136 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF TIIE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



space paler than the general surface, while that of the lower part is either concolorous or darker ; 

 the form is, however, quite irregular and differs sometimes in the two wings of the same species : 

 the reniform spot is generally well defined, and is either darker, or has a tinge of reddish-brown, 

 interiorly : at the base of the wing is a more or less distinct pale space occupying the upper half, 

 and bordered below by a brown line which is straight about half its length and then extends up" 

 wards and outwards towards transverse anterior. A tolerably distinct terminal line, with the fringes 

 dark. In taking a general view of the varying specimens this pale basal space, the pale upper 

 part of the orbicular and the dark subterminal line, seem to be the most constant characters of the 

 species. Hind wings gray-brown inclining to cinnamon-brown, with the posterior border but slightly 

 darker and the fringe paler. Under surface quite uniform, that of front wings being nacreous 

 gray with a faint discal spot and with a narrow costal and broad terminal border of pale fulvous, 

 dusted with purple-gray; the hind wings of this last color with the lunule and line distinct. Head 

 nearly entire, though the quadrifid arrangement of the hairs is traceable ; palpi hairy throughout. 

 Thorax quite square, of same color as primaries and with the collar bordered behind with brown 

 and sometimes the edges of the tegulaj similarly bordered. Abdomen of same color as hind wings 

 with lateral tufts, and cut off squarely at apex. Expanse 1.32—1.82 inches. 



Described from 3 specimens fed on grape-vine, 2 on peaches and 1 on Cercis canadensis. 

 Other captured specimens examined. 



This species is the analogue of, and very closely resembles the European Xylina conformis, 

 which is known under various synonyms. A specimen sent to Mr. P. C. Zeller of Stettin, Prussia, 

 was, however, pronounced distinct. The well-marked irrorate form still more closely resembles 

 Guenee's cinerosa found in Switzerland, and which he himself thinks may prove to be a variety of 

 conformis. The more I study the species of the Noctuid.e as they occur in nature, the more I am 

 struck with their great variability, and there can be no doubt that many of the so-called species 

 will turn out to be but varieties when we better understand them. In this large family none but 

 the more strikingly marked species should ever be described without an accompanying description of 

 their preparatory states and of their principal variations. I am unacquainted with any of Walker's 

 species except subcostalis which is very different, and if this should prove to be a synonym of any 

 of them, the fault must be laid to the difficulty under which the naturalist in the Western States 

 labors for want of proper libraries to refer to. It differs essentially from Grote's Bethunci and 

 capax as described and illustrated in Volume I of the Transactions of the American Entomological 

 Society. I am informed by Mr. A. Lintner of Albany, N. Y., that Dr. A. Speyer of Rhoden, 

 Furtsenthum Walldeck, Prussia, who gives much attention to the Noctuida?, has it marked Celcena 

 obkvga in his MS., but the insect evidently does not belong to that genus, and as the German pro- 

 nunciation of Xylina much resembles the English pronunciation of Cclxna, the reference to the lat- 

 ter, is doubtless due to a verbal misunderstanding. 



