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THE

MAfURALIST’S LIBBARY.

MTOM©IL©(&Y 0

EDINBURG li:

W. H.LIZARS.

LONDON. SAMUEL HIGHLEY 32. FLEET STREET.
DUBLIN. W. CL'KRY JUN* * C9

THE

NATURALIST’S LIBRARY.

EDITED BY

SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, BART.

F.R.S.E., P.L.8., ETC., ETC.

YOL. XXXII.

ENTOMOLOGY.
EXOTIC MOTHS.

BY JAMES DUNCAN,

M.W.S., ETC.

EDINBURGH :

W. H. LIZARS, 3, ST. JAMES’ SQUARE.
LONDON :

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, CO VENT GARDEN.

1852.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Memoir op Latreille . . . .17

Clironological List of Latreille’s Publications . 53

Introduction . . . . .61

Natural History op Exotic Moths . . 82

Agarista picta. Plate II. fig. 1. . . . 83

Euscmia lectrix. Plato II. fig. 2. . .86

Eusemia maculatrix. Plate II. fig. 3. . . 88

Eterusia tricolor. Plato III. fig. 1. . . . 80

Erasmia pulehella. Plate III. fig. 2. . . 01

Amesia sanguiflua* Plate III. fig. 3. . . 93

Heleoua fenestrata. Plate IV. fig. 1. . . 05

Anthomyza Tircsia, Plato IV. fig 2. . . 07

Metopsilus tersa. Plato V. fig. 1. . . 00

Sphinx Chionantlii. Plate V. fig. 2. . . 101

Philampelus vitis. Plate VII. . . .10-1

Hepialidjb . . . . . .106

Hepialus lignivorus. Plato VIII. figs. 1, 2, 3. . 107

Zeuzera minca. Plate VIII. fig. 4. . . .100

Oiketicus Kirbyi. Plate IX. . . . 110

Cryptotlielea Macleayi. Plate IX. fig. 6. . 115

Cryptophasa irrorata. Plate X. figs. 1,2. . . 117

Cryptophasa albacosta . . . . 110

Cryptophasa nibescens . . . 120

Cryptophasa Pulton® . . . .121

Bombycid.e .... .123

Hyalophora cccropia. Plate XL , , .132

CONTENTS.

page

Hyalophora Proraethea. Plate XII. . . 134

Satumia Isis. Plate XIII. . . . .138

Satumia Cynthia. Plate XIY. fig. 1. . . 141

Satumia Mylitta. Plato XIV. fig. 2. . . 146

Satumia Maia. Plate XVI. fig. 1. . . .154

Aglia Io. Plate XYI. fig. 3. ... 156

Ceratocampa impcrialis. Plate XVII. fig. 1. . 158

Dorycampa regalis. Plate XVIII. . . . 161

Harpyia ? Banks he. Plate XVII. fig. 2. . . 164

Arctiid.'e . . . . . .165

Arctia Hebe. Plate XIX. fig. 1. . . 167

Arctia oculatisshna. Plate XX. fig. 4. . . 16D

Spilosoma acrea. Plate XX. fig. 1 . . . . 171

Spilosoma arge. Plate XIX. fig. 2. . . .174

Spilosoma Virgo. Plate XIX. fig. 3. . . 175

Limacodes Cippus. Plate XXI. fig. 2. . . 177

Limacodes Micilia. Plate XXII. fig. 2. . . 179

Doratifcra vulncrans. Plate XXII. fig. 5. . 181

Ecnomidea Pitliecium. Plate XXI. fig. 4. . . 183

Hypercompa? Sybaris. Plate XXIII. fig. 1. . 186

LlTHOSIIDiE . • . ♦. . .188

Callimorpha Helcita. Plate XXIII. fig. 2. . . 189

Callimorpha Phileta. Plate XXIII. fig. 3. . . 190

Deiopeia bella. Plate XXIV. fig. 1. . . 191

Deiopeia omatrix . , . . .192

Deiopeia astrea . . . . .192

Cydosia nobilitclln. Plate XXIV. fig. 2. . . 193

Noctuidjj . . . . . .195

Erebus crepuscularis. Plate XXV. fig. 1. > 196

Cliloridea RliexisB. Plate XXIV. fig. 3. . . 198

Alaria* Gaunc. Plate XXIV. fig. 4. . . 200

Triphosna matema. Plate XXV. fig. 2. . . 201

Catocala ncogama. Plate XXVI. fig. 1. . . 202

* This genus nearly corresponds to that named Erastria by
Curtis, but is designed to include the American species.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CatocaJa Amasia. Plate XXVI. fig. 3. . . 205

Geometrid.e ..... 207

Asthenia podaliriaria. Plate XXIX. fig. 1. . . ' 209

Asthenia machaonaria . . . .210

Asthenia geminia . . . . .210

Asthenia latucina . . . . . 211

Macrotes netrix. Plate XXIX. fig. 2. . . 212

Venilia sospeta. Plate XXIX. fig. 3. . .214

Eumclea Rosalia. Plate XXIX. fig. 4. . . 215

Angerona prunaria. Plate XXVII. fig. 1. . . 216

Alois scolopacea. Plate XXVII. fig. 2. . . 218

Epidesmia tricolor. Plate XXVIII. fig. 1. . 220

Scopelodes unicolor. Plate XXVIII. fig. 2. . 222

Dicliroma equestralis. Plate XXX. fig. 1. . 224

Dichroma histrionalis. Plate XXX. fig. 2. . . 227

Dichroma arcualis. Plate XXX. fig. 3. . 228

Tortrix Crameriana. Plate XXVIII. fig. 3. . . 229

Portrait of Latreillc ..... 2

Vignette Title-page ..... 3

Latreille’s Monument, at the end of the Memoir.

Fac-simile of his Manuscript Notes, ditto.

In all Thirty-four Plates in this Volume.

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

As the names of Swammerdam, Linnaaus, and Fa*
bricius, have been respectively used to indicate
particular epochs in the earlier stages of Entomo-
logy, so may that of Latreille be employed to sig-
nalize the most flourishing period of the science in
more recent times. Almost from the date of his
first publication till his death, his superiority in
this department of Natural History seems to have
been admitted by the general consent of all compe-
tent judges; every student was accustomed to look
to him as a guide and instructor ; and the most
skilful, as well as the most inexperienced, have
every where united in doing him homage as the
“ facile princeps entomologorum.”

It is much to be regretted that no detailed bio-
graphy of an individual so celebrated for his attain-
ments in the branch of study to which he devoted
himself, has yet been laid before the public. M.
Audouin, an eminent student in the same depart-
ment of science, has promised a historical notice

B

n

18

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

of Latrcille for the Annals of the Entomological
Society of France, of which he was the honorary
president, hut we are not aware that this has yet
made its appearance. The following sketch will,
therefore, he deficient in regard to the less impor-
tant incidents of his life, which, in such cases, are
seldom considered destitute of interest, although
they havo no immediate connexion with the causes
of the individual's celebrity. Latreille lived in
most eventful times, and it is not to be supposed
but that many occurrences affecting his interests
and the tenor of his life befell him besides those
w T ith which we have had an opportunity of becom-
ing acquainted, and which might be well worthy
of relation.

/

Pierre- Andre Latreille was born on the 29th
November 1762, at Brivcs, a small town on the
river Correze (a tributary of the Dordogne), in the
department of the same name, which formed a part
of the province of Limosin. Ilis parents were de-
scended from an honourable family ; but their death
left him an orphan at an early age, and apparently
with very slender means of subsistence. Indeed
he himself says that lie seemed born to misfortune
and obscurity. But the gentleness of his disposition,
and attractive manners, secured for his boyhood
several affectionate protectors, who did not relax
their exertions in his favour till he was enabled, in
some measure, to provide for himself. A medical
practitioner in his native town, M. Laroche, took a

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

19

paternal charge of him, and Latreille was indebted
to the friendship of this gentleman and his family
for the comforts and amenities of a home. At a
somewhat later period, a merchant of the same
place, M. Malepeyre, showed him much kindness,
and it appears to have been this generous minded
individual to whom the merit is to he ascribed
of first developing his taste for natural history.
His love for it, which must have been deeply
implanted in his nature, probably showed itself
at an early age, and little more would require to be
done than to fan the flame already kindled. This
M. Malepeyre did by supplying him with books on
the subject, and giving such instructions as he was
competent to offer. That under the care of these
and other friends who felt an interest in his welfare,
must have been laid the foundation of a sound
literary education, may safely be inferred from the
proofs he afterwards gave of his proficiency.

Besides the individuals mentioned, another of his
early patrons was the Baron d'Espagnac, governor
Of the Invalides, at whose request Latreille went
to Paris when he was about sixteen years of
age. Soon afterwards he had the misfortune to
lose this friend, who loved him as a son, by death ;
but the loss was in considerable part supplied by a
sister of the deceased, the Baroness de Puymarets,
and his nephews, particularly M. Charles d’Espagnac.
Through the influence of this family, Latreille was
placed in the college of Cardinal Lemoine, where
he continued for a length of time, prosecuting vari-

20

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

ous branches of education. While here, he had the
good fortune to acquire the friendship and good
offices of the celebrated cryslallogvapher and mi-
neralogist Haiiy. Our sources of information do
not supply us with any intimation as to his progress,
during this period, in natural history ; but there
can be no doubt that ho was attending to the history
of insects, from the knowledge he soon after showed
that he had acquired in that department.

