P^UIPIIILIDI : AMBLYSCIRTES VIALIS. 



1583 



basal lialf of the iip|u-r inediaii interspace is an inconspicuous, minute, pale spot, occa- 

 sionally accon\panieil by two other fainter ones following it in the interspaces above In 

 tlie direction of the apex of tlic wins. The outer lialf of the wing is often Unshed 

 with a warmer tint liy the presence of sparsely scattered, dull tawny scales. Fringe 

 very pale tawny, tipped witli wlnte at the apex, along the whole base overlaid with a 

 basal border of blaeki.-li lirown, winch extends around to the last of the nervulcs which 

 impinges on the costal border, and interrupted rather liroadly, distinctly and abrui)tly 

 with the same at tlie nervule tips. Uin<J wiiujs without markings, lint with a few 

 scattered, dull tawny scales on the outer lialf, and the nervules of the lower half accom- 

 panied by long t.awny hairs. Fringe in general as on the fore wings. 



Beneath blackish brown. Fore wings with the inner border much paler and all the 

 markings of the upper surface exactly repeated ; in addition, the outer margin is i)or- 

 dered with a broad, hoary field, made up of a regidar sprinkling of very pale blue, longi- 

 tudinal scales: this cloudy Held is generally broadest at the lowest subcostal nervule, 

 where it is fully C(|ual to the width of two interspaces, and has ill-defined limits, its 

 inner l)order forming a cnrv(t which strikes the costal margin above just before the apex 

 and readies the tip of the sul)raedian nervure below. Fringe as above, excepting that 

 the pale color is frequently obscured in a greater or less degree. Hiyul wings wholly 

 clouded with a rather profuse sprinkling of very pale bluish, longitudinal scales, 

 thickest upon the outer third or two-fifths of the wing, and especially below, the dis- 

 tinction between this portion and that of tlie base being accentuated by a not very dis- 

 tinct, narrow, zigzag, transverse, bent, broken stripe, in which the pale scales are 

 absent and which is sometimes accompanied externall}' by sm.all, indistinct, dull yellow 

 spots : its general direction is from the middle of the submedian nervure to tlie upper 

 median nervule at the middle of the outer two-thirds of the wing, where it is bent .and 

 passes upward to just beyond the middle of the costal nervure; the middle of the basal 

 half of the wing is covered with not very long white hairs. Fringe as above. 



Abdomen very dark brown, enlivened above by scattered tawny scales, beneath pro- 

 fusely flecked with white and very pale bluish scales, particularly at the extremity of 

 the segments. Upper organ of male appendages (37:3), with the two halves of the 

 hook depressed, inclined slightly inward, a little longertlian broad, outer angle rounded, 

 inner square: points of the Lateral arms clearly distinct from the hook, one below each 

 half. Clasps with tlie upper margin a little sinuous, at the base broadly arched, the tip 

 ■with a slight recurved tooth. 



Smallest. Average. Largest 



11.2 



4.25 

 3.25 



12. 



6.25 

 5.25 

 3.5 



12.85 

 6.45 



3.G 



Described from 31 specimens, of which 13 3 , 13 9 . 



Egg (66: 17). Surface delicately shagreened, the punctuations numbering about 

 twenty to a cell, very minute, inconspicuous, circular. Cells near the base of the egg 

 hexagonal, with two opposite sides longer than the others, and measuring .021 mm. l)y 

 .0085 mm. Micropyle (69:7) consisting of an irregular cluster of kite-shaped cells 

 around a common centre, having as a mass a diameter of .027 mm., and containing, in 

 the incisures of same, pores opening into oblique canals, to the number of five or six, 

 irregularly arranged but clustered toward the centre and occupying a field .0115 mm. 

 in diameter; outside of this the cells are free of punctures over a space about .06 mm. 

 in diameter. Color of egg, pale green. Height, .56 mm. : breadth, .9 mm. 



Caterpillar. First stage. Head (80:40, b'A) uniform, completely piceous, not quite 

 smooth, minute papillae, bearing short, fine, colorless hairs, breaking the surface at 

 rare intervals : ocelli l)lack, in a black field, and tlierefore entirely inconspicuous; 

 mouth parts blackish ferruginous. Body livid white at birth, afterwards becoming 

 Pale grass green, paler beneath : first thoracic segment with a piceous dor.sal shield; 



