54 FBOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ACRONYCTA FRIGIDA, new species. 



(Plates XI, ligs. 6, 10, male and female adults; XX, fig. 4, m.ilc genitalia.) 



Acronijcta lepuaculiiiat Hknry Edwakds, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci., 1875, VII, ]». 23. 

 ApaielafdinaX Fkknch, Can. Eut., 1889, XXI, p. 36. 



Ground color dark blue gray, quite densely powdered with black. 

 On the primaries the veins are marked with smoky, giving- the wings 

 a strigate appearance. Markings variable, but as a rule the ordinary 

 spots and the transverse posterior line are fairly well marked, the 

 reniforni being distinct in all the specimens before me. The basal line 

 is marked by a black dot on costa, or it may be entirely absent. The 

 transverse anterior line may be absent, or may be marked by a blotch 

 on the costa and an angulated niaik in the submediau interspace. The 

 median shade is marked by a spot on the costa and another on the 

 internal margin, though both of these may be absent. The transverse 

 posterior line is feebly lunulate, rather evenly bisinuate, and preceded 

 by a slightly paler shade. In one specimen it is hardly traceable. The 

 fringes are cut by smoky marks in the interspaces. The ordinary spots 

 are obscure; the orbicular oblong, feebly black ringed, the reuiform an 

 indefinite black lunule. There is a distinct black basal streak which 

 almost joins the dagger opposite the anal angle. The dagger mark 

 opposite the cell is also very distinct. The secondaries are quite evenly 

 smoky white, with the discal spot of the under side showing through. 

 Beneath, the wings are whitish, powdery, the disk of the primaries 

 smoky. On the primaries is a discal spot from which a spur is sent 

 out, reproducing in a diffuse way the dagger mark of the upi^er side. 

 The secondaries have a distinct outer transverse line, and a discal spot 

 which, in one specimen, sends a dusky line to the base. The head and 

 thorax are without markings save that there is a distinct line from the 

 eyes to the base of the wings, and the sides of the palpi are blackish. 



Expanse, 1.70 inches (43 mm.). 



Habitat. — Sierra ]N^evada; Truckee, California. 



Four si)ecimens, one male and three females, are before me. Two are 

 from tlie collection of the United States iS^ational Museum, one from 

 the Eutgers College collection, and one from the collection of Prof. 

 George H. French. The male is labeled July, Alameda County, Cali- 

 fornia. One female is marked April, Alameda County, California, larva 

 on willow. The specimen from the college collection is labeled Sierra 

 Nevada, while the specimen from Professor French is marked from 

 Truckee, and is dated May 6. This specimen was bred by Professor 

 French and was mistaken by him for fclina, which indeed it closely 

 resembles at first sight. The specimen appears to have been mounted 

 when fresh, and though not crippled looks somewhat undeveloi)ed as 

 compared with the others before me. The male is slightly smaller 

 than the females and seems to be also a little paler in color, while the 



