June, I90-] DYAR : SUBDIVISION OF THE GeNUS PlUSIA. 79 



Type ■ Male in the collection of the author. 



Described from three specimens. The type is absolutely perfect, 

 taken in Maine. A co-type, labeled Webster, N. H., is a female m 

 Professor Smith's collection. There is more suffusion, and less of the 

 mahogany tinge, either sexual or because the specimen is older. A 

 second co-type is in the Brooklyn Institute, found in Dr. McKmght s 

 collection, labelled New Hampshire ; a male, and though probably an 

 old specimen, is only a little less brilliant than the type, with which, 

 however, it agrees in all essential features. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE X. 



^ . /, Via 6 " anenta. Light. 



&■ TT- _ i< '« Dark. 



FjcT. 3. " brillians, sp. nov. I'lg. 7- 



Y'\Q. 4. " thoracica. 



A GENERIC SUBDIVISION OF THE GENUS " 

 PLUSIA. 



By Harrison G. Dvar. 

 Dr Ottolengui has asked me to review the species oi Plusia and 

 refer them to generic groups. I have done so with ^he following re- 

 sult The generic term Phvtometm is credited to Haworth by Guenee, 

 but I have been unable to consult a copy of the Lepidoptera Bnttanica, 

 as there is none to be found in Washington. Philadelphia or Boston 

 Agassiz's Nomenclator credits this genus to Stephens, and if this is 

 correct, the term will cause no trouble, falling as a ^y-nym. 



Plusia accurata Hy. Edw., must be entirely excluded. The hind 

 wings have the median vein "trifid," the male antenna, are pecti- 

 nated and the palpi reach only about half way up the front. Dr. 

 Barnes kindly communicated to me examples of this rare species. ^ ^ 



Plusia is a typical Noctuid genus, belonging to the " quadrifin.. 

 Tongue developed, eyes naked, cell of hind wings normah The 

 thorlxhasalarge spreading tuft and the abdomen is -ft^^ ^^ Hy 

 Front without prominent tubercle ; $ antenna ciliate. The follow 

 ing groups, some of which are of generic rank, may be recogmzed. 

 Palpi considerably exceeding the vertex of head. 



Palpi upturned, evenly haired, third joint large, blade-hke. ^^^^^^^^^^^ 

 External margin even 