He retired to the country in 1786, and during his
residence there, devoted himself entirely and with
the utmost zeal to the study of insects. The fruit
of some of his researches appeared a few years
afterwards in a Memoir on the Mutillas of France,
insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera. This
essay, which we believe to have been the first of his
publications on Entomology, appeared in the “ Actes
de la Soc. d’Hist. Nat. de Paris,” vol. 1, and it was
not long in being succeeded by several others.

On the termination of his literary studies, it was
designed by Latreille’s friends that he should enter
the church, and his education had been in some
measure directed with that view. His constitution
was not robust, and they probably thought that the
tranquil duties of the sacred office were better suited
to him than the active and laborious exertions re-
quired in most secular pursuits. It was little sup-
posed that, in making such a selection, they were
taking the very step which was destined at an after
period to expose him most to persecution and out-
rage.

MEMOIR OF LATREILI.E.

21

In 1788 he visited Paris, where he formed a
friendship with many individuals of similar tastes
with himself, of whom the most eminent were Fa-
bricius, Olivier, and Bose, afterwards his associates
in the Academy of Sciences. The presentation of a
few rare flowers to M. Lamarck was the means of
introducing him to that eminent naturalist, and the
wannest friendship ever after subsisted between
them ; so much so, indeed, that Latreille was in
the habit of calling Lamarck his adopted father*
The entomological memoir above mentioned, and
his devotion to the science, which was now becom-
ing known, procured him the honour, in 1791, of
being elected a corresponding member of the Society
of Natural History of Paris, and a short time after-
wards, a similar mark of approbation was conferred
on him by the Linnean Society of London.

About this time lie was employed in drawing up
various articles on entomology for that voluminous
and valuable work, the Encyclopedic Methodique.
An article Sur la variety des organs de la bouche des
tiques, appeared in 1 795 in the Magazin Encyclop.
(vol. iv. p. 15); and another, entitled Memoir sur
lapkalene caliciforme de I’eclaire, in the same volume
of that work. But it was not till 1796 that his inde-
pendent career of authorship can be said fairly to
have commenced, by the publication of a work which
formed the basis, if we may so speak, of his future
operations, and at the same time laid the founda-
tion of the great fame he afterwards acquired. This
was the Precis des Caracteres generiques des In*-

22

MEMOIR OF LATUEILLE*

secies, disposes dans un Ordre naturel, published at
Brives in the year just mentioned. In order to
make the design and merits of this work better un-
derstood, it may be desirable to say a few words re-
specting the state of entomological science when it
made its appearance.

In the classification of insects, to which alone this
work referred, there were several different principles
at that time followed by different authors. Such
of them as approved of Swammerdam's views, as-
sumed the metamorphoses as the soundest basis of
arrangement, and considered these to be the most
important characters they afforded. A greater num-
ber adopted the opinion of Aristotle and Linnmus,
and sought for principles of arrangement in the or-
gans of motion ; regarding characters derived from
the immature or preparatory states of insects as un-
satisfactory and of comparatively little value. In-
deed, the arrangement of Linnams, or the alary
system, as it was sometimes called, recommended
by its extreme simplicity and an admirable system
of nomenclature, had been extensively adopted, and
seemed so entirely to occupy the field as to pre-
clude, at least for a time, the success of any rival.
Although Fabricius found fault with these arrange-
ments as founded too exclusively on the considera-
tion of one point or one set of organs, he cannot be
acquitted of having fallen into a corresponding error,
by confining his attention too closely to the struc-
ture of the organs of the mouth. Yet the use he
made of the diversities found in these parts is sur-

MEMOIR OP LATREILLE.

23

prising, enabling him to effect many important
improvements, and give a more explicit definition
of groups and genera, particularly the latter. The
zeal with which he laboured, for upwards of thirty
years, to render the classification founded on this
basis as perfect as possible, travelling into most
of the countries of Europe in order to examine
collections and describe new species, as well as its
intrinsic merits, all tended to give considerable cele-
brity to the Fabrician arrangement. *

But whatever merits these and other methods,
into the consideration of which we cannot now
enter, may possess, they are all artificial ; or if at
any time, in certain of their subordinate parts, they
make an approach to the natural system, it is rather
the result of accident than the object at which they
aim. To Latreille almost exclusively is to be as-
cribed the praise of having applied the principles of
the natural system to insects, and this he did for
the first time in the work mentioned above. So
early as 1C89, the celebrated A. L. Jussieu had
applied them, with the most fortunate results, to
the vegetable kingdom ; and others were labouring
with the same view in several of the higher depart-
ments of zoology. + Indeed, the conviction had

* See Latrciile's Life of Fabricius, in the Ann. du Mus.
d’Hist. Nat., 1808, t. xi. p. 3.03.

+ Among others, Scopoli, whose idea of a natural method in
insects was well expressed so early as 1775 : “ Classes et ge-
nera natural ia, non sola instrumenta cibaria , non solas ala, nee
solos antenna constituunt, sed struetura totius ae cujusque vel

24

MEMOm OP LATREILLE.

now become general among naturalists, that this
was the only way in which the study of natural
objects could he prosecuted with advantage. “ The
road, it is true," says Latreille himself, * speaking
in reference to the natural arrangement of insects,
“ had already been traced by great masters, and the
series of principal groups had been tolerably well
established; but they had neglected the study of
those relations of affinity by which these groups
are connected ; they had never compared the cha-
racters of the one with those of the other. Struck
with this deficiency, I conceived the idea of uniting
the genera into families, a project which I first car-
ried into effect in my ‘ Precis des Caracteres,’ &c.
That was only a mere sketch, and I again took up
the subject in a more extensive sense, and accom-
panied with all the details of which it was suscep-
tible.” But the conception which our author had
formed, even at the early period of which we speak,
was a very accurate one ; and although in several
respects it was afterwards modified, some parts of it
required nothing more than to be fully developed
and applied. A pretty close resemblance can be
traced to the Linnean system ; and the Crustacea,
Arachnides, and Myriapodes are included, as in the
latter, among insects. The most important change

minimi discriminis diligent iss' nm observation’ Intro, ad Hist.
Nat., 1775, p. 401.

* Considerations Gdmfrales sur l'Ordre Naturel des Animaux
composant les Classes des Crustaces, des Arachnides, et des
lnsectes. Paris 1810, 8vo.

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

25

in the classification of true insects, is the addition of
Orthoptera to the orders of the Swedish naturalist ;
hut the order Aptera of the latter is divided into the
seven following : —

1. Suceurs. Pulex.

2. Thysanoures. Lepisma and Podu.ro , .

3. Parasites. Pediculus with the Pecini of De Geer.

4. Ac^phales. Spiders, Scorpions, and Acari.

5. Entomostraces. Cypris, Daphnia.

6. Crustac^s. Kieistagnathes and Exochnatcs, Fabr.

7. Myriapodes. Scolopendra, Jultis , Oniscus , &c.

The order Aptera was therefore entirely suppressed,
but this had previously been done by Fabricius ;
and the most remarkable feature in the work was
the selection of the characters on which the new
orders were founded, and their division into natural
families. * In fact it formed the germ of what was
afterwards so fully developed in Latreille’s various
publications ; and although, of course, completely
superseded by these, it is still of great interest,
when viewed in relation to the history of entomo-
logical science.

It has already been mentioned that Latreille
was exposed to much persecution in consequence
of being regarded as a member of the ecclesiastical
body. The dates which we have incidentally given
will at once apprise the reader that about this time
the French revolution was at its height. All the

Lacordaire's Introd. a 1’Ent., tom. ii. p. 660.

26

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

restraints by which human beings are usually influ-
enced, had now been completely thrown off, —

te and the giant Frenzy,

Uprooting empires with his whirlwind arm,"

threatened to involve all that adonis humanity in
one common ruin. Among the multitudes con-
demned to deportation , as it was called, Latreille
was included, and sent to prison at Bordeaux, till
the time should arrive for carrying his sentence into
effect. The incident, in itself so trivial, by which
he was saved from a fate to which so many others
as innocent as himself became victims, has been
often described, and it shows very strikingly on
how small a point the most important events may
turn. The surgeon who visited the jail where La-
treille was confined, one day observed him carefully
examining a small insect* which had found its Way

* The insect in question is the Necrobia rnfcollis. It was
then esteemed rare, but is now known to occur not nnfre-
quently in most parts of Europe, as well as in Africa and Asia.
It is frequently found in Britain : I have seen it in the neigh-
bourhood of Edinburgh, and have consequently described it in
the Entomolagia Edinensis , from which work 1 shall transcribe
its generic and specific characters : — Necrobia (from nx^of
a car a s, and $ios life , living on dead bodies). Antenna; the
length of the thorax, the basal joint robust, the six following
more slender, the third from the l ose rather longest, eighth,
ninth, and tenth cup-shaped, increasing in width, terminal very
large, quadrate, with the angles rounded, and the apex some-
what oblique: palpi with the terminal joint longest, fusiform-
truncate: mandibles with a single tooth beneath the apex:
thorax rounded quadrate : elytra oval, truncated at the base :

MEMOIR OF LATREJLLE. 27

into his place of confinement, and upon making
inquiry he was informed by the prisoner that the
insect was very rare, and that he was desirous of
sending it to two young naturalists then residing in
Bordeaux. His wishes were complied with, and
the insect was transmitted to MM. Dargelas and
Bory de Saint- Vincent. Latreille’s eminence as an
entomologist happened to be previously known to
these individuals, and they immediately exerted
themselves in his favour, and that with such suc-
cess, that he was ultimately released. He has grate-
fully commemorated this singular incident in more
than one of his works. A figure of the insect is
engraved on his tomb ; and most of the entomo-
logists of France preserve, in a conspicuous part of
their cabinets, the Necrobie-Latreille, in grati-
tude for the service it rendered to their master.
Nay, the more sentimental of them, feeling even
this to be an inadequate indication of the emotion
of their hearts, have an inscription attached to it,
intimating that they asked and obtained from the
hands of their honoured master, the specimen ex-
tibia; slender, without spines: tarsi four-jointed, the joints di-
lated and membranous at the apex ; the unguicnlar one long
and slender.

