46 
space; a rather darker, irregular band across the outer space, and faint 
indications of three narrower bands across the middle space, the one 
next the base forming the inner transverse line or corresponding very 
nearly with it; no metallic spots; the outer transverse line narrow, but 
very distinct, brown, bending at the middle, but nearly straight from 
there to either margin and nearly parallel with the margin of the 
wing; a single, very slender brown line along the outer margin at the 
base of the fringe; veins rather more than usually distinct and dark. 
Posterior wings an almost uniform fuscous, with a slight ochreous 
shade; underside straw color, with two incomplete, rather narrow 
bands and a discal splotch of pale brown. Underside of anterior 
wings ochreous, with shadings of purplish brown. Head and'prothorax 
pale honey yellow. Expanse 1.35 to 1.40 inches. 
Pl. contexta, Grote. 
Fore wings a little narrower than in festucce or putnami , external 
margin a little straighter, of the same brilliant colors, but the ground 
tint is more as in festucce , more of vivid brown, but not rosy as in 
putnami . The course of the median lines is the same as in its allies, 
but they are hardly as distinct. The light golden, metallic spots are 
fused, so that they come to have somewhat the appearance of the spots 
in biloba; the base of the compound spot is straight; the upper mar¬ 
gin of the spot does not extend above the median vein. The golden 
portion of the apical shade is more extended inwardly and superiorly 
than in either of its allies, reaching inwardly to the reniform dot. 
Fringes of both wings pinkish. Hind wings pale fuscous; beneath, 
both wings pale rosy or ochrey-fuscous, Avith faint transverse lines. 
Varies in the extent of the orange-red powdering of the wings, so 
that some specimens seem higher colored than others. Expanse, 1.35 
inches. 
This species, if not in fact a variety of the European species, 
festucce, is the closely allied representative of it. 
Pl. biloba, Steph. 
Anterior wings of a rich purplish-brown, with darker and lighter 
shades, palest toward the outer margin; the subterminal line, or 
line crossing obliquely near the outer margin, slender but distinct 
and marking the boundary between the shades; in the outer field, or 
space beyond this and near the apex of the wing; usually, behind this 
is a small brown dash running directly ourward to the middle of the 
outer margin, the middle field, containing the silvery spots, purplish- 
brown except the spots, often some bronze or golden scales along the 
posterior part of the subterminal line, and silvery scales along the 
curved inner transA'erse line. The silvery 'spot is much larger than 
usual and consists of two pear-shaped lobes, the smaller ends pointing 
inAvards; in front of the outer lobe, midway between it and the costa, 
is a short bent silvery line. Apical angle rather sharply defined but 
not falcate. Posterior wings smoky yellow, darkest toward the outer 
margin, with a’ bronze or coppery luster. Underside of an almost 
uFiform, strongly marked bronze color. Head and thoracie tufts fer¬ 
ruginous brown; abdomen pale. Expansion, 1.4 to 1.6 inches. 
