June, ;8 9 S ] SMITH : NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUID,*:. ] 0& 



fringes almost white, a vague trace of a discal lunule showing from below. Beneath 

 primaries pale, powdered along the margin with carmine scales, and with a vague 

 discal spot. Secondaries with a more distinct discal spot and incomplete outer line. 

 Expanse, 1.32 inches = 33 mm. 



Habitat : Las Vegas, New Mexico, July nth. 



A single female specimen was received from Mr. A. Bolter, after 

 whom I have named this most remarkable insect. It is totally unlike 

 any other of the described species in every respect and at first sight re- 

 calls some of the Plusiid forms allied to Diastema; yet it has all the 

 characters of the genus Noctua to which I refer it, and in this genus it 

 stands by itself. Its occurrence in New Mexico contradicts the general 

 distribution of the genus which I have elsewhere referred to, and the 

 male may present characters which will induce the reference of the spe- 

 cies to some other genus. 



Noctua plebeia, sp. nov. 



Ground color a dirty clay yellow, with blackish powderings which give it a sordid 

 appearance. Head and thorax without obvious markings. The tip of the collar 

 paltr, the general shading of the thorax a little darker than the primaries. There is 

 an obvious divided anterior and posterior tuft. All the markings are traceable, 

 though all are more or less incomplete. Basal line geminate, black, extending to 

 the submedian vein. T. a. line geminate, black, incomplete both parts of the line 

 almost equally distinct ; as a whole with a very slight outcurve. T p. line blackish, 

 powdery, geminate, very even, feebly bisinuate. S t line consisting of a series of 

 very black spots which may become partly united into a broken line, and outwardly 

 margined by a few yellowish scales. There is a series of brown or blackish terminal 

 lunules, beyond which is a yellowish line at the base of the fringes. There is a dif- 

 fuse median shade which is hardly marked on the costa ; but is obvious below the 

 median vein. The claviform is outlined by brown and black scales and filled with 

 brown.' Orbicular moderate in size, oval, rather irregular, outlined by pale scales, 

 black filled. Reniform large, kidney shaped, outlined by yellowish and brown scales, 

 and filled with black. The space between the ordinary spots is brown. Secondaries 

 smoky fuscous, the fringes considerab'y paler. Beneath, smoky, powdery, the pri- 

 maries daiker; the secondaries with a very distinct large discal spot and a broad 

 median line. On the primaries similar marks are traceable. Expanse, 1.40 to 1.60 

 inches = 35 to 4o mm. 



Habitat: Vancouver, August 14th ; Livingston. British Columbia; 

 California. 



I have two males and one female, and have seen other specimens ; 

 one at least from Oregon, and I think also a specimen or two from 

 Washington. The California specimen is the only female and is, I be- 

 lieve, from some point in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This species is 

 very well marked and is unlike any others of those that are described. 

 In a general way it is allied to baja, or, as it must now be known, smithii, 