The species ruficollis is oblong ovate, covered with long hairs,
shining : eyes and antennas black : head blue-green, punc-
tured: thorax somewhat quadrate, with the sides rounded,
rufous, punctate : elytra rufous at the base, the rest greenish-
blue, with eight punctured stria: on each, the interstices finely
sliagreened ; thorax beneath and breast rufous, abdomen black ;
legs rufous.

28 MEMOIR OP LATREILLE.

liibited, in commemoration of so miraculous an
event. *

Latreille incurred a similar danger in 1797, when
he was again proscribed as an emigre; but the
favour of his fellow citizens, and the influence of his
friends, of whom he always had the good fortune to
possess many, proved sufficient for his protection.
The names of those influential individuals, to whom
he owed his safety on this occasion, are General
Marbot, Lachaize, judge of the courts of Cassation,
and M. Males.

The events of the Revolution caused him entirely
to abandon his views towards the church ; and ho
devoted himself, without restriction, to the prosecu-
tion of his studies in Natural History. He seems
to have taken up his abode permanently in Paris in
1 798 ; and was at first received with great kindness
by M. Antoine Coquebert and his family. He was
soon after nominated a corresponding member of
the Institute, and on the strong recommendation of
MM. Lamarck, Lacepede, Cuvier, and Geoffioy St.
Hilaire, he was employed in the Museum of Natu-
ral History in the congenial task of arranging the
insects. This brought him somo small emolument,
and the addition he made to it by writing numer-
ous small works of a popular kind, sufficed for all
his moderate wants.

It is not our intention to allude particularly in

* See Geoffrey St. Hilaire’s Discours prononcts sur la Tombe
de M. Latreille, Aun. de la Soc. Ent.de France, tom. ii. p. 21,
note.

MEMOIR OF LATRE1LLE.

29

tliis place to all the works he published at different
times ; the very full list of them attached to the
end of this biographical notice will indicate the ex-
tent of his labours, and prove useful, it is hoped, to
the student who follows in the same track. Most
of them appeared in periodicals, and all were re-
ceived with great favour, as indicating extensive
knowledge, sound and enlightened views, and no
small degree of learning. The work which defi-
nitely fixed his reputation as the first entomologist
of the age, was the well known Genera Crustace-
orurn et Insectorum secundum ordinem naturalem
in familias disposita, &c. published at Paris in
1806-1809, in 4 vols. 8vo. It is a luminous expo-
sition of the principles of natural arrangement laid
down in his first work on the subject, and ever since
its appearance has formed a principal guide to the
student of Entomology. In this work the Linnean
Insecta are divided into two groups or classes of
equivalent value, Crustacea and Insecta , the former
of which he characterises as possessing a heart and
breathing by bronchia?, and the latter as breathing
by tracheae. The class Insecta, the arrangement of
which we shall give in a synoptical form as an ex-
ample, is divided in the following manner : —

30 MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

I. Insects without wings. Aptera.

A. With segments bearing seven or more pair of legs.

o. Head separated from the thorax.
a. a. Four antennae. Last seg-
ments of the body with-
out legs . . Legion 1. Tetracera.

1. b . Two antennai. All the seg-
ments except the last

with legs 2. Myriapoda.

b. Head connected with the thorax.

No antennae 3. Acer a.

B. With three segments bearing legs . 4. Apterodicera.

II. Insects with wings 5. Pterodiceru.

A. With elytra and wings. Elytroptera.

a. With mandibles. Odontata.

a. a. Wings folded transverse-

ly Order 1. Coleoptera.

b. b. Wings folded longitudinal-

ly 2. Orthoptcra.

b. With haustellate mouth. Sipho-

nostoma . .3. Hemiptera.

B. Without elytra, but having wings.

Gynvioptera.

a. With mandibles. Odoyitata.

a a. Nervurcs reticulated . . 4. Neuriph ra.

b. b. Nervurcs ramose ... 5. IJymenoplera
b. With haustellate mouth. Sipho-
nostoma.

a. a. Four wings covered with

scales 6. Lepidoptera.

b. b. Two wings and two hal-

teres 7. Diptera.

c. c. No wings or halteres . . 8. Suctcr a.

Many parts of this arrangement must be allowed
to possess the highest merit, but there are others
to which this praise cannot he awarded, and of
this the author himself seems to have been con-
scious, as he afterwards introduced material changes-
“ We may oppose to this arrangement,” says Bur-
meister, * “ which, as it docs not regard the entire
* Shuckard’s Trans, of Ills Manual of Ent., p. (i 1 0.

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

31

being of insects, is still merely artificial, that it is not
sufficiently strict, for the order of the Suctoria is an
apterous group, not in its right place among the
Insecta Pterodicera. And also the groups which
are here considered as equivalent to the Tetracera,
Myriapoda , A pterodicera , and Pterodicera, are hy no
means of equal value, hut the two first and two last
are most closely allied ; the former are the subordi-
nate members of a higher group, and the latter also
could at most he placed as equivalent to the orders
of the Insecta pterodicera”

Before leaving this subject, it may he desirable to
show briefly, in juxta-position with the above, somo
of the various changes our author afterwards made in
his arrangement, for in every successive work im-
portant alterations were effected. In his “ Conside-
rations generates sur l’Ordre Naturel des Animaux
composant les Classes des Crustaces, des Aracliuidcs,
et des Insectes," * the Linnean Insecta was divided
into three equivalent groups, Crustacea, Arachnides
(including the Insecta aptera of the former system),
and Insecta. Such was likewise the arrangement
which appeared in Cuvier’s Regne Animal t, but
the groups were differently defined, and some of the
contents ot eacli transferred to another. There was
likewise the necessary addition of the order Strep-
siptera, recently discovered by Kirby. After seve-
ral other changes, of more or less importance, in
different works, we come to that embodying his
latest views, published in his “ Cours d’Entomo-
logie,”J which was completed onlya short time before
* Paris, 1 BIO, 8vo. t Paris, 1817. J Paris, 1832, 8vo.

32

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

his death. Of this the following table will afford a
pretty accurate view. The articulated animals are
here designated by the common name of Condylopes.

I. Apiropoda. Condylopes with more than six legs.

Class 1. Crustacea.

2. Arachnides.

3. Myriapoda.

II. Hexapoda. Condylopes with six legs.
Class 4. Insecta.

i No metamor-
( phosis.

[ Metamorphosis complete .

| With mandibles, Ord. 1 . Thyscinoura.

With suctorial ) 0 D

• 2. Parasita.

mouths . . .)

3. Siphonoptera.

I

%

A

Elytra cornc- j

OU8. f

Metamorph. (

The upper

complete. J

covering

Elytra come- 1

the lower

Gnawing

ous. I

like a

insects.

Metamorph.

sheath.

incomplete, j

E/ytropte-

Elytra coria- 1

ra.

ceous. ^

Metamorph.

_ incomplete. J

Suctorial insects . . .

' Wings rc - )
ticulated. \

Organs of the
mouth formed Wings
for gnawing. with ra-
mose ner- 1
vurcs.

. Organs formed for suction

With moveable appen- )

dages on the prothorax, j

With halteres ....

4. Coleopteia.

5. Dcrmaplera.

6. Orthoptera.

7. Hemiptera.

8. Neuroptera.

9. Hymenoptera

10. Lepidoptcra.

1 1. Strepsiptera.

12. Diplera.

MEMOIR OF LATREILt.E.

33

Latrcille became a member of the Royal Aca-
demy of Sciences in 1014, having succeeded his
friend Olivier. His name was the first, as elected
by the Academy, submitted to Louis XVIII. for his
approbation on his return to France. He was like-
wise, during the latter period of his life, elected an
honorary member of most of the principal acade-
mies of Europe, established for the promotion of
physical science. In 1821, the king evinced his
regard for him, and the sense he entertained of the
value of his services, by conferring on him the dis-
tinction of Chevalier of the royal order of the Legion
of Honour. It was late, however, before he obtained
such an appointment as his abilities and reputation
may be considered as entitling him to hold. At
last he was appointed to the Professorship of Ento-
mology in the Museum of Natural History, a situa-
tion which completely realized all his hopes and
satisfied his ambition. He devoted himself to the
duties of this office with unwearied zeal, and en-
gaged in numerous laborious works, at a time when
his health was beginning to fail, and would have
required almost entire cessation from labour.

