhynchagrotis niger, sp. nov. 



(Jround color dull blackish with a purplish tinge, all the maculation obscure 

 except for the velvety black filling in cell before and between the ordinary spots. 

 I lead and thorax concolorous, collar with a more or less obvious transverse line or 

 shade of yellowish scales, centrally. Thoracic anterior and posterior divided tufting 

 prominent, the scales a little gray-tipped. Primaries almost even in color, the costal 

 region scarcely paler. Basal line geminate, velvety black. T. a. line geminate, 

 included space a little paler, inner line obscure; outer line black, narrow, outcurved 

 in the interspaces, as a whole a little outwardly oblique. T. p. line geminate, both 

 lines even, obscure, feebly sinuate, the included space a little paler. S. t. line 

 vaguely indicated at costa, else practically not traceable. No terminal spots. Clav- 

 iform vaguely indicated on one example. Orbicular V-shaped, concolorous, open to 

 the costa, elsewhere bordered by black. Reniform moderate, kidney-shaped, con- 

 colorous, incompletely defined by pale scales except anteriorly where it touches the 

 black filling of the cell. Secondaries smoky fuscous, hardly paler at base, fringes 

 yellowish with a smoky interline ; a vague discal lunule. Beneath blackish or smoky, 

 paler and more powdery along the costa, both wings with a blackish outer line, sec- 

 ondaries with a discal lunule. Expands 1. 28-1.40 inches := 32-35 mm. 



Habitat: Pullman, Washington, May 27; Moscow, Idaho, May 

 14, Prof. C V. Piper. 



Three female specimens in fair condition. The species resembles a 

 small black /<:vv//<7//V, or an emarginata, in which the pale outlines to 

 the ordinary spots had disappeared and the black filling of the cell had 

 been added. The course of the lines is different, however; there is 

 no basal black mark or streak and the costal region is not in the least 

 discolored. The specimens came with a series o( forma lis and emar- 

 ginata and were at once easily recognizable as different. 



Rhynchagrotis meta, sp. nov. 



Ground color of head and thorax a somewhat rusty red, collar with or without 

 transverse black scale lines. Primaries leaden gray with a vinous red suftusion, 

 which predominates through the center of the median space, over the course of 

 the s. t. line and on the fringes. Basal space to t. a. line mostly gray except 

 along internal margin. Basal line geminate, black or brown, inner line complete, 

 outer broken. T. a. line geminate, inner line not contrasting, outer line black or 

 brown, as a whole outwardly complete, quite even and only a little outcurved in the 

 interspaces. T. p. line geminate, rather evenly outcurved over the cell, very feebly 

 incurved below; outer line obscure, inner line even or nearly so, brown or smoky. 

 S. t. line a series of yellowish scale dots over which is a somewhat diffuse red shade 



