73 



in P. centaurem Ramb., P. scriptura Boisd., P. XantJms Edw., P. 

 Petreius Edw., and P. ericetorum Boisd. It is not present in P. 

 tessellata Scudd. Of P. Oceanus Edw., P. Ricara Edw., P. Phil- 

 etas Edw., and P. ccBspitabis"^ Boisd., I possess no examples for 

 examination. It exists also in AcJilyodes Thraso Hiibn. 



NiSONIADES SOMNUS, n. sp. 



Belongs to the N. Icelus and N. Brizo group ; size of the 

 former — its wings somewhat narrower and more extended 

 apically. 



Male, dark brown in color, approaching N. Persius. Prima- 

 ries, without the anteapical white spot above, and the large patch 

 of bluish-white scales resting on the discal cross-vein of N. Icelus. 

 The black transverse bands are of the position and character of 

 those of N. Icelus, but are almost lost in the ground color. 

 Secondaries, nearly as dark as the primaries, showing indistinctly 

 the two rows of pale brown spots. 



Beneath, wings bronze by reflection. The primaries have a 

 short costo-apical white streak in cell 8 and a minute white dot in 

 cell 9 {N. Icelus has usually a subquadrangular white spot in 

 cells 6, 7 and 8 each, and occasionally the spots form a contin- 

 uous line nearly across the wing, from 2 to 8 inclusive) ; an in- 

 tranervular series of pale streaks, and on the secondaries, the two 

 rows of yellow-brown spots are distinct. 



Female, paler brown than the male. The two transverse 

 bands of the primaries are quite distinct, and between them, on 

 the discal cross-vein, is a conspicuous patch of whitish scales ; 

 no white anteapical spots ; upon the margin, a row of rounded 

 brown spots, separated from the contiguous band, by whitish 

 scales. The bands are broader than in N. Icelus, and are almost 

 drawn together on vein 2 ; the connected series of spots compos- 

 ing each, are shaped much as in A^. Icelus, are heavily bordered 

 with black, and bear bluish scales. Secondaries, with a geminate 

 discal mark, a submarginal row of yellowish spots much bent in- 

 wardly opposite the cell, and a marginal row of small, linear, 

 whitish spots. 



Beneath, wings with a strong bronze reflection. The second- 

 aries have the two rows of spots of the upper surface repeated ; 

 the primaries have a marginal row of linear whitish spots, a reg- 

 ularly curved submarginal row of eight oblong yellowish spots, 

 and a single white anteapical spot in cell 8. 



The antennae, in this species, are delicately annulated with 

 white. The palpi are shorter than in N. Icelus, shaggy, some of 

 the hairs of the second joint extending to the tip of the third. 

 The tibise of the posterior pair of legs are without the pencil of 

 hairs characterizing- N. Icelus. 



' Erroneously given as Caespitatis in Edwards' Catalogue. 