One of the distinctions which ho received towards
the close of his life, and which he valued most
highly, was that of being elected, under very flat-
tering circumstances, Honorary President of the
Entomological Society of France. This society may
be said to have been formed, in a great measure, by
his own pupils ; those who had been attracted to
the study, and guided in the prosecution of it by

C

34

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

his writings ; and not a few of them enjoying the
advantage of his personal intercourse and instruc-
tions. In any case, he was the individual to whom
all eyes were necessarily turned, as most worthy of
presiding over such an association ; and he deeply
felt the honour thus conferred upon him. “ There
are," he said, in his opening address to the Society,
“ certain days of happiness which Providence be-
stows on us, to console us for those others, alas !
too numerous, in which we are tried by adversity.
Such shall I always reckon that day on which I had
the honour to preside over you. Yes, my dear as-
sociates, the remembrance of the proof you have
given me of your esteem, in raising me to this pre-
sidency by your unanimous votes, will follow me to
the tomb, and will alleviate the sufferings which are
the fruit of my study and labours rather than of my
years.” He always manifested the deepest interest
in the welfare of this Society, and exerted himself
to the utmost of his power to further its ends ; and
nobly did the Society return, as we shall have occa-
sion to show, the obligations it owed him.

His health was never robust, and for many of the
last years of his life lie suffered much from pain and
debility. “ His life,” says M. Audouin, “ had by
no means been exempt from disappointment and
sorrow; his wife having died several years before
him, and being childless, bo seemed condemned to
a melancholy' and insulated old age; but a niece
who had been brought up by him, soothed his suf-
ferings even to his last moment. He often told us

MEMOIR OP L ATREILLE.

35

that, as being the object of the most assiduous and
tender care, he was happy in spite of his sufferings
and infirmities. This devoted affection was never
for an instant relaxed, and he saw renewed, in his
own case, that beautiful example of filial piety
which he had so often witnessed in the same place
which he himself inhabited in his turn. In fact, in
the very same house, the tenderness of a daughter
had prolonged the days of a blind and infirm father.
This old man was De Lamarck, the friend of M.
Latreille, whom he succeeded, and whom he called
his adopted father, when taking a last farewell of
him when he was on the brink of the grave.”

But his increasing debility did not prevent him
altogether from prosecuting his favourite occupation.
In fact, several memoirs on insects, and no incon-
siderable portion of his last work, the “ Cours d’En-
tomologie,” were written as he lay in bed propped
up with pillows. Even in the beginning of the
week on which he died, eager to withdraw his
mind, if possible, from his sufferings by engaging
in study, he corrected the proofs of his last produc-
tion, namely, a description of a new genus of Crus-
tacea, which he named Prosopistome. But this
could not last ; nature at length gave way, and he
died on the morning of the 6th February, 1832,
aged seventy years and three months.

Among the many individuals and learned societies
who bewailed Latreille’s death, the Entomological
Society claimed the preference in doing honour to
their late president. It was determined that the

36

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

coffin should be borne by the members of that So-
ciety, and M. Audouin was appointed to address the
final admix of the members to the illustrious de-
ceased. The funeral took place on the 8th February.
The bier was conveyed to the cemetery of Est (Pere
la Chaise), supported by the members of the Society;
the Institute, the Administration of the Jardin-du-
Eoi, and the Entomological Society, were respec-
tively represented by MM. Geoffrey Saint-IIilaire,
Dulong, Do Blainville, and the Count Lepeletier de
Saint-Fargeau, who supported the comers of the
pall. An immense concourse of naturalists and men
of learning and science composed the cortege.

After the military honours, which were paid to
the deceased as a member of the Legion of Honour,
three discourses were pronounced over his tomb :
the first by M. Geoffroy Saint-IIilaire in the name
of the Institute, the second by M. Cordier in the
name of the professors of the Jardin-du-Roi, and
the third by M. Audouin for the Entomological
Society of France. The following is a translation
of that by the first-mentioned individual : —

“ Gentlemen,

“ Of the friend, the rival, and colleague of Lace-
pedo, Lamarck, and Cuvier, nothing now remains
to us but these ashes, already placed among these
tombs where so much intellectual greatness has ter-
minated. The loss of M. Latreille to zoological
science, which he illustrated for so many years by
the energies of his truly superior mind, has left

MEMOIR OP LATREILLE. 37

amongst us a great and irreparable blank ; for pre-
eminence of this nature is not a favour which Fortune
grants twice to the same country in the course of
the same century. With this first rank among the
entomologists of our age, Fabricius, like another
Elias, had invested the heir of his talents while
alive, for I have heard this solemn designation from
the mouth of the Professor of Kiel himself; and
this acknowledgment of the superiority of my
venerable friend, M. Latreille, confirmed by the
universal assent of men of science throughout Eu-
rope, has been the solace of the latter portion of a
life of so much diligence and useful labour; and
how agreeable to him has been the just homage
with which you, my fellow members of the Entomo-
logical Society, whom I have seen so affectionate and
ardent in testifying your filial grief, have surrounded
his latter days ! You conferred inexpressible happi-
ness on a heart which received the most delightful
impressions from the regards of friendship, when
you formed yourselves into a society, in the begin-
ning of last year, under his honourable patronage,
and surrounding your Honorary President as affec-
tionate and devoted children, confidently and re-
spectfully sought his distinguished guidance.

“ At this moment of sorrow and regret, and when
paying our final homage, it may be asked what could
have been the commencement of a life the recollec-
tions of which henceforth belong to the history of the
Sciences? Was M. Latreille called upon to derive
celebrity from the fame of his relations, or to create
it for himself? He has himself affirmed that fate

38

MEMOIR OP LATItEILLE.

had destined him, from birth, to misfortune and
obscurity, and he ascribed his first success to that
protecting Providence, which happily raised up for
him devoted friends and proctectors. We know
that the attractiveness of his manners, when a child,
obtained for him the regard and good offices of
some generous citizens of Brives, his native place.
M. Laroche, * a skilful medical practitioner, and
his family, took an affectionate care of the young
orphan; and after their example, a merchant of
Brives (let us give the name of such a judicious
and benevolent Mecamas), M. Malepeyre, took the
warmest interest in him ; lent him books on natural
history, and never ceased to encourage and foster
the rising taste which his young friend already
showed for the science he was one day to illustrate.
Let us hold this benevolent individual in honour.
Perhaps had it not been for his mild and useful
benevolence, France might not have had the honour
of possessing the first of her entomologists !

“ When he had terminated his literary studies,
M. Latreille was intended for the church ; it was
hoped that the advantages of a calm and peaceable
profession would thus be obtained for him ; as it
was, he was only delivered over to persecution and
terror. Having been arrested at Brives, M. La-
treille was sent to one of the prisons of Bordeaux,
and there condemned to deportation. Afflicted with
the same misfortunes as the illustrious Haiiy, whom
he had met in Paris and made his friend, Science

* An heir of the name and sentiments of M. Laroche was
present at the funeral.

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 39

and its consolations in like manner became to him
the avenue to safety.

“ The medical attendant on the Bordeaux prisons
was one day surprised to see a prisoner absorbed in
the contemplation of an insect at a time when his
life was in danger. ‘It is a very rare insect,’ M.
Latreille replied to the questions he put to him ;
the insect was asked for and obtained for a na-
turalist of Bordeaux, then a young man of high
promise, and now our fellow-member, M. Bory de
Saint- Vincent. The latter, flattered by obtaining
this gift from an entomologist whose name was al-
ready known by honourable works, undertook the
task of liberating M. Latreille from the danger
which threatened him, and soon had the happiness
to see his exertions and those of their common
friend, Dargelas, crowned with the most complete
success. Latreille was restored to liberty and to
Science. One trembles to think that, a month later,
he might have perished with the companions of his
misfortune, swallowed up by the waters of the
Gironde. The deliverance w T as truly miraculous,
if we refer to its cause, the accidental discovery of
an insect ; and our illustrious co-member has taken
care to commemorate the circumstances in the most
important of his works, the Genera Crustaceorum
et Insectorum.

“ A life so long exposed to agitation, at last ob-
tained the means of settling, peaceably and happily,
to literary labours. I shall limit myself on this
occasion to mention their extent and high import-
ance ; what can I communicate to my present audi-

40

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

ence respecting writings which have become classical
for the study of the science of which M. Latreille
so long held the sceptre. Their number in 1822
exceeded eighty, and since that period how many
other works, always worthy of the name of their
author, have to he added to the list ; among these 1
shall only name his co-operation in the Regne Ani-
mal, two volumes with which M. Cuvier had the
good fortune to enrich his monumental conception.

