NO. 1140. NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUIDAE— SMITH AND DTAR. 57 



tlie middle of the costa indicates the median shade. The transverse 

 posterior line is single. When well marked it is lunulate, but it tends 

 to become disconnected, and occasionally it is marked only by a differ- 

 ence in shading, the terminal portion of the wing being somewhat darker. 

 It is better marked, as a rule, opposite the cell, and there may be one 

 or two rather distinct black marks indicating the position of a dagger. 

 The lunule in the submedian interspace is always evident, crossed by 

 a dark mark, and usually more or less shaded with blackish. There 

 is a series of bLick terminal dots, beyond which, the fringes are cut 

 ■with black. The orbicular is wanting in most specimens, but is some- 

 times faintly outlined. The reniform is indefinite and forms a vague 

 black lunule. The secondaries are white, a little soiled in the female, 

 and in both sexes with a series of blackish terminal lunules. Beneath 

 it is white, with a more or less obvious discal spot, and, in the female, 

 with outer shade lines on both wings. 



Expanse, 1.50 to 2 inches (38 to 50 mm.). 



Habitat. — Ithaca, New York, June 5; Chicago and Urbana, Illinois; 

 Volga, South Dakota. 



This species has never before been satisfactorily identified. Mr. 

 Grote has several times named specimens insita; but in almost every 

 instance they have been male hastulifera or specimens of dactylina. 

 The species is very easily distinguished from either by the fact that 

 the basal streak is present, and it is therefore really much nearer to 

 pojmli and Icpuscvlina. The species is a very simply marked one, and 

 Walker's description is <|uite characteristic and applies perfectly. Mr. 

 Grote has mentioned the fact that he has examined the type and that 

 it seemed a good species, and this is borne out by the identification 

 just made. I have two other specimens which may belong to this 

 species, but differ very decidedly in ground color by being very much 

 darker and having the secondaries more powdery. The maculation is 

 the same, however, and as both my specimens are females, I do not feel 

 justified in giving the form a name. One of the specimens is from 

 "Murray Bay, Province of Quebec, July or August, E, Corning, jr." 

 The other is from Calgary, Canada, June 25. In case further material 

 proves this form a distinct one, I would propose the term canadensis, 

 which may be applied for the present as a varietal term. The foreleg 

 of the male is rather evenly developed; the femur is not unusually 

 thickened, and seems rather long in proportion to its width. The 

 tibia is stout, more than half the length of the femur, the epiphysis 

 reaching to the tip and inserted at about the middle. The hari)es of 

 the male are broad and rather short, narrowing from each edge to the 

 pointed tip. The clasper is rather stout and long, and is more strongly 

 curved than usual. Four males and seven females are before me, 

 including the two mentioned as varieties. 



