quite destructive to cultivated plants. Of the one hundred and ten or more species occurring in our territory we have selected thirty for purpose of illustration. This number of species, if correctly ascertained by the student, ought to enable him to form some idea of the general character of the complex of insects, with which we are now dealing.

(1) Mamestra imbrifera Guenée, Plate XXIII, Fig. 32, 9. (The Cloudy Mamestra.)

A native of the northern Atlantic States. It is not rare in New England.

(2) Mamestra purpurissata Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 26, ε . (The Empurpled Mamestra.)

This is a very common species in Maine and Quebec. It occurs less commonly south of these localities.

(3) Mamestra juncimacula Smith, Plate XIX, Fig. 41, & . (The Fused-spot Mamestra.)

The habitat of this species is Colorado.

(4) Mamestra meditata Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 21, 8. (The Studied Mamestra.)

Quite a common species in the Appalachian Subregion.

(5) Mamestra lustralis Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 22, f. (The Lustral Mamestra.)

Syn. suffusa Smith.

The range of this species is through the Atlantic States south and west to Arizona and northern Mexico.

(6) Mamestra detracta Walker, Plate XXIII, Fig. 24, 3. (The Disparaged Mamestra.)

Syn. clavi plena Grote.

The range of this insect is the same as that of the last mentioned species.

(7) Mamestra farnhami Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 23, 9. (Farnham's Mamestra.)

A native of the eastern portions of the region of the Rocky Mountains.

(8) Mamestra liquida Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 36, 9. (The Liquid Mamestra.)

The range of this insect is in the northwestern part of our territory as far as British Columbia.

(9) Mamestra radix Walker, Plate XXIII, Fig. 25, 3. (Dimmock's Mamestra.)

Syn. dimmocki Grote; desperata Smith.

Distributed from Maine and Quebec across the northern parts of the United States and the southern portions of the British possessions to the Pacific.

(10) Mamestra nevada Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 33, 9. (The Nevadan Mamestra.)

Found in Nevada and California.

(11) Mamestra subjuncta Grote & Robinson, Plate XXIII, Fig. 27, 8. (The Harnessed Mamestra.)

Not at all an uncommon species in the Appalachian Subregion, ranging across the Mississippi Valley to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

(12) Mamestra grandis Boisduval, Plate XXIII, Fig. 41, ¿ . (The Grand Mamestra.)

Syn. libera Walker.

(13) Mamestra trifolii Rottemburg, Plate XXIII, Fig. 29, 8. (The Clover Mamestra.)

Syn. chenopodii Fabricius; albifusa Walker; glaucovaria Walker; major Speyer.

Found throughout Europe, northern Asia, and the United States and Canada. The caterpillar does at times considerable damage to crops.

(14) Mamestra rosea Harvey, Plate XXIII, Fig. 30, 9. (The Rosy Mamestra.)

Distributed generally through the northern portions of the United States and the southern portions of Canada and British Columbia.

(15) Mamestra congermana Morrison, Plate XXIII, Fig. 31, . (The Cousin German.)

This insect ranges from the Atlantic to the eastern portions of the region of the Rocky Mountains.

(16) Mamestra picta Harris, Plate I, Fig. 11, larva; Plate XXIII, Fig. 34, 8. (The Painted Mamestra.)

Syn. exusta Guenée; contraria Walker.

The

This is one of the commonest species of the genus. caterpillar is a conspicuous object, and in the fall of the year is

generally very noticeable, feeding upon various herbaceous plants. It is a promiscuous feeder, and to enumerate all the vege

tables which it attacks would almost be to provide a list of the plants of the United States. They manifest, however, a decided preference, when accessible, for the cruciferous plants, and do much damage in fields of cabbages and beets. There are two broods in the Middle States. The species does not

occur on the Pacific coast, so far as is known to the writer. Its range is from the Atlantic to the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

(17) Mamestra lubens Grote, Plate XXIII, Fig. 28, 3. (The Darling Mamestra.)

A denizen of the northern portions of the United States. (18) Mamestra latex Guenée, Plate XXIII, Fig. 40, 9. (The Fluid Mamestra.)

Syn. demissa Walker.

This insect has the same range as the preceding species.

(19) Mamestra adjuncta Boisduval, Plate XXIII, Fig. 38, 9. (The Hitched Mamestra.)

This species occurs from southern Canada to the Carolinas and westward to Missouri and Minnesota.

(20) Mamestra rugosa Morrison, Plate XXIV, Fig. 3, 8. (The Rugose Mamestra.)

The habitat of this species is Maine and Nova Scotia.

(21) Mamestra lilacina Harvey, Plate XXIII, Fig. 29, 8. (The Lilacine Mamestra.)

Syn. illabefacta Morrison.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIII

(Unless otherwise indicated, the specimens figured are contained in the collection of W. J. Holland.)