“ However, even all these entomological works
were not sufficient to exhaust M. Latreille’s inde-
fatigable activity ; his Recherches sur le premier Age
da Monde et l Accord des Thiogonies Phenicienne et
Egyptienne avec la GSnese ; his Dissertation sur
I Expedition da Consul Sue tone Paulin en Afrique ;
his Considerations sur VAllanlide de Platon ; finally,
his Vues sur VOrigine da Sgsteme metrique dans
l' Anliquite et sur quelques Points de Geographie An-
cienne, would give M. Latreille the title to be con-
sidered one of our most distinguished philosophers,
even if Entomology did not place his name above
that of all other contemporaries.

“ Society knew how to honour such eminent ser-
vices. Our colleague attained to all the high stations
connected with the subject in which he excelled.
Since 1810, he was a member of the Academy of
Sciences, then Professor of Entomology in the Mu-
seum of Natural History; almost all the academies
of Europe were eager to obtain, as an associate, the
eminent Naturalist, consulted and venerated by zoo-
logists of every country as the supreme legislator in
Entomology

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

41

“ His simple and invariably kind manners gained
him the hearts of all who approached him ; it was
his greatest delight to receive true proofs of affection,
and to allow himself to give way to the lively and
tender emotions of his heart. The intensity of his
last sufferings had only the effect of exalting the
ardour of his friendship and his paternal regard for
his adopted children, * whose tender and devoted
anxiety alleviated his last moments.

“ Adieu, my learned and virtuous associate !
adieu, the oldest of my friends! Your name will
live in our memories with those of Lamarck and
Cuvier, of whom you have been so long the worthy
fellow-labourer, and with those of Reaumur and
Fabricius, to whose renown you will add the equi-
table voice of posterity, thus confirming a judgment
which you had the happiness to hear pronounced
during your life-time.”

The Entomological Society, immediately after
the funeral, determined to raise a monument over
the tomb ; and for this purpose a subscription was
entered into, not confined to the members, but open
to scientific men of every description in all countries.
Although there are a considerable number of mem-
bers of the Society in Britain, of these the only
names included in the subscription list are those of
Kirby and Spence, and two sons of the latter. The
necessary funds, how r ever, were obtained, and the
monument completed in the autumn of 1835. It

* Monsieur and Madame Valade-Ciabel, his nephew and
niece.

42

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

stands in tlie cemetery of Est or Pere la Chaise,
piece du Protestant , 39th division, No. 90, and is
placed near the margin of the path. It is in the
form of a truncated obelisk, nine (French) feet in
height, composed of a monolith of polished Chatean-
Landon stone, resting on a pedestal of the same, and
surmounted by a bronze bust of Latreillc. The
•whole is surrounded by an iron railing.

On the front is the following inscription :

PETRUS ANDREAS

LATREILLE.

SCIENTIARUM ET ARTIl’M
INSTITUTI GALL1CI
SOCIUS

IN MUSEO PARISIENSI ENTOMOLOGIA2
PROFESSOR,

ETC.

NATUS IN BRIVA-CURRETIA
XXIX. DIE NOVEMBRI
MDCCLXII.

PARISHS OBIIT
VI. DIE FEBBUARII
MDCCCXXXII.

ENTOMOLOGIJE PRINCIPI
PARENTES SODALES DISCIPULI
PRiESIDIQUE SUO

ENTOMOLOGORUM GALLIC
SOCIETAS
EX JE RE COLLATO
A2DIFICAVERUNT.

MEMOIR OF iATREILLE.

43

The figure of an Egyptian Scarabasus ( Ateuehus
sacer) is placed at the commencement, and that of
a Moth ( Saturnia Pyri) at the end of the above
inscription.

On the left face of the obelisk are the following
words : —

Precis des Caracteres dss Insecles,

1797 .*

Genera Insectorum,

1806 .

Regnc Animal, Crustaces, Arachnides et Insectes,

1817 — 1829 .

&c.

And on the right

Expedition de Suetone Paulin,

1807.

Notice sur les Seres et I’Atlantide,

1817 ,

&c. &c.

The bronze bust, which is of the natural size, has
the name Latreille carved on its base. On one of

* It is not a little singular that an error in date should occur
in such circumstances. The work mentioned was published in
1796. As the above inscription, however, is copied, not from
the monument itself, but from the Ann. of the Ent. Soc. of
France, the error may be typographical, as that work, unlike
French scientific publications in general, is far from being ac-
curately printed.

44

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

its sides is a highly magnified figure of Necrobia
7'ujlcollis, surrounded by these words : Necrolia
rujicollis Latreilld sahis anno mdccxciii. ; and on
the other P. Mertieux 1833 ; the name of the sculp-
tor whom M. Valade Gabel, M. Latreille’s nephew,
employed to make the model which the Entomo-
logical Society caused to be cast in bronze. *

A number of papers connected with the history
of Latreille’s life, &c. were enclosed in a double box
of lead, and deposited in the foundation of the mo-
nument.

The inhabitants of Brives likewise intended to
have a monumental structure, surmounted by a
bust, erected there in honour of their distinguished
townsman.

On the occasion of the bust of M. Latreille being
presented to the Entomological Society by his ne-
phew, M. Walckenaer, the president, delivered the
following inaugural address, which, although some
of the information it supplies has necessarily to a
certain extent been anticipated, we have thought it
advisable to give entire, both for its own sake, and
as an example of a kind of oratory seldom practised
in this country.

“ Gentlemen,

“ The only consolation we can obtain for the
loss of a friend who was dear to us, is the op-
portunity of conversing about him with those

* An engraved representation of the monument will be found
at the end of this Memoir.

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 45

who share in our grief, or who can at least under-
stand it.

“ On the occasion of the bust of M. Latreille
being presented to you, I again congratulate myself
on the honour of having been elected to preside at
your meetings for the ensuing year, since I am
thereby called upon to express, in your name, the
satisfaction we all enjoy in contemplating the like-
ness of that individual whose works gave such an
impulse to the science you cultivate. For the same
reason I likewise become the medium of expressing
your gratitude to the gentleman whose affectionate
regard has enriched the place of your meeting with k
so precious an ornament.

“ The sight of it reminds me of the well merited
eulogium the individual it represents received from
his associates in the Academy of Sciences, as well
as from many of yourselves, and intimates to me in
particular to be cautious how I add my own, which
can neither possess the same authority nor be ex-
pressed with the same eloquence.

“ But it may be affirmed that the highest pane-
gyrics on M. Latreille, the most beautiful flowers
that can surround his hust, or can be placed on his
tomb, aro those which it is in your power, gentle-
men, to offer. It is your labours in the branch of
human knowledge to which he owed his celebrity ;
it is your successful efforts daily to extend its
boundaries, which confer more honour on the name
and memory of this illustrious man than can ho
done by the best expressed eulogies.

46

MEMOIR OP LATREILLE.

“ What, moreover, can I say to you respecting
the works he has left, with which you are as well
acquainted as I am myself.

“ I should not certainly, in such a case, before
other men and in the presence of any other assem-
bly, have been silent respecting the works of genius
which procure for this inanimate bust the honour
of such an inauguration.

“ But before conveying a full comprehension of
the merits of him whom it represents, it would have
been necessary to show the importance of the science,
so much despised by the vulgar, to which he de-
voted his long and laborious life.

“ I should have been obliged to point out how
all the parts of natural history are incomplete with-
out that of insects, not only because it is in itself
the most considerable by the number of the indivi-
duals which it embraces, but also because it is con-
nected with all the rest.

“ It would have been necessary for me likewise
to prove that it is at once the most difficult, the
most extensive, and the most philosophical of them
all ; since it is it which shows the phenomena of
life and all the mysteries of instinct under the most
singular and varied aspects ; since it is it which
best reveals to our view the fecundity, power, and
resources of Nature, along with its innumerable
diversities in form and colours.

“ I should then have to direct attention to the
fact, that the greatest geniuses who have cultivated
natural history ; that those who have rendered their

MEMOIR OP LATRE1LLE. 47

names celebrated by the most useful discoveries in
physics, medicine, and the practice of the arts ; that
the Swammerdams, Linnieuses, Geoffroys, Reau-
murs, De Geers, and Fabriciuses, had been drawn by
a particular attraction to this interesting study, in
such a degree that many of them at last devoted
all their time to it, and occupied themselves with it
exclusively.

“ It would then become my part to point out by
what labours the indefatigable Latreille submitted
all the observations of these great men to a new
test, — a more exact and complete analysis; how
prodigiously ho added to the number of their ob-
servations ; and how at last he succeeded in uniting
into a body of doctrine such an immense number of
facts, as to form at once a guide to the philosophical
naturalist in this difficult department of science, and
facilitate the study of all the authors who have
treated of it.

“ But such a demonstration is useless in reference
to you, gentlemen, since it belongs to the history of
a science with which you are familiar, and the
annals of which you are daily continuing to enrich.

“ However, although all of you know that La-
treille was one of the most eminent men whom
study has formed, you are not all aware that he
was likewise one of the best whom Nature has
made.

“ Let one who has had the happiness to enjoy
his friendship for the period of nearly forty years be
permitted to pass upon him that simple eulogy. It

48

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

would, I am certain, be more satisfying to his heart
than all those called forth by his genius or talent.

