i6o Annals of the Transvaal Museum 
and the subterminal; a fine interrupted terminal line and sometimes some 
slight dots on the fringes. 
Pretoria North, 14, 20, 23 and 26 February 1917 (C. J. Swierstra). Type 
in coll, Transvaal Museum, paratypes in coll. L. B. Prout. 
f. amhiscripta form. nov. (PI. I, Fig. 21). 2 . Size and shape of the pre- 
ceding, with the same cell-dots, base of costa, etc., but with the upper surface 
much more strongly marked, the median line in particular well developed, 
arising from some additional darkening of costal margin. 
Pretoria North, 28 December 1916 and 14 February 1917 (C. J. Swierstra). 
Type in coll. Transvaal Museum, paratype in coll. L. B, Prout. 
This is certainly a mere aberration of the preceding, but the status of both 
forms in relation to those previously described from South Africa is more 
problematical. Except of typical umbricosta, I have only seen $$. All the 
forms have slightly sinuous distal margins, particularly of the hind wing, but 
in typical umbricosta the sinus between the radials is almost inappreciable, 
while the protuberance at R^-M^ seems less salient than that at 
whereas in the two new forms the sinus and posterior protuberance are better 
marked ; punctigera seems somewhat intermediate or nearer to the latter, and 
if there be two species but not three I would now regard it as conspecific with 
the new forms, though distinguished by its smaller size, larger cell-dot of 
hind wing, somewhat different costal margin, etc. I would recommend the 
group to the attention of local entomologists for careful investigation on the 
spot and would point out that the breeding of Ptychopoda is very easy and 
would yield perfect males for structure studies and throw light on the limits 
of variation. The eggs are laid freely, especially if fine threads, frayed ends of 
string or rootlets of plants be offered, and nearly all the larvae feed readily on 
slightly withered leaves of the commonest weeds. 
21. Ptychopoda trissosemia sp. nov. 
15 mm. Face black. Palpus blackish, paler beneath. Vertex whitish. 
Collar brown. Antennal joints scarcely projecting, ciliation even, about i. 
Thorax and abdomen concolorous with wings, the abdomen with broad grey 
belts dorsally (occupying the greater part of each tergite, the first one blacker) 
and with some light ochreous hair ventrally. Hind leg not very short, heavily 
fringed with light hair above, only a minute tarsal extremity exposed. 
Fore wing with costa moderately arched distally, termen oblique, smooth, 
very slightly curved; areole wanting, on a common stalk, SC® arising 
first; whitish grey, clouded almost throughout with chocolate; a strong black 
cell-dot; black costal spots at one-third and two-thirds, from which arise the 
very vague and interrupted lines, the antemedian about parallel with termen, 
the postmedian slightly curved (rather less oblique than termen) anteriorly, 
nearly parallel with termen posteriorly; a fine and sinuous, not very con- 
spicuous, reddish median line arising from costa opposite cell-dot, strongly 
outbent distally to cell, incurved between and SM^\ a slight terminal 
shade and still slighter subterminal; fringe long, proximally reddish, with 
strong round black dots at base (opposite the veins), distally pale. Hind wing 
with termen smooth, well rounded from apex to M^, then straighter; SC^ 
moderately stalked; cell-dot even larger than on fore wing; the markings 
band-like, not strong, consisting of a median (touching the cell-dot), post- 
median and subterminal (both interrupted about the radials) and terminal; 
fringe as on fore wing. 
Underside of fore wing more greyish, of hind wing more whitish, cell-dots 
present, no other markings; costal margin of fore wing darker grey proximally, 
