MELANTHES. By Dr. M. Draudt. 917 



Th. naevius Linfn. (178h) is smaller, with narrower and more pointed wings than petronius which iitwriiis. 

 the species approximates; the postdiscal hyaline band is Ukewise shortened and also contains only 2 discal 

 spots below the siibapical band. Behind the middle of the costal margin lighter spots. Only known from 

 Florida. 



Th. pacuvius Liiitn. (ITSh) is much smaller, very contrastingly marked on a grey ground, the small iiacKriii". 

 hyaline spots of the postdiscal band, being formed as in the preceding species, are very small. Hindwing almost 

 entirely Ijlack, its fringes in the anal half purely white. Colorado, Arizona and Mexico. 



Th. tatius Edir. is established according to a single J. It is discernible from the other species with tatius. 

 white fringes of the hindwings by the jjiuely brown coloui' of the marginal area of the forewing without whitish- 

 grey scaling: the usual, oblong, black marginal spots exhibit distally bluish-white bordering, so that a very 

 (onspicuous, white-dentate line is produced. From Arizona. 



Th. parkeri Week.^ is said to be most closely allied to tatius. Above dark brown, slightly dusted with iim-hri. 

 grey, with a postdiscal band irregularly strewn with grey, extending from the costal margin to the lower median 

 vein; 4 small, white, hyaline siibapical dots. Hindwings dark brown with traces of lighter submarginal diffuse 

 spots. Beneath dull brown, thi' sulnnarginal diffuse s])ots of the hindwing more distinct. From \'eneznela 

 (Suapure). 



Th. clitus Edtr. (178 h) is much larger and darker than piicuvins. often behind the middle of the '-li/ii.-^. 

 costal margin with a brighter spot. Hindwing almost monotonously black with broad white fringes as far as 

 the apex. Arizona and New Mexico. 



Th. funeralis Scdilr. {= australis Mnh.) (17S h). This species being widely distriljuted as far as South jmicralts. 

 America is extraordinarily similar to clitus. on an average smaller, greyer, darker, with somewhat narrower 

 forewings. The following species are neither easily discernible, chiefly by the difference of the genitals. In 

 funeralis the tegnmen exhibits on the under surface 2 short, downwards posteriorly curved hooks; the valves 

 are very asymmetrical, the right one has luidulate edges and exhibits on its distal edge 2 upturned, obtuse 

 appendages. From California, Texas and Arizona through Mexico to Guatemala; Colombia. 



Th. tristis Bsd. is externally scarcely discernible from funeralis. mostly somewhat larger. The forewings irhtis. 

 are somewhat less pointed. On the under surface of the tegumen are 2 long hooks being downwards anteriorly 

 curved, the right valve shows at its distal edge a very bristly, boss-shaped appendage. California to Mexico. 



Th. maestus G. d- S. from Arizona and Mexico (Puebla) is only separable by the different genitals, niursius. 

 The tegumen is similar as in tristis, but the right valve appears as a distally turned, ensiforni hook. 



Th. albomarginatus G. d- S. (178 h) is recognizable by its large size and by the white fringes of the (iih,niiitr<i'i- 

 hindwing being particularly broad at the anal angle, beneath also by the white border before the fringes. Common ""'" 



from Mexico to Colombia. 



Th. diogenes Plotz (178 i) is the most similar to petronius (178 g), but somewhat smaller, with narrower iliiM/ciic.-i. 

 wings and a more oblique distal margin, of a somewhat darker colouring, the postdiscal hyaline spots are minute, 

 below the subapical ones there is only one small hyaline dot. Described from Cuba. 



Th. heteropterus Plotz ( 178 i) i^ not dissimilar to brizo, but of a purer bluish-grey, and it has 3 conspi- lirti-rupic- 

 cuous, white, subapical hyaline dots. Hindwing darker brown without the yellowish submarginal dots, instead 

 of them with a darker submarginal band. From Brazil (Chapada). 



Th. austerus Sclis. is unknown to me. Above dark brown, strewn with dark grey. little prominent iiiisi,i-„s. 

 scales, a discal band, a spot at the cell-end, bent round it the j)ostdiscal band; distal mai'gin broad daik grey, 

 ill it a dark subterminal line: marginal line brown, base of fringes grey ; the grey markings are partly bordered by 

 darker brown fine lines. Tlie dark brown hindwing is lighter at the distal margin. Expanse of wings : 36 ram. Peru. 



Th. miilleri sp. nov. (178 i) is most similar to brizo, also in the shape of the wings and the size. The unillrrU 

 blackish-brown groiind-coloiu' is very much strewn with lighter or darker whitish-grey or bluish-grey scales; 

 in and behind the middle there are 3 fine, black, lunar transverse lines and in the middle of the cell a spot ; 

 before the brownish-grey fringes there is a bl'ackish marginal line. Hyaline dots entirely absent. Hindwing 

 monotonously blackish-brown with snow-white fringes being blackened at the apex. Beneath on the hindwing 

 fine, white anteterminal and thicker white ti'cminal dots. According to 1 ^ from Mexico (Esperanza) in the 

 Coll. Drafdt. 



Th. lacustra Wright (178 i) is apparently allied to tniillcri. but of a much more monotonous brownish- lunisirn. 

 grey, not dusted so blue, and it has quite brownish-grey, not white fringes on the hindwings. Also beneath 

 the submarginal and marginal dots on the hindwing are extinct and yellowish-grey. From California. — pertligra pcniUjra. 

 Wright, likewise from California, seems to be almost the same, but it is reported to have 3 small white subapical 

 dots and to be smaller. 



62, Genus: 9Ielaiithe»$ Mnb. 



Antennal club shorter and more pointed than in Thanaos, terminal joint of the palp more slender. 

 Distal and proximal margins broadly rounded. Posterioi' tibiae almost bare with 2 pair of long spurs. Costal 

 fold present. 3 large forms from the West Indies. 



run. 



