y 



158 



high and simple behaviour in the recognition and publication of 

 the class of facts with which we deal. 



Heliothis interjacens. 



This form, described by me in the Bulletin of the Brooklyn 

 Ent. Soc. 3, p. 30, is only the Western form of PhlogopJiagiis, as 

 I am satisfied from an inspection of more, and a re-examination 

 of old, material. The type is ochreous, almost without markings, 

 and looks like some specimens of Arjniger, but the angulated 

 median shade is decisive. Others are more marked until we 

 have a form like the typical Phlogophagiis, but still with a faded 

 ochrey ground color. A specimen from Havilah nearly loses this 

 distinction. It is possible that Liiteitinctus, with yellow hind 

 wings, is a form of PJdogopJiagus ; equivalent to the European 

 Mat'itima, which is considered by some to be a form of Dipsaci, 

 the species which, in Europe, represents Phlogophagiis. 



Spragueia funeralis. n. s. 



This is a distinct species, allied to Pardalis. The fore wings 

 plumbeous black, glistening, as are the concolorous fringes. A 

 large pale yellow costal spot, outside the t. p. line. The wing is 

 crossed by two pale yellow median bands, the outer widening at 

 costa. The outer band is edged with ochrey inwardly inferiorly, 

 and includes a costal dark speckle in the wide portion of the 

 band, which is only a large costal blotch into which the band 

 merges. Inner band edged outwardly with orange or ochrey. 

 Thorax cupreous. Hind wings blackish with blackish fringes. 

 Size of Pardalis, differing by the deeper yellow and larger costal 

 blotches, also by the unicolorous black fringes. A number of 

 specimens in Mr. Neumoegen's collection. This species is re- 

 markable for the lustre of the plumbeous black wings. 



Catocala communis. Grote. 



The figure of Abbot of Ncogama has the secondaries bright 

 yellow, but the black band is constricted above the middle as in 

 our Northern form, Coviiminis. Our specimens vary in the darker 

 or paler primaries, but the paler form, with the subterminal space 

 decidedly brown, is the typical Comniiinis. The reniform and the 

 sub basal space are also shaded with ochrey brown. The abdo- 

 men, like the hind wings, is more yellow in the Southern speci- 

 mens of Ncogama, which is, like Communis, a comparatively 

 more robust species with shorter wings than Subnata. Whether 

 this Southern form, the true Neogama, which has less brown on 

 primaries, be distinct from our Northern form, which is Guenee's 

 Ncogama, I know not. But in no event can Communis be cited 

 as a simple synonym, especially in these days when the varieties 

 are all being named. It is extraordinary that in Mr. Hulst's 

 paper my species are generally called " varieties," and my varie- 

 ties, " sub-varieties," or even degraded to simple synonyms. In 

 all this there is no question of advancing science, because in 

 those cases where Mr. Hulst is confessedly ignorant of the form 



