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Show 1881.] NOCTURNAL LEPIDOPTERA. 347 Genus M A M E S T R A , Ochs. M A M E S T R A CULTA, n. sp. Fore wing dark purple-brown or plum-colour, suffused with grey, crossed by a subbasal and an antemedian black double zigzag line, an indistinct discal series of black points, a submarginal black-bordered yellow-speckled dentated line, and a marginal row of dentate lunules; orbicular and reniform spots black-bordered; a black lunule below the cell; the posterior end of subbasal line, the lunule below the cell, the posterior end of reniform spot, and the tuft near base of posterior margin streaked with pure yellow: hind wing and abdomen pale greyish purple-brown. Thorax, palpi, and legs dark purple-brown, grey-speckled ; a black collar across thorax. Expanse 2f inches. Hab. Dalhousie, N.W. Himalaya. In coll. F. Moore. MAMESTRA STOLICZKA. Mamestra stoliczka?, Felder, Novara Voy. Lep. iv. pi. 109. fig. 32 (1872). Male and Female. Fore wing dusky olive-green, crossed by a subbasal, an antemedian, a postmedian, and a submarginal black-bordered sinuous grey line ; discal area and outer margin also grey; orbicular and reniform spots grey- and black-bordered ; a black-speckled mark below the cell; three white or pale spots on costal edge before the apex, and a marginal black-pointed lunular line: hind wing cinereous olive-brown, palest at the base. Thorax dusky olive-green, grey- and black-speckled; palpi and legs brown, grey-and black-speckled ; legs with pale bands. Expanse If inch. Hab. Dalhousie, N.W. Himalaya; Sind valley, Kashmir. In coll. F. Moore. Nearest to M. serratilinea, and quite a distinct species from M. brassica?, which latter also occurs in the N.W. Himalayas. Genus PROSPALTA, Walker. PROSPALTA LEUCOSPILA. Prospalta leucospila, Walker, Catal. Lep. Het. B. M . xiii. p. 1114 (1857). Female. Nearest to P. stellata. Differs in the fore wing being of a blacker brown, and having the white spots within the cell larger, the central (or orbicular) spot not broken up, the reniform cluster more widely spread, the second cluster below it being obsolete; the costal, discal, exterior margin, and cilial spots are also larger; there is also a distinct white spot below the orbicular, and some spots on middle of posterior margin; cilia of fore wing with two rows of white spots, the cilia of hind wing with one row and an outer border. Thorax, palpi, and legs blackish brown ; palpi and legs speckled and banded with white, the thorax with white speckles and a large lower dorsal spot. Expanse If inch. Hab, Darjiling. In coll. F. Moore. 23* |