19 lo] Notes on Certain Species of Mamestra 157 



It is doubtful whether I would have dared to describe this as 

 a distinct species in spite of its different appearance, were it not 

 for the difference in the genitalia of the male. Comparison of 

 figure 5, with figures 2, 3 and 4 will show to what I refer. In 

 restora the harpes curve evenly to the narrowly extended tip, 

 and form no obvious angle, while the extension of tip itself is 

 shorter and broader. The claspers are also more slender and 

 more separated than in the allied forms, and for the present I 

 believe that we have a very good species to deal with, although 

 undoubtedly a recent off-shoot from strigicollis. 



Mamestra tnarinitincta Harvey, was described in 1875, in the 

 Bull. Buf. Soc. Nat. Sci., II, 273, and is evidently a local offshoot 

 from strigicollis, in a different direction from restora. Here 

 the angle of harpes is intensified instead of lessened, and the 

 extension of the tip is carried further. The penis sheath is ver^" 

 much elongated and more like laiidabilis; but with a very long 

 irregular series of short spinules running longitudinally. The 

 small clasper has been reduced to a mere vestige, while the larger 

 has not changed materially. 



Superficially the wing form of strigicollis is held, while the 

 median area is an exaggeration of the tendency to narrow it in 

 landabilis. Accompanying this is the evening of the median lines 

 and the elimination of the second element, so that they are scarce- 

 ly geminate except on costal area. Thus far the species is 

 recorded from Texas only, and most of the examples are from the 

 Belfrage collections in Bastrop Co. In my collection is one 9 

 from Kerrville, and one 9 labelled "Tenn.," out of the Kemp 

 collection. These two examples are very similar to each other; 

 but may possibly be distinct from marinitincta . I do not think 

 they are, at present, and await further material for closer study. 



Mamestra spiculosa Grote, is a species that has always been 

 rare in collections and the two pairs now before me I owe to the 

 kindness of Mr. Doll. The figure of the 6^ genitalia in my 

 revision lacks detail, and a better drawing is presented here as an 

 illustration of an intermediate form between the olivacea and 

 landabilis types; — the harpes of illaiidabilis with the tip of oliva- 

 cea indicated by the drawn out point. The clasper is long, slender 

 and single. 



In Mamestra stricta Wlk., and its \'ariety /^rr^a, the structures 

 become more compact except for the clasper, which is longer and 

 more slender. I have twenty examples before me illustrating 



