i; 1 n \( II xciK ) I IS ((I'll) \. (III. 



ISlil. (!rl.. I'roc. j-.nl. Soi'. i'lnl., III. .")•_'•"). iij, ."if. ?, Noctua. 



I,s(i!>. Cn-I.. 'I'r.iiis. Am Inl. Soc. II, .'toll. .\;zriilis. 



l.sTi. Cirl.. Can. I'.iil.. \ I, Hi. ((r.-ist is. 



1S78. GrI., Ciiii. l-'.nt., \. •j;tl. Ann. lis. 



1H78. .LiiiliuT, l"",iit. ('Kill.. \\, IL'I. .\).;r(>li.s. 



188}). Hiitlcr, •rran.s. i'.iil. .Sue. I.oiul., IHHi), .'}8:j, Amallics. v.l.ila Wik. 



18()5. \\"1U.. t\ ]?. Mils., I.c].. I 1.1 Siippl., ;5,71(), (n-aiiliiiiiidi;!. 



IS.Sfi. i'.iitlcr. Trans, l-'.nl. Soc. LhtkI.. iSHil, ;j,s:), pr s\n. \ar hriiiinci- 



pcniiis (Irt. 

 1875. Grt., Can., I'.ni. \ll. is;. Ai;r.ilis. 

 1878. Grt.. Can. I'.nl. X, •_':il, an var. pr. f 

 ISS:}. Grf.. ri-DC. .\ni. I'liil. Soc. XXI, 1.5.'), Afirotis. 



\'ai-ics in color of lliorax and pfiniarics from drah or clay }cllow lo 

 (iaik led In-own. more or less powdery. Tlic more ii.sual form is ;i brick 

 or dull red. alidonien soinewlial more }j;rayi.sli; .secondaries fuscous to 

 lilaekisli. sides of pal|)i al.so black. Tile maculation is often more or less 

 indistinct, bnt when fully present is as follows: All the lines ffcminate. 

 r>asal lini'. black, curved t.a. line outwardly obliqiu', l)lackisli, waved, in- 

 ihided space jialer; a distinct black spot on costa at inception of inner 

 line, outer line pimetiform; the line makes a slight outward curve over 

 (liscal .sell. 8.t. line initiated by a large distinct black costal patch, then 

 .sinuate, rather as a darker sliacle emphasized liy black \enular points, fol- 

 lowed by a narrow pale shade to hind margin. S.t. S])ace sometimes as a 

 whole darker than the rest of the wing. Ordinary spots distinct, annulate 

 with a ])aler shade, orbicular very, slightly oblique sometimes concolorous, 

 more usually darker; reniform moderate; with an evenly blackish center, 

 of the normal shape. Beneath, primaries reddish along the costa, other- 

 wise blackish gray, with a more or less evident outer line; secondaries 

 paler than above, powdered with reddish along costa, irrorate with black 

 scales; a faint outer line and evident discal spot. 



Expands, 31-37"'™; 1.25-1.50 inches. 



Habitat: Canada to Virginia, west to Pennsylvania; Texas. 



From this typical form the variations will run to an almost complete 

 obsolescence of maculation, and again to a darker form, the maculation 

 black and strongly relieved. A permanent feature, which seems the s])ecitic 

 character, is the costal spot preceding the s.t. line, and which seems to 

 survive all sorts of modifications. The genital structure of the male is 

 peculiar, as I have already stated, and as shown at PI. II, f. 3. Mr. Grote 

 has had some of the variations of this species, and he sa3'S (Can. Ent. X, 

 234) : "What may be taken as the typical form, or that which is best 

 marked, expands 33-35 "'"\ The wings are of a brick brown, with the 

 stigmata filled with black; a black mark on costa at inception of s.t. line; 

 the s.t. space a little darker than the rest of the wing; the lines well de- 

 fined. A larger form from Texas expands 40 ■"'". It has been reared from 

 the larva by Belfrage (No. 674). It is more red, more unicolorous, the 

 markings less olstrusive. A specimen taken by Dr. Bailey is the size of 

 the typical form, Init has the subbasal and subterniinal spaces entirely 

 tilled in with black. Then come three specimens in whicli the fore wings 

 seem a little narrower, and the expanse smaller. One is Ijright orange red, 

 all the markings obsolete. Another is more of the typical shade, but Iwth 

 the spots are ringed with bright yellow. The third 1 have decided as 

 distinct under the name of brunneipennis." 



Mr. Grote did not have all the variations, apparently, and was in 

 error in considering the Texan specimens as referable here. It constitutes 

 a very distinct species, nea;rer to alternata, and as such I have separated it 

 in the collection of the U. S- National Museum, which contains several of 

 the Belfrage specimens. It may be called helfragei, and the above com- 

 parative features will easily separate it. I believe it the only one of this 

 group in Texas. 



128 



