ART. VI.-DESCRIPTIONS OF NOCTDIDil, CHIEFLY FROM 



CALIFORNIA. 



By a. E. Geote. 



I am indebted to Mr. Henry Edwards for a number of specimens of 

 Californian Noctuidce, which are partly described in the present paper. 

 What is needed is larger and fresher mateiial than has as yet reached 

 me. In previous papers, I have shown that some species have a wide 

 range from east to west and from south to west: Agrotis veUeripen- 

 nis, originally described from the Middle States, I have now from Ore- 

 gon; Heliothis oupes, originally described from Texas, I have received, 

 under its synonym, MeliotJiis crotchii, from California. But the Califor- 

 nian Noctuidce seem, as a whole, quite distinct, and resemble perhaps 

 the Northern Asiatic and European species as much as they do those 

 from the Atlantic district. The collections which have as yet reached 

 me are not extensive enough to allow me to jiudge finally in the matter. 



Apatela pallidicoma, n. sp. 



9 . — Allied to rubricoma^ but much smaller, more shaded with white, 

 and with the lines more diffuse. T. a. line with the lobes deeper and more 

 prominent. Stigmata reduced as compared with ruhricoma, especially 

 the reniform. T. p. line a little nearer the outer edge of the wing, den- 

 tate and lunulate. Terminal series of black dots distinct. Hind wings 

 soiled whitish, with whitish fringes. Beneath whitish, with obsolete line. 

 While very distinct in appearance, the ornamentation is seen to be much 

 like that of ruhricoma. Two specimens examined. Massachusetts {L. 

 W. Goodell, No. 777); New York. Expansion^ 36 millimetres. 



AuDELA ACRONYCTOIDES, Walk. Can. Nat. Geol. vi. 37. 



The type is in Coll. Can. Ent. Soc. [see Can. Ent. ix. 27). I have seen 

 Panthea leucomelana Morr. ( 2 ) in Professor Fernald's collection. I be- 

 lieve it to be this same species. 



Agrotis janualis, n. sp. 



S 5. — Allied to hadicolUs. Fore tibise unarmed; <? antennae pectinate. 

 Purplish brown, warmer-tinted beneath. Reniform pale, discolorous. 

 Orbicular concolorous. Lines indicated obliquely on costa, else frag' 

 mentary, their course much as in badicoUis. Terminal line obsolete; sub- 

 terminal very faint. Hind wings fuscous in both sexes, with coucolor^ 

 ous or reddish fringes. Head pale; collar ochrey-brownish, without any 



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