Noctuid Genus Melipotis, Hiihn. 327 



Melipotis Yerhuryi^ sp. n. 



$. Primaries above greyish brown, slightly inclining to 

 olivaceous*; a basi-internal streak or oblique patch, a 

 sh'glitly irregular and curved black-edged belt from costa to 

 inner margin before the middle, the postdiscoidal patch and 

 a transverse subapical costal spot white, stained with buif at 

 their extremities and on the veins ; outer edge of the post- 

 discoidal patch black, forming three sharp angles ; costal area 

 beyond it blackish, interruj)ted by the subapical spot; reni- 

 form spot blackish and ill-defined ; external area pale, 

 sprinkled near the margin with white scales, its inner edge 

 widely undulated ; a series of ill-defined black marginal 

 dots, barely distinguishable from a slender blackish marginal 

 line ; fringe flecked with white : secondaries with the basi- 

 abdominal half pure white, slightly opaline, the median and 

 submedian veins streaked with brown ; external half dark 

 greyish brown, the outer margin from apex to below first 

 median branch snow-white, interrupted at the centre of the 

 margin by a large black spot which extends into the fringe ; 

 remainder of fringe (excepting at anal angle, where it is 

 grey-brown) white; head, palpi, and front of anterior legs 

 clear pale buff; collar buff in the middle, grey-brown at the 

 sides j tliorax deeper sordid buff, the tegulas with brown-tipped 

 scales ; abdomen sericeous whitish buff. Under surface snow- 

 white ; the outer third of the primaries and an oblique bar 

 from its posterior extremity across the end of the cell to the 

 costal vein deep bronze-brown ; a white subapical spot as 

 above and the fringe spotted with white : secondaries as 

 above, exce])ting that there are no dusky streaks across the 

 basal area on the veins. 



Expanse of wings 37 millim. 



Aden [Major Yerbury). Type in B. M. 



This very well-marked and charming species is named in 

 honour of Major J. W. Yerbury, whose generosity in placing 

 the whole of his collections of Lepidoptera at the disposal of 

 the Museum has been of the greatest service in adding nume- 

 rous novelties to the collection. 



The position of M. Yerhuryi is undoubtedly near to 

 M. inepta and flexuosa, but it is decidedly more striking and 

 beautitul than either. 



* Possibly an optical illusion, due to tlie proximity of buff on the 

 white markings. 