“ Deprived by the first of our revolutions of the
support of a noble and powerful family, whose pro-
tection he had acquired, and on which he had some
claims by birth, Latreillc was thrown alone into the
world, in the midst of political tempests, without
property or means of any kind, with a well finished
education, an ardent passion for study, a quick and
sensitive heart, and a delicate frame of body.

“ Having escaped the proscription (who is there
who has reached our times, after passing through
these dreadful periods, without escaping the pro-
scription oftener than once !) lie was called, in a
more favourable era to the Museum of Natural His-
tory to arrange the insects contained in that institu-
tion. Ho there found the means of perfecting himself
in this branch of his studies, which he had always
preferred to every other. In a short time he be-
came in this department the competitor, then the
rival, and finally the superior (not unquestioned
although the fact was so undisputable) of those
whom he called his masters.

“ He must needs obtain books. Many had al-
ready been published in Germany on the science in
which he excelled : the library of the Museum, now
so rich, was then very poor, possessing very few on
insects, and no additional ones were purchased.
Latreille, whose slender appointments scarcely suf-
ficed for his most urgent wants, wrought for the
booksellers in order to procure for himself what was

MEMOIR OF EATREJLLE.

49

necessary to extend the limits of the science to
which he had devoted himself. lie published vari-
ous works on many branches of natural history, and
likewise on geography. All these writings, although
bearing marks of the rapidity with which they had
been composed, display intelligence, a methodical
mind, and great variety of knowledge. But the
works treating of entomology always evinced his
new and rapid progress in this science, until at last
the publication of the Genera Crustaceorum et Jn-
seclorum placed him in the first rank of the entomo-
logists of Europe.

“ Thus, by his labour alone he was able to satisfy
all his wants. In truth, his philosophy was such
that he could be content with little ; he indulged
in no excess but for study, and this excess weak-
ened his feeble constitution. He counteracted its
bad effects by a frugality seldom practised, by an
absence of all the pleasures of the world, including
even those of society. But he was not on that
account less feelingly alive to any thing, whether
sad or joyful, which might happen to his friends,
nor less obliging and kind to all.

“ He was deeply afflicted at the calamities of
his country ; he detested wars, civil commotions,
party animosity, and revolutions of whatsoever kind.
Great catastrophes depressed his spirits, and made
him nervous and unhappy, particularly’’ in winter.
He did not recover his vigour and freedom of mind
until, on the return of spring, he could give himself
up to the study of nature according to the manner

D

50

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

which pleased him best, that is to say, not in the
galleries or ateliers of the Museum, nor in his own
confined chamber, but in the boundless extent of the
fields, in the woods and meadows. It was there,
under the vault of heaven, that the greatest number
and most valuable of his observations were made.
It was on his return from these frequent and labo-
rious excursions that he meditated on the relations of
the creatures he had studied, hastening, as soon as
he had entered, to verify anew and commit to writ-
ing the result of his thoughts and studies, which he
did on the corner of a pretty large table, which he
had scarcely ever time to put in order, and which
was almost always encumbered with books lying in
disorderly heaps, along with boxes of insects, pincers,
magnifying glasses, and all the other implements of
the entomologist.

“ He spoke with difficulty, owing to a mal-forma-
tion of the lower jaw, which advanced beyond the
upper; but his conversation was 1 ively, instructive,
and animated, indicating great sagacity, soiyidness
of judgment, and, above all, a candid, sincere, and
upright heart.

“ He was late in obtaining an appointment, which
at last secured him what every other person would
have considered a position of moderate importance,
but which was to him brilliant and splendid.

“ Respcxit tamcn, et longo post tempore venit.”

Like the old man in Virgil, he might likewise have
reposed under the shade of his small possession, and

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 51

left to a young and skilful professor, already ac-
customed to supply his place, all the fatigues of in-
struction. After so many labours, no one apparently
could have had any thing to object. But his deli-
cate conscience would not allow him to enjoy all the
advantages of a place without filling it. Perhaps
also he was not insensible to the glory of this new
career of professorship which was opened before
him. In order to pursue it with succsss, he engaged
in extensive works, when his health, which had
been for a long while much altered, would have re-
quired the most absolute repose. Then, also, a new
and entire overthrow in the state, which no one had
foreseen (not even those by whom it was brought
about), gave him a new shock, and all these things
combined, at last crushed the energies of a constitu-
tion already enfeebled by so much watching and
fatigue. I shall here transcribe the last note I re-
ceived from him, because nothing can show better
the state to which he w r as reduced when he wrote
his last work, and evince his prodigious persever-
ance, when he had set himself to the fulfilment of
his duties.

“ ‘ In order that my fellow-member and friend,
M. Walckenaer, may consult my memoir on Bom-
byx, forming part of my Cours sur l’Entomologie,
I have had a copy prepared of twenty-three leaves
of the first volume of my lectures. This memoir
commences at page 94 and terminates at page 115.
M. Latreille will afterwards complete the copy. He
entreats his confrere to excuse him for the many

52

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

mistakes and inaccuracies he will find in it. This
work has been drawn up in the midst of the most
cruel sufferings, moral as well as physical. His bed
has served him for a table, and being unable to
consult collections, he has been often forced to trust
to his memory alone.'

“ However, he has said in the samo work (t. i.
p. 132), ‘ I believe that I may affirm, without vio-
lating propriety, that I have given a proof of my
devotion to science. More than half a century has
elapsed since I began to cultivate it ; but it has
amply rewarded me for the efforts and sacrifices I
have made on its behalf. There exists only one
chair of Entomology in Europe, and I am the first
who has filled it.’

“ Yes, but the indefatigable labour of half a cen-
tury was necessary to obtain it !

“ Thanks to you, Gentlemen, Latreille could have
said, at a later period, ‘ There exists only one Ento-
mological Society in Europe, and I am the first who
presided over it.’

“ If it be true that the life of a man ought to be
estimated only by the use he has made of it, that of
Latreille is worthy of envy, since it was spent so
worthily. Let us cherish his memory, and study
his writings.”

Latreille’s Collection of Insects, which was exten-
sive, was sold after his death. The Coleoptera were
purchased by Mr. Noris of Manchester.

latreili.es tomb.
i/i the. Cemetery oCPcre la. Chaise

■

J - i M

/ • w 1

»«£!<■

, V: * — '

^ **« ' " , ^ ' - ■"

^ /» " d£; '

j>. 2

/

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(« ***** I v r „*».&' .

C I**"'- •' *f ,Cr 'Pi

/„!,„ /•//'• -?f cW-'J**-

/<£c simile of one of LatrcUlcsJfss notes
illustrative of the generic Characters of Insects.

Lizarssc.

- n. •

I

53

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST

OP

LATREILLE’S PUBLICATIONS. *

Mutilles decouvertcs en France ;

Actes de la Soc. d’Hist. Natur. de Pafis. (1792,
in fol., tom. i. p. 5).

Observations sur la Variete dee Organs de la Bouche
dee Tiques ;

Magas. Encycl. (1795, in 8vo, tom. iv. p. 15).
Memoir e sur la Phalene caliciforme de l Eclair e ;

Magas. Encycl. (1795, in 8vo, tom. iv. p. 304).
Precis des Caracteres gfcn6riqu.es des Insectes disposes
dans un Ordre naturel. Brives, 1796, 1 vol. 8vo.
Description du Kermes male de V Orme ;

Magas. Encycl. (1796, tom. ii. p. 146, reprinted
in the continuation of the Histoire Naturelle des
Fourmis. (Paris, 1802, 1 vol. 8vo.)

Observations sur les Organs de la Generation de Hide
aplati ( lulus complanatus ) ;

* For this list, which we believo to be nearly complete, at
least up to the date of 1822, we have been chiefly indebted to
that excellent work the Dictionaire des Sciences Medicates, Bio-
graphic, under the word Latreille.

54

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

Ancien Bulletin de la Societe Philomatique (1796,
in 4to, vol. i. part i. p. 103), reprinted in the con-
tinuation of the Hist. Nat. des Fourmis, and Ma-
gas. Encycl. (1796, t. ii. p. 291).

MSmoire sur le Genre Diopsis de Linne ;

Magas. Encycl. (1 797, tom. vi. p. 433).
Description d'une nouvclle Espece de Tiphie ;

Magas. Encycl. (tom i. p. 25).

DScouverte des Nids des Termes ;

Magas. Encycl. (1794, tom. vi. p. 550).

MSmoire sur les Salamandres de France presente d
I'lnstitut ;

Bulletin de la Soc. Pliilom. (1797, tom. i. 2d part,
P- 33).

Essai sur THistoire des Fourmis de la France.
Brives, 1795, in 8vo.

Observations sur THistoire naturelle de la Puce ;
Rapport general des Travaux de la Soc. Philoma-
tique (Paris, 1798, in 8vo, tome ii.).

MSmoire pour servir de suite a THistoire des Insectes
connus sous le Horn de Faticheurs ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Pliilom. (Paris, 1798,
tom. i. 2d part, p. 114).

MSmoire sur une nouvellc Espece de Psylle ( Ker -
mes, L.).

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1798, tom. i.
2d part).

