19 



are two similar bristles on the uuderside withiu the edge of the square tip. Length, 

 8-9 ram . 



Moth. — Head white or subochreous ; palpi dull gray, with white scales. Thorax 

 either white and black or reddish ochreous with white scales. Fore wings with the 

 basal third either black, gray or snow white; usually dark gray; on the outer edge 

 of the dark portion are two groups of sharply raised scales. Beyond is an irregular 

 white band, the white sometimes obscured by gray scales ; this band is very irregu- 

 lar in width, being narrow on the costa, widening' towards the middle of the wing • 

 it is indented on the inner side at the second tuft of raised scales ; where the band is 

 widest, viz., on the outer edge behind the middle of the wing, is a deep sinus, very 

 distinct in those specimens where the band is white; on each side of the mouth of 

 the sinus is a sharp tuft of raised black scales, and within (one near the costa) are 

 the smaller tufts. In those specimens in which the rest of the wiug is whitish there 

 is a large triangular dark spot, with the base resting on the costa; usually, however, 

 the outer third of the wing is dusky or clear gray, with dark specks and clouds, and 

 the triangular patch is obscured. Sometimes when the wing is clear gray the veins 

 on the outer third are hardly clouded with a darker shade of gray. Hind wings and 

 abdomen slate gray. Expanse of wings, 12-15 mm . 



This is a very variable moth, but the four or five raised tufts are nearly always 

 present. Some striking varieties are here noted : 



(«) Fore wings gray, with a broad whitish-gray band just before the middle of the 

 wing; the large dark triangular spot not present. 



(b) The outer third of the wing concolorous with the band, thus leaving a large 

 distinct triangular spot. 



(c) Fore wings snow white at base, with a snow-white band near the base, in the 

 outer edge of which the sinus is very distinct; the outer third of the wing is either 

 white or blackish. 



{d) The base of the fore wings clear, deep ochreous, and ochreous streaks on the 

 thorax. 



(c) The most aberrant form, and which would readily be referred to a distinct spe- 

 cies if it had not been reared from the same kind of caterpillar. It has a dark, gray- 

 ish-white head, and two black bands on the thorax. The fore wings are dark gray, 

 finely lined and mottled with black, but interrupted by a broad, very conspicuous, 

 clear ochreous band extending from the base of the wing to the apex, inclosing the 

 median vein and submedian fold. There is only a single high black tuft on the lower 

 edge of the basal third of the wing. One appeared July 30, and another August 20. 

 Hind wings dark slate gray, with an obscure ochreous slash at the apex. 



The following description was prepared by Professor Fernald from 

 five specimens sent him : 



Head and palpi ashy gray, the latter a little darker on the outside. 



The thorax is dark ashy gray, with a few blackish cross-streaks on the forward parr 

 of it, and there is a stout thoracic tuft tipped with reddish brown on the posterior 

 part. 



The tore wings are ashy gray, variegated with black and white, with a few yellow- 

 ish scales intermingled. The basal patch is black, more or Less broken with whitish, 

 and has three black t ufts of scales on the outer edge — one on the fold, another on 

 the cell, and the third between this last and the costa. An oblique band, white 

 on the costa, but suffused below, starts from the basal third of the costa and crosses 

 the wing outside of the basal patch. The inner margin of this hand is slightly an- 

 gnlated, the most prominent angle being on the fold. The outer side of the band 

 give- <>l'f a prominent angle on the cell, which ends at a. large tuft of black scales 

 near the end of the cell, and there are several other tufts along tin; outer margin 

 of this band. The surface of the outer part of the wing is of a somewhat leaden 

 blue color, especially when worn, and mottled with black, white, and yellow scales, 



