﻿.&»3 Jouru., Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc, Vol. XIX., No. 3. [November 15, 190!>'.. 



Maskeliya, Ceylon, in June and October (Pole) ; three specimens. 



Bactra, Stph. 



The species of this genus present considerable difficulties, being similar and 

 variable, and close study is necessary to discriminate them. Ten are described 

 here, but I do not find that any Indian specimens can be referred to the 

 European lanceolana, Hb., or the African siccella, Walk. The form of wing and 

 length of palpi are the most reliable characters, and must be carefully observed, 

 but although the markings are usually vague and inconstant, they do notwith- 

 standing present a distinct type in each species. In addition to those described 

 I possess others of which the material is insufficient for description ; and I 

 shall be glad if collectors will pay attention to these obscure insects, and when 

 possible collect good series of them from the same locality, to show the range 

 of variation ; any particulars of habit would also be useful. Possibly all may 

 feed on species of rush (Jmicus). 



Bactra fcederata, n. sp. 



;t. 20-22 m m. Head, thorax, and abdomen whitish-ochreous. Palpi 4, 

 whitish-ochreous, second joint suffused with fuscous except towards margins, 

 Forewings elongate, hardly dilated, costa moderately arched, apex round - 

 pointed, termen sinuate, rather oblique ; whitish-ochreous with scattered fus- 

 cous and blackish scales tending to form undefined strigulse ; costa marked 

 throughout with short oblique ochreous strigulae irrorated with blackish ; an 

 irregular spot of deep ochreous suffusion in disc at ^, and a small blackish 

 spot in disc beyond | connected by a whitish streak, whose apex is bent up 

 above second spot ; an elongate-triangular patch of ochreous-brown suffusion, 

 more or less irrorated with dark fuscous, extending along costa from before 

 middle to about | ; a fine black terminal line not reaching apex or tornus : cilia 

 whitish-ochreous. Hindwings and cilia whitish. 



Maskeliya, Ceylon, in April and August (de Mowbray, Pole); two specimens. 



Resembles a strongly marked specimen of Epibaclra arenosa, but distinguish- 

 ed by structure, and more oblique termen of forewings. 



Bactra sociata, n. sp. 



^ 17-18 mm., 9 21-23 mm. Head, thorax, and abdomen whitish-ochreous. 

 Palpi in ^ 3, in 9 ^, whitish-ochreous, second joint tinged with fuscous except 

 towards margins. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa gently arched, apex 

 round-pointed, termen sinuate, rather oblique ; whitish-ochreous, with indica- 

 tions of scattered fuscous strigulse ; costa marked throughout with short oblique 

 deep ochreous strigulse irrorated with blackish ; outer edge of basal patch 

 indicated by an indistinct deep ochreous obtusely angulated striga ; a white 

 longitudinal streak in disc (obsolete in 9 ) from this striga to beyond |, its 

 extremity somewhat bent upwards between two dots of dark fuscous irroration ; 

 an elongate-triangular patch of deep ochreous suffusion finely sprinkled with 

 dark fuscous extending along costa from before middle to about | ; an ochreous 

 striga marked with four or five cloudy dots of blackish ii-roration near before 

 lowar part of termen ; a fine ochreous terminal line irrorated with black not 



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