DACENTRUS LUCENS, gen. et sp. nov.

I find four more specimens of the small Labroid fish referred to on page 399. These are larger and in better condition than the first one, and I have been enabled to examine the lower pharyngeals of one of them. These I find to be united, as usual in this group, into a broad triangular bone, in which I am unable to find a median suture. This bone is covered with rather large, close-set, bluntish-conical teeth. As the lateral line is complete, and the scales cycloid, I place this fish among the Labridæ, rather than among the Cichlida, but I am entirely unable to locate it among the genera of that family known to me. Indeed, I find no description of any species on our coasts to which it bears any special resemblance. Although taken in fresh waters, and occurring in a collection of fresh water species, it is very likely a salt-water fish. The present notice is rather to call attention to this fish than to complete its history. In describing the species, I make at present no attempt to separate its generic from its specific characters. The etymology of Dacentrus is da, an intensive particle; zevrpov, a spine, in special allusion to the long second spine of the anal fin. Body ovate, strongly compressed, the form Sunfish-like, much as in the genus Centrarchus, the depth being contained (in young of less than 2 inches) 2 times in the length. Head large, moderately pointed, its length 23 times in that of the body, its upper outline concurrent with that of the back, not making an angle with it; mouth not large, the jaws about equal, the maxillary not reaching to the front of the orbit; upper jaw quite protractile; the lips not very fleshy; teeth in jaws moderate, conical, apparently in a single series; eye large, 3 in head, its position rather anterior; cheeks with three rows of rather large, silvery scales; opercles in all my specimens bare and silvery; none of the opercular bones serrated; gill rakers pretty long and slender, rather closely set. Branchiostegals uncertain, probably five.

Scales rather large, silvery, cycloid; their number about 5-37-11. Lateral line running high up, concurrent with the back, continuous, not interrupted or deflected, very distinct.

Fin-rays-Dorsal, about XVIII, 10; anal, III, 20, or thereabouts; ventrals, I, 5; spinous portion of dorsal much longer than the soft part, the spines gradually increasing in height to about the sixth, then more gradually diminishing, the highest spine a little less than half the length of the head. Along the base of the spinous dorsal is a sheath of rather large silvery scales. Anal spines somewhat curved, the second spine considerably longer than the first and third. Pectoral fins barely reaching anal; ventral fins rather short; caudal fin so broken that its form cannot be ascertained.

Colors obliterated. The typical specimens are silvery, darker above, without distinct markings anywhere. There are five of these, varying in length from 1 to 13 inches. They are doubtless the young of some fish which reaches a considerable size.

ART. XXVII.-PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE NORTH AMERI

CAN PYRALIDE.

I.

BY A. R. GROTE.

To Prof. P. C. Zeller, Stettin, Germany.

In the present paper I have discussed as fully as possible the structure of certain genera of North America Phycida. Several of our species. are found to be destructive to forestry and agriculture. I have also described a small group, characterized by the flattened clypeus and by the male antennæ having a basal tegumentary prolongation, under the name Epipaschia. In the Pyralididæ, I have made some new synonymical references and generic descriptions, and also enumerated the species of N. Am. Botis which I have seen. I am much obliged to Doctor Packard for an opportunity of examining most of his types in this family. A sense of the obligation which science at large owes to Professor Zeller, as well as my own indebtedness to him for determinations, has prompted my dedication of this little paper.

PYRALIDIDÆ.

PRORASEA, n. J.

Ocelli prominent. Front with a strong clypeal protuberance, its outer face mesially impressed. Maxillary palpi linear, as long as the second joint of the labial palpi, which latter are moderately long, linear, a little flattened, with moderate third joint. The scales on the vertex depend in front of the antennæ at base. Antennæ simple, ciliate beneath. Fore wings produced at apices, with oblique external margin, entire, 12veined; 9 out of 8, a short furcation; 4 and 5 separate, near together at base. Hind wings 8-veined; three internal veins counted as one; 4 and 5 separate, near together at base, where they are connected by a crossvein; 5 continuous with the cross-vein closing the cell. Edge of both wings a little uneven.

This genus has a resemblance to the Noctuid genus Acopa of Harvey in the shape of the wings and somewhat in color. It may be distinguished by the oblique transverse lines on the fore wings, the absence of the thoracic tuft behind, and the neuration, while the clypeal protuberance is greatly more prominent. The neuration agrees with the following genus Aedis, except that on the hind wings veins 4 and 5 do

not spring from one point. I should precede Omphalocera with both these Western genera.

Prorasea simalis, n. s.

