NO. 1140. NORTH AMERICAN NOCTVIDAE— SMITH AND DYAR. 41 



at least indicated and usually distinct, the reuifonii evident, tlie orbicu- 

 lar at least traceable, and there is an evident dagger oppo.site the cell, 

 crossing- the transverse posterior line. The basal dash may extend 

 through the submedian interspace so as to connect with the psi mark 

 opposite the anal angle. 



Pacijica is a smaller, narrower winged species, and is more ashen 

 gray and more powdery. The transverse posterior line is distinct, 

 while the transverse anterior line and median shade are marked on 

 the costa. The reniform is vaguely lunate; the transverse posterior 

 line is emphasized opposite anal angle and vaguely so opposite the 

 cell, thus leading to the Icporina type. 



Insita continues this tendency. It is a paler blue-gray, the powder- 

 ing is more sparse and seems coarser, while the transverse posterior 

 line is broken and marked diffusely opposite the cell and the anal 

 angle. The transverse anterior line and median shade are distinctly 

 marked on the costa and the reniform is reduced to a somewhat obscure 

 dusky lunule. 



In the second subdivision, where the streak is very short, cretata is 

 pure chalky white, with very fine black powderings on the primaries. 

 The ordinary lines and median shade are prominently marked on the 

 costa, the reniform is an obvious black lunule, and the broken trans- 

 verse posterior line is marked opposite cell and anal angle, at which 

 latter point a psi is distinctly formed. 



Leporina is like the preceding, but the primaries have a faint creamy 

 tinge and are less powdered. The macalation is less prominent, and 

 the^^i opposite aual angle is wanting or diffuse. In cretata the anterior 

 femora are much stouter and comparatively shorter than in Icporina. 

 This is the only species of Acronycta common to Europe and North 

 America, and our larvae are absolutely like those compared from 

 Europe. 



Populi is more grayish white, with the powderings more evenly dis- 

 tributed over the entire wing. The type of maculation is as in the 

 preceding species, but everything is diffuse. The orbicular is absent 

 and there is no black line or dagger opposite the anal angle. 



In the third subdivision, where the black basal streak reaches to the 

 transverse anterior line, the first species is lepuscuJina. This is like 

 l)0Xndi in markings, but the orbicular is always present, the transverse 

 anterior line is often traceable, and there is a distinct dagger crossing 

 the transverse posterior line opposite the cell. The question as between 

 lepuscuUna and populi is settled, therefore, by retaining both names. 

 Guenee and Riley both confused the species, and Guenee's descrii)tion 

 covers both forms. The form bred by Riley and since that time by 

 others is that which I have here culled xjopuli. 



Cinderella is more ashen gray and the powdering is more coarse and 

 more dense. The markings are much as in lepuscuUna, but the color is 

 darker, tlie transverse posterior line is continuous, and there is much 

 less contrast. 



