NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUIDA E— SMITH A ND D YA R. 7 7 



the edges of the patagiae are narrowly black marked. The primaries 

 liave all the inurkinys traceable and in most instances fairly distinct. 

 The basal line is marked by geminate yellow or brown mafks on the 

 costa. Transverse anterior line geminate, brownish yellow, as a whole 

 outwardly obli(jue, quite strongly toothed on the subcostal and n)ore 

 or less distinctly out-beut on all the veins. The tendency is for the line 

 to become faint or entirely wanting below the middle, and it is often 

 indistinct, even in the upper part of its course. The median shade 

 is marked by a rather defined yellow or brown line from the costa 

 obliquely to the reniform, and occasionally there is a very even shading 

 whi(;h extends almost or (piite to the inner margin. The transverse 

 posterior line is narrow, brown or black, distinctly defined, i)receded 

 by a paler and followed by a darker brownish or yellow shading. The 

 line is rather even, most sharply toothed on veins 3 and 4, below which 

 it makes a deep incurve opposite the anal angle. There is an indistinct 

 but traceable subterminal line in most of the specimens which is irreg- 

 ular and paler. The fringes are cut with brown or black opposite the 

 interspaces. There is a distinct basal dash which is black and (extends 

 through the basal line. There is a dark dash oi)posite the cell, which 

 extends from the transverse posterior line to the outer margin and 

 sometimes crosses the line inwardly. Another dash opjwsite the anal 

 angle extends from the margin through the transverse posterior line, 

 forming a distinct yni^ which is shaded with blackish and quite ])romi- 

 nent. The orbicular is small, round, ringed with brown, yellow, or black. 

 The reniform is large, kidney shaped, somewhat indetined, except at its 

 inner edge, where it is black marked. As a whole it is shaded with 

 yellowish. The secondaries are smoky, darker in the female, and with 

 a more or less obvious discal spot and outer line. Beneath ihe color 

 is yellowish white, powdery, and on both wings, with an incomplete 

 outer band and a rather distinct discal spot. 



Expanse, 1.00 to 2 inches (40 to 50 mm.). 



Habitat. — Ontario, Canada; Rochester, New York; Kendall, New 

 York; Long Island, New York; Otto, New York, July; Evans Center, 

 New Y'ork, July; Wisconsin; Central Missouri in May; Washington, 

 Districtof Columbia, in August; Maine; Illinois; Pennsylvania; Texas 

 in June. 



In a general way this insect occurs west to the Jtocky Mountains from 

 Canada southward. Some twenty-odd specimens of each sex have been 

 examined and very little variation occurs. Some specimens are a little 

 paler, some a little darker; some of them are a little brighter marked 

 than others; but on the whole the species is remarkably constant and 

 is always easily recognized by the yellowish shading in the fore wings 

 and by the yellow disk of the thorax. It is also the largest species next 

 to lobi'lide with which it can not be easily confused. The front is bulg- 

 ing but hardly protuberant. The anterior legs are well develoj)ed, all 

 the parts being well proportioned to eacii other; the <q»iphysis of the 

 fore tibia is inserted much nearer to the base and does not reach to the 