Observation sur la Raphidie ophiopsis ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1799, tom. i.
2d part, p. 153).

Description cTune nouvelle Espece dAraignee ;

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

55

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1799; tom. i.
2d part, p. 170).

Memoir e sur les Araignees mineuses ;

Memoires de la Soc. d’Hist. Natur. (Paris, 1 799,
in 4to, p. 118).

Observation sur VAleille tapissiere de Reaumur ;
Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (Paris, 1799,
in 4to. t. ii. p. 33).

Memoire sur un Insects que nourrit les petits
d'Aleilles domestiques ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1799, t. ii.
p. 49).

Description de la Fourmi fongueuse de Fabricius ;
Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1799, t. ii.
P-1).

Sur une nouvelle Espece d’ Ichneumon ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1799, t. ii.
p. 138).

Description dun nouveau Genre dlnsecte sous le
Nom de Telecine ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1799, t. ii.
p. 155).

Observation sur les Mceurs et V Industrie d’une petite
Espece d’Abeille;

Magasin Encyclop. (1799, t. iv. p. 230).

Histoire Naturelle des Salamandres de France , pre-
cedes d’un Tableau methodique des autres Reptiles
indigenes. Paris, 1800, 1 vol. 8vo.

Memoire sur la Vrillette stride;

In the Rapport des Travaux de la Soc. Philom
from 1 799 to 1800, by M. Sylvestre (1800, t. iv.)

56

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

Histoire Naturelle des Singes , faisant Partie da cette
des Quadrupedes de Buffon. (Paris, 1801, 2 vols.
8vo.)

Histoire Naturelle des Fourmis, et Mdmoires et Ob-
servations sur lesAleilles, les Araignees, §c. (Paris
1802, 1 vol. 8vo.)

Description (Tune nouvelle Espece de Fourmi ( For-
mica coarctata ) ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1802, t. iii.

p. 65).

Mdmoire sur un nouveau Distribution methodiqite
des Araignees ;

Anciens Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (t. iii.

p. 103).

Histoire Naturelle des Reptiles , faisant Partie du
Buffon de M. Castel. (Paris, 1802, 4 vols. in
1 8mo.)

Observations sur quelques Guepes :

Annales du Museum d’Hist. Nat. (1802, t. i.

p. 287).

Description d’une Larve et dune Espies inedite du
Genre des Cassides ;

Annales du Museum d’Hist Nat. (t. i. p. 298).
Observation sur quelques Guepes qui, quoique a peu
pres semblables, produirent des Nids tout a fait
different ;

Ancien Bulletin de la Soc. Philom. (1893, t. iii.
P . 147).

Tableaux mdthodique des Reptiles, des Poissons, des
Mollusques, des Anniledes, des Crustacds, des In -
sectes, et des Zoophiles ;

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 57

In the 24th vol. of the first edition of Deterville’s
Dictionary of Nat. Hist. (1804, 8vo.)
Observations sur I'Abeille pariSHne de Fabricius, et
Considerations sur le Genre auquel elle se rap-
porte ;

Annales du Museum d’Hist. Nat. (1804, t. iii.
p. 251).

Fes Langoustes du Mus&um d’Hist. Nat. ;

Annales du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (t. iii. p. 388).
Memoirs sur un Gateau de Ruche dune Abeille des
grandes Indes , et sur les Differences des Abeilles
proprement dites, ou vivants en grandes Sociitfa
de l ancient Continent et du nouveau ;

Annales du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. (1804, t. iv. p. 383).
Notice des Especes des Abeilles vivant en grande So-
ciite et formant des Cellules hexagones, ou des
Abeilles proprement dites ;

Annales du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1804, t. v. p. 161).
Genera Crustaeeorum et Insectorum secundum ordi-
nem naturalem in familias disposita, §c. Paris,
1806 — 1809, 4 vols. 8vo.

Notice biographique sur Jean-Chr&tien Fabricius ;

Annales du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1808, t. xi. p. 393).
Memoire sur le Genre Anthidie ( Anthidium ) de Fa-
bricius ;

Ann. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1809, t. xiii. p. 24).
Nouvelles Observations sur la Alaniere dont plusieurs
Insectes de l Or dr e des Hgmenopteres, pourvoient
d la Subsistance de leur Posterity ;

Ann. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1809, t. xiv. p. 412).
Considerations ginerales sur Vordre naturel des Ani-

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

58

maiix composant les Classes des Crustaces, des
Arachnides , et des Insectes. Paris, 1810, 8vo.
Description des Insectes de VAmerique iquinoxiale
recuillis pendant le Voyage de MM. de Humboldt
et Bonpland;

Printed in tbo Natural History department of
Humboldt’s Travels, Paris, 1811.

Numerous articles in the Encyclopedic Methodique ,
conjointly with Olivier. 1811, 4to.

Memoire sur un Insecte qui les Anciens rcputaient
venimeux, et qu'ils nommaient Bupreste ;

Ann. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1812, t. xix. p. 129).
Observations sur les Organes respiratoires des Clo-
portes ;

Magasin Encyclop. (1815, t. i. p 80).

Description de certain Crabes de la Mediterranee,

1814;

Magasin Encyclop. (1816, t. i. p. 53).

Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Hist. Nat. All the articles
on the Crustacea, Arachnides, and Insects. Paris,
1816, &c. 8vo.

Regne Animal de M. Cuvier, 3d vol. Paris, 1817,
8vo.

Introduction a la Geographic genirale des Arachnides
et des Insectes, ou des Climats propres a ces Ani-
maux ;

Memoires du Mus d’Hist. Nat. (1817, t. iii.
p.37).

Considerations nouvelles et generates sur les Insectes
vivant en Societe ;

Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (t. iii. p. 391).

MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 59

Centuries cles Planches de VEncyc. Meth. Crustaces,
Arachnides, Insectes. Paris, 1818, 4to.

Des Insectes peints ou sculples sur les Monuments
antiques de TEgypte ;

Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1819, t. v. p.249).
Memoir es sur divers Sujets de I’Hist. Nat. des In-
sectes . , de Geographic ancienne et de Chronologic.
Paris, 1819, one vol. 8vo.

This volume contains liis treatise Du premier
Age du Monde , §c. ; Dissertation sur l' Expedition
du Consul Suetone Paulin en Afrique ; Observa-
tion sur VOrigine du Systems melrique des Peoples
anciens ; Notice sur les Peuples designis ancienne-
ment sous le Nom de Seres, &c. &c.

The following are likewise printed in the Me-
moires of the Museum of Nat. Hist. : — De l’ At-
lantic^ de Platon ; Considerations generates sur
les Insectes vivant en Society ; De la Formation
des Ailes des Insectes.

Passage des Animaux invertebres aux vertSbres.
Paris, 1820, 1 vol. 8vo.

Rapport sur deux Ouvrages manuscrits de M. Sa-
vigny, prisenth d. V Academic des Sciences ;
Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1820, t. vi. p.93).
Des Rapports g&neraux de V Organisation exterieure
des Animaux invertebres articidis, et comparaison
des Annelides avee les Myriapodes ;

Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (t. vi. p. 116).
De quelques Appendices particuliers du Thorax de
divers Insectes ;

Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (1821, t. vii. p. 1).

63 MEMOIR OF LATKEILLE.

Affinitis des Trilobites ;

Memoires (lu Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (t. yii. p. 22).
Des Habitudes de I'Araignda aviculaire ;

Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (t. vii. p. 456).
Origins et Progress de l' Entomologie ;

Memoires du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. (t. vii. p. 461).
Recherches sur les Zodiaques Egyptians. Paris, 1821 ,
8vo.

Various articles in the first vol. of the Diet. Class.

d’Hist. Nat. Paris, 1822.

Families naturelles du Regne Animal. Paris, 1825,
8vo.

Regne Animal de M. Cuvier, nouv. ed. 2 vols. on
Insects, Paris, 1829.

Cours (T Entomologie, 8vo. with an Atlas of Plates,
Paris, 1832.

Distribution metkodique et naturelle des Genres de
diverses Tribus dlnsectes Coleopteres, de la Fa-
mille des Serricomes ;

A posthumous publication, in the third vol. of
the Annales de la Societe Entomologie de France.
Paris, 1834.

Besides the above, various memoirs appeared in
different periodicals, between the years 1823 and
1832, which we have not at present the means of
enumerating.

INTRODUCTION.

Whew describing British Moths and Hawkmoths
in a former volume of this series, such a consider-
able space was devoted to the general history of
these tribes, that it is not necessary again to enter
into it, at any length, on the present occasion ;
while, at the same time, the peculiarities of the
order Lepidoptera, of which they form a part, have
been amply detailed in the two other volumes
which treat of that subject.

Exotic moths compose by far the most extensive
portion of the lepidopterous order; and notwith-
standing the immense number with which we are
already acquainted, there is every reason to believe
that a large proportion still remains unknown to us,
especially of the smaller species, which travellers in
foreign lands have for the most part wanted either
the opportunity or inclination to investigate. When
compared with those of our own country, as strongly
marked a contrast in regard to size is observable, as
we had formerly occasion to point out between our
native and foreign butterflies. The Atlas Moth of

62

INTRODUCTION.

