AMERICAN LEPIDOPTERA. 205 



parent gilded shade, below which the line becomes roseate to internal 

 angle. The terminal space is olivaceous brown beyond the subterminal 

 line and is then more narrowly roseate along the margin. A narrow dark 

 terminal line inconspicuously interrupted on the nervules. Second- 

 aries obscure smoky testaceous, with a faint median sha^e line and a 

 broad blackish shade band along external margin. Beneath obscure 

 testaceous, powdered with pui-plish. The primaries are shaded with 

 blackish medially and outside of a subterminal transverse shade line. 

 Secondaries crossed medially by two rivulous dark shade lines, and sha- 

 ded with dark scales along external margin, apparently obscuring a 

 third subterminal transverse line. 



Expanse^ 40 mil. Length of body, 19 mil. 



Hahitat.—Qpina.r\si. Mr. Bowles, No. "53". 



This beautiful species bears a general resemblance to the European 

 Plusia mya, but the ornamentation of the primaries differs throughout. 

 The metallic markings are argent in the European species (P. V-ar- 

 (/enfeum Esper) and the gilded shadings at the subterminal line are not 

 indicated. The transverse posterior line is holdli/ inflected on fourth 

 median nervure in P. mappa, in which species the t. anterior line is not 

 angulated iuferiorly, and the subterminal is more even than in P. mya. 



From general recollection this is the species erroneously determined 

 as Plusia mya in the British Museum Collection from a Canadian speci- 

 men given as "from Mr. Bush's collection" in the British Museum 

 Lists, p. 895. 



P. mappa is, however, more nearly allied to the European P. iota, 

 from which it differs by the much stronger toothing of the transverse 

 posterior line on the fourth median nervule and submedian fold, by its 

 metallic spots, that below the orbicular more acutely V-shaped, and by 

 the presence of three bands on the secondaries beneath. In P. iota 

 the anterior wings are much more evenly colored, whereas in P. mappa 

 the roseate shades are even lighter than in P. mya and contrast strongly 

 with the dark shades of the primaries. Whether the var. of P. iota 

 from Canada in the B. M. Lists refers to this species or not we do not 

 know. 



From the European Plusia V-aureum Guenee (Engr. 592 — 3), P. 

 mappa differs as from P. iota and by its immaculate fringes. Engra- 

 melle's figure is not delicate enough to allow of further comparisons be- 

 ing instituted. 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC. (27) SEPTEMBER, 18f>«. 