9. Ocherous, sometimes more or less fuscous or blackish, variable in tone. Fore wings with indistinct oblique lines, flecked with white. Median space ocherous, narrowed below median vein. Median lines dark, fine, the outer much projected subcostally, oblique. Subterminal space fuscous or ocherous. Subterminal shade white, more or less indistinct superiorly, with a notch on submedian fold. Discal dots with a white spot between them at the place of the reniform; this discal mark often difficult to make out. Fringes white at base, interlined. A terminal punctiform black or dark line. Hind wings smoky-fuscous, paler at base, with an external line picked out by a following pale shade, and submedially sometimes white-flecked. A terminal, blackish, punctiform line. Fringes white at base, doubly interlined. Beneath pale, soiled yellow-fuscous with fine, common, exterior line and short double lines on primaries in place of the discal mark. White shades accompany the median lines on the primaries above. Body fuscous-ocherous, paler beneath. Expanse, &, 22; 9, 26 to 29 mil. Eight or ten specimens examined under the number "5939", and collected by Mr. Hy. Edwards in Oregon. Also collected by Hayden's Survey in Montana.

AEDIS, n. g.

Front narrow, smooth, clothed with thin, converging squamation. Ocelli prominent. Maxillary palpi linear, as long as the second article of the labial palpi, these latter narrow, with moderate third article. Male antennæ scaled above, ciliate beneath, the joints improminent. The supra-caputal scales diverge between the antennæ at base, forming two inconspicuous, decumbent tufts. Wings ample. Fore wings 12. veined; veins 4 and 5 separate, 5 near 4 from the cross-vein; 9 out of 8, a short furcation to costa. Hind wings 8-veined; 3 just before the lower angle of the cell, 4 and 5 together from the lower angle of the cell, which is closed, 8 out of 7 beyond 6. This form seems to have some resemblance to Exarcha in the shape of the wings. In the neuration of primaries, it agrees with Prorasea.

Aedis funalis, n. s.

9. Primaries whitish-gray or brown. Outer transverse line black, distinct, inwardly oblique, a little rounded below costa. Between this and the base the markings are obsolete. Beyond it, the wing is shaded with bright brown, especially centrally. Some black streaks below apices and at internal angle before the narrow subterminal line. Fringes dark. Hind wings pale fuscous; fringes narrowly interlined. A fine, dark, sometimes punctate, terminal line. Hind border touched with fuscous. An outer transverse line distinct over the middle of the wing. Beneath

with an outer common line, pale fuscous. Body whitish beneath, fuscous above. California, Mr. Behrens and Hy. Edwards, Esq. The moth expands 28 mil. In the type, the inner transverse line, very fine and indistinct, may be made out; it goes to a black shade on internal margin, connected by black scales on the edge of the wing to the base of the outer line. The black longitudinal dashes to the subterminal line below the apices are variably distinct.

STEMMATOPHORA Guen.

Stemmatophora nicalis, n. s.

9. Ocelli. Maxillary palpi small. Aspect of Asopia. Deep reddishfuscous; thorax and basal fields of the fore wings somewhat olivaceous. Median lines distinct, whitish. The anterior upright with a submedian, rounded, outward projection. Posterior line broadly marked on costa, outwardly rounded superiorly, running inwardly to vein 2, where it forms a slight sinus, thence more straightly to internal margin. It is defined on the inside by a narrow reddish line. Discal dots both present, appearing as darker cloud-spots. Median space a little paler than the rest of the wing, shaded with pale yellowish on the interspaces posteriorly. Beyond the line, the wing is evenly obscure reddish-fuscous; fringes paler, indistinctly interlined. Hind wings fuscous, with paler bases and a whitish, incomplete, extramesial line. Beneath paler than above; the outer yellowish line broadly marked on primaries; on secondaries, a narrow, brown, mesial line. Body pale beneath. The brown terminal spaces on both wings contrast with the paler portion within the line. Expanse, 24 mil. One specimen, in good condition. Sierra Nevada, Cal.

OMPHALOCERA Lederer.

Omphalocera cariosa Led., 339, taf. 6, fig. 11.

3. Two specimens from Missouri (Riley) agree very well with Lederer's figure and description; in these there is a reddish cast to the fore wings, which is wanting in a larger female taken by myself in Alabama. Lederer gives as localities: "North America, Brazil.”

Asopia farinalis (Linn.).

ASOPIA Tr.

New England; Middle States; also from Texas, Belfrage, No. 416, October 16. Lederer gives as localities: "Europe, America, Australia.” Probably introduced by commerce.

Asopia costalis (Fabr.).

Pyralis fimbrialis S. V.

9. This species is found, according to Zeller, but rarely in North Germany, and not at all in England. Zeller doubts that Riley and Packard, who describe the larva from American specimens found feed