Descriptions of New JVbctace, etc. 301 



are }'et known. The European moth is a little the larger of 

 the two. In a single specimen very clearly, and in others 

 more obscurely, I have observed in the American form blue 

 scales edging the white band which crosses the upper surface 

 of the hind wing. This fact is interesting, because the band 

 which occupies an analogous position in the European form, 

 is wholly of a grayish blue. Especially interesting will be 

 the study of species comparatively isolated in their structure 

 from their nearest allies in our fauna. Such an instance in 

 the N'octum is Euparthenos nubilis Grote ex Hubner. The 

 genus EupKwthenos Grote (= Partlienos Hubn.) is lower 

 than Catocala, and in the cut of wing, the length of palpi, 

 and the ornamentation (especially beneath), approaches 

 Opltideres of the Tropical Eastern Hemisphere. 



With regard to Catocala relicta, I have corrected* the 

 mistake of previous writers, who considered the variation of 

 the front wings, which are more or less invaded by black 

 shades, to be a sexual character, the darker specimens being 

 supposed to be the males. This mistake is fallen into by 

 Mr. Herman Strecker, who figures two male specimens of 

 the species as of opposite sexes, the whiter male being con- 

 sidered as a female. This is shown by the shape of the 

 abdomen in the two figures ; while at this time Mr. Strecker 

 was unaware of the distinctional characters offered by the 

 frenulum, which render the recognition of the sex an easy 

 matter in the Nocture. This is shown by his remark that he 

 cannot determine the sex of a specimen of Catocala marmo- 

 rata figured by him, for the reason that the abdomen happened 

 to be missing. In the case of C. relicta Mr. Strecker has 

 overlooked even the shape of the abdomen, identical in his 

 two figures, and has relied upon the statement of previous 

 writers with regard to the assumed sexual character of the 

 color of the fore wings, without personal verification in de- 

 termining his material. 



* Can. Ent. vii, ISC. 



