NORTH amf:rican lepidoptera. 18] 



concave ; the inferior angle produced into a stout, long and pointed 

 process slightly curved, the margin serrate. Altogether it is a for- 

 midable looking structure. 



There is a considerable variation in intensity of color in this spe- 

 cies. The above descrij)tion was drawn from a rather uniformly gray 

 specimen. Others occur in which there is a very distinct yellowish 

 cast to the whole upper side, and all the black markings are intensi- 

 fied. In this form the interspaceal dashes are forked — united basad 

 the wing and thence spreading. Between veins 5 and 6 is a more or 

 less perfect and very elongated loop. This marking closely ap- 

 proaches that of luscitiosa in type. 



From all the previous species the distinct discal dot and broadly 

 blackish margined secondaries will prove distinctive. 



Little is known of the larval history ; the same general descrip- 

 tion from Harris forms the base of the knowledge we have. I am 

 not aware that it has been frequently raised. 

 S. luscitiosa Clem., Journ. Ac. N. Sci. Phil, iv, 1859, 172, Sphinx; Morris, 



Syu. Lep. 1862, 197, Sphinx; Wlk., C. B. M. Lep. Suppl. 31, p. 36, Sphinx; 



Grt., Buff. Bull, i, 26, Lethia ; id. ii, 228, Lethia ; Strk., Lep. Ehop. et Het. 



114, pi. xiii, fig. 11, 9, Sphinx; Grt., Buff. Bull, iii, 225, Sphinx; Butl., Tr. 



Zool. Soc. Lond. ix, 618, Sphinx; id. 642, Lethin ; Fernald, Spiling. N. E. 45, 



Sphinx ; Grt., Hawk Moths 44, Sphinx. 

 Head, except vertex aud sides of thorax, yellowish or gray. Vertex and disc 

 of thorax black, the latter with gray scales intermixed posteriorly. A broad 

 brown stripe extends from the middle of the palpi, back under the wings. Ab- 

 domen in the % dull ochre yellow, with a fuliginous dorsal line aiid irregular 

 dull smoky markings; in the 9 the dorsum is gray, with a distinct blackish 

 dorsal line and a broad lateral black band anteriorly cut on the segments by 

 narrow, dull yellowish white, demi bands. Beneath, thorax and abdomen gray. 

 Primaries yellowish gray, with the margins sooty brown. The band on the 

 outer margin is broader at inner angle and does not reach the apex ; the inner 

 edge is wavy, and there is a parallel wavy brown line just within. A darker, 

 smoky shade on costa before apex. The centre of the wing is paler, more gray- 

 ish, more or less of the veins are black and a black line extends in along the 

 middle of the cell from the minute concolorous discal dot; this line is double at 

 first, but the two parts unite inwardly. A short, black, generally outwardly 

 furcate black dash between the veins as far as the apex, the last two forming the 

 bent apical streak. The first below this apical streak is in the form of an ex- 

 tremely elongated loop. Fringes dark, very narrowly cut with pale yellow. 

 Secondaries bright ochre yellow in the % , grayish in the 9 , with a brond black 

 border and a faint indication of a central band. Fringes yellowish ; the under 

 side of all the wings is dull ochre yellow, with broad terminal black bauds. Ex- 

 pands % 2.50, 9 3 inches; 62 — 75 mm. 



Hab. — Canada to Virginia ; along Atlantic coast ; westward to 

 the Mississippi ; Wisconsin. 



