1876.] 237 [Farlow. 



bosa. The spores of this fungus ripen in mid-winter. The disease 

 is confined to America, and was communicated to cultivated cherries 

 and plums from our wild species of Prunus, viz., P. virginiana, the 

 choke cherry, P. pennsylvanica, the bird cherry, and P. americana, 

 the wild plum. The remedy consists in cutting off the branches two 

 or three inches below the knots. The branches removed should be 

 burned, and it is also desirable to prevent the increase of the disease 

 by destroying the wild choke cherries which, in the region of Boston, 

 are covered with black knots. 



March 1, 1876. 



Vice President, Mr. John Cummings, in the chair. Forty 

 persons present. 



The following paper was read : — 



Descriptions of New North American Noctuid^. 

 By H. K. Morrison. 



Agrotis perpolita nov. sp. 



Closely allied to A. vrtleripennis Grote, but at once distinguished 

 by the shorter serrations of the antennas of the male. 



Anterior wings black, with a fine purple brown reflection; the color 

 is uniform and the ordinary markings are obsolete, except the con- 

 colorous reniform and orbicular spots, which are surrounded by five 

 black annuli. Posterior wings blackish fuscous, with an ill defined 

 terminal black line; fringe lighter, divided by a central dark line. 

 Beneath blackish, base and central portion of both wings lighter; 

 discal dot distinct, but the usual median line absent. Expanse, 39 mm. 



Hab. Orono, Maine. Received from Prof. C. H. Fernald. 



Agrotis Fauna nov. sp. 



Allied to A. messoria Harris, but can be separated by the struc- 

 ture of the antenna? in the male ; they are pubescent instead of ser- 

 rate. Color grayish brown, not purely gray, all the lines and spots 

 present, the orbicular spot elongate, hatchet-shaped, the space be- 

 tween it and the reniform spot blackish; median shade distinct; trans- 

 verse lines as in A. messoria. Posterior wings uniformly gray, with 

 discal dots. Beneath gray. Expanse, 37 mm. 