China (sometimes measuring nearly a foot between
the tips of the expanded wings) and the Great Owl
Motli of Brazil, even further surpass the dimensions
of our largest indigenous species, than the Orni-
thopteri do any of our day-fly tribes. Indeed, the
two insects named must be regarded as the largest
Lepidoptera known, and there are not a few others
which make a pretty near approach to them in this
respect. Some of those which indicate by their
structure some relationship to the Sphinges and
Hesperian butterflies, are ornamented with very
brilliant colours ; but in general the same subdued
and occasionally sombre tints prevail, which we
witness among our native moths. Great diversity
of form and appearance may be expected among a
race of insects of such extent and varied economy :
it is strikingly observable in the perfect insects, but
the caterpillars vary in form, colours, clothing, and
appendages almost without end.

It is a subject of regret that our acquaintance
with the caterpillars of exotic moths is still so
limited, although it is not difficult to account for
the fact. It is by no means an easy matter to pre-
serve them, at least in such a way as to retain their
forms and colours in any degree of perfection. The
greater number of individuals who take an interest
in the subject are, moreover, only casual visitors to
the countries where they make their collections, and
they have neither time nor opportunity to rear the
caterpillars till they disclose their moths ; and unless
this step be taken, the possession of the former is of

INTRODUCTION.

G3

comparatively little value. To this may be added,
that the caterpillars are often difficult to discover,
owing to the nature of their haunts, many of them
living in the interior of trees, within the substance
of herbaceous vegetables, in fruits, &c. But the
want of this knowledge, from whatsoever causes it
may arise, has hitherto been a principal cause, and
will probably long continue to he so, of preventing
a natural arrangement of this tribe being effected ;
and the observation of Latreille will in all likelihood
long continue to be applicable, — “ Nepotes nostri
methodum optimam soli conficient."

Before referring to a few of the principal me-
thods in which it has been proposed to arrange the
nocturnal Lepidoptera, it will be of advantage to
take a slight glance at some of those authors who
have contributed most to extend our knowledge of
exotic species, and from whose works the materials
must he principally derived to form the basis of
these arrangements.

The works relating to the nocturnal Lepidoptera
of Europe are numerous and valuable. One of the
most extensive and useful is the “ Die Schmetter-
ling von Europa,” by Ochsenheimer and Treitschke,
in 14 vols. 8vo. Leipzig, 1807 — 34. Godart has
described the species indigenous to France ; Dupon-
clrel has continued the work, and given an Icono-
graphy of the Caterpillars (Paris, 1832, 8vo.).
Hubner, Dennis and Schiffermiiller, Boisduval, and
many others, have likewise made valuable contri-
butions to the subject, in reference to its relations

INTRODUCTION.

04

to Europe ; * but it is of the authors who have
treated of extra-European Lcpidoptera that we wish
at present more particularly to speak.

The splendid work of Madame Merian on the
Insects of Surinam, published in 1705, may be re-
garded as the first illustrated work of any con-
sequence devoted to exotic entomology. About
one-half of it is occupied with the crepuscular and
nocturnal Lcpidoptera ; and several of the most
conspicuous kinds of the tropical parts of the New
"World are represented, such as Attacus erythrinw,
Erebus stria;, Attacus aurota , Hesperus, &c., besides
numerous species of Sphingidcc. Viewed in relation
to its merits as a work of art, this publication is
deserving of high praise ; the objects are gracefully
grouped and distributed, and great freedom and
power of drawing is often displayed. But it derives
its chief value in the eyes of naturalists from the
figures of the caterpillars, which are almost always
given, and generally executed with much greater
care than those of the perfect insects. A few glar-
ing errors into which the fair authoress has fallen,
have, it is true, produced some degree of doubt
as to the fidelity of her representations ; but in
general there is no reason why they should not
be relied on. Many caterpillars are to be found
here, for which we should look in vain in any work
of more recent date. It is to be lamented that the

* A very full list of the writers on European Lcpidoptera
will be found in Westwood’s Modern Classification of Insects,
vol. ii. p. 308.

INTRODUCTION. 65

text is so meagre, and an unworthy accompaniment
of the plates which it professes to explain. For
this, however, we are not to blame the writer, Cas-
par Commelin, whose Latinity is excellent ; tho
lady, engrossed with her drawings, had failed to
supply him with the requisite materials.

As an entomological artist, very few have excelled
Roesel, and at the time his work appeared (17-16 —
1761) it was unequalled for the truth and beauty
of its figures. These were chiefly devoted to the
illustration of the other tribes, although not a few
foreign moths are also represented, accompanied, in
several instances, with figures of the caterpillar and
chrysalis. The faithfulness and delicacy of these
delineations must have exercised a very beneficial
effect on the nrts as applied to this subject, by
affording a high standard wherewith subsequent
artists might compare their productions. Roesel
engraved the plates, as well as executed the draw-
ings, with his own hand, — a combination of skill
which seems almost indispensable to high excellence
in this difficult department.

A most valuable contribution to the history of
exotic Lepidoptera appeared in 1770- when Drury
published the first volume of his Illustrations of
Natural History. A second appeared in 1773 ; the
third and last in 1782. The whole work contains
representations of a great number of crepuscular and
nocturnal Lepidoptera, many of which were previ-
ously unknown, and a few continue to be unique
even to the present day. Most of the figures are

E

66

INTRODUCTION.

from drawings by Moses Harris, * by far tbe best
painter and engraver of such subjects in his day,
and likewise a man of original observation, and
warmly attacked to the study of insects. Dru
Drury was a London goldsmith, in good circum-
stances, who expended much time and money in
prosecuting this study. He purchased almost every
collection of any value that could be obtained, and
contributed largely to defray the expenses of various
individuals who were sent to different countries,
principally for the purpose of collecting objects of
natural history. The collection amassed by such
means became of great extent and value ; contain-
ing upwards of eleven thousand species and varieties,
of which little short of three thousand were Lepi-
doptera. “ There may be in Holland," says Drury
himself, in one of the printed circulars which he
distributed with a view to its sale, “ collections
more numerous (having in many instances a great
number of single species), yet no collection abounds
with such a wonderful variety in all the different
genera as this. All the specimens of which it is
composed are in the highest and most exquisite
state of preservation such an extensive collection
can be supposed to be, and a very considerable
number are unique, such as are to be found in no
other cabinet whatever, and of considerable value ;
many of which, coming from countries exceedingly
unhealthy, where the collectors, in procuring them,

* All the plates of the two first volumes are by Harris, but
some of those iu the third volume are by a different hand.

INTRODUCTION.

67

have perished from the severity of the climate, give
but little room to expect any duplicate will ever be
obtained during the present age; and the learned
quotations that have been taken from it by those
celebrated authors Linnams and Fabricius in all
their late editions, are incontestable proofs of the
high degrees of estimation they entertained of it.”
The work, which embodied many of the rarities of
this collection,* derived its principal value from the
plates, which are greatly superior to any thing of
the same kind that had previously appeared in this
country ; the descriptions are of little value, and
intended, as Drury himself states, merely to assist
the reader in observing the figures ; but the locali-
ties are indicated with some care, and the trivial
names of Linnarus to a certain extent applied, being
the first attempt of the kind made in this country.
The original deficiencies of the text, however, are
now amply made up, and a high degree of value
imparted to the work, even iu the present state of
the science, in a beautiful edition published three
years ago under the editorial superintendence of
Mr. Westwood, who has added much additional
matter, and given, wherever practicable, an account
of the different states of the species, in which the
original work was wholly defective, not a single
lepidopterous larva being either figured or described.
This work, therefore, has on two separate occasions
been of important service to the history of the noc-

* The collection was ultimately brought to the hammer and
dispersed (May 23, 1805), realising the sum of £614 8s. 6d.

i.nxeod: cm:;N.

cn

turnal Lepidoptera (the only light in which we are
now considering it) : in its original form, by supply-
ing excellent delineations of many fine species ; and
in its rcecnt and improved shape, by its accurate
descriptions, augmented historical details, and mo-
demised nomenclature.

Cramer’s “ Papillons Exotiques des Trois Parties
du Monde, l’Asie, l’Afrique, et l’Amerique,” is one
of the most valuable works ever published on the
Lepidoptera of foreign countries. The first volume
appeared at Amsterdam in 1779? and the fourth or
last in 1782. It is large quarto size, containing
four hundred plates, which, besides butterflies, aflbrd
representations of between eight and nine hundred
moths and sphingideous insects, including many of
the largest and most remarkable kinds found out of
Europe. The engravings, upon the whole, are vory
accurate, and the colouring so good that the species
can be at once recognised. These figures derive
additional value from the consideration that they
have been very often referred to by describers and
systematists, so that we can easily determine what
insect they meant when their descriptions, as often
happens, prove so brief or imperfect as to leave us
in doubt. The accompanying text is not of so
much value as it might easily have been made, but
a good deal of useful information may be gleaned
from it. A supplement to this work has been pub-
lished by Stoll (1791), w T hich is deserving of the
mgnest commendation. It contains figures of up-
wards of seventy moths and hawlcmoths ; but its

INTRODUCTION.

05 )

most interesting feature consists of the representa-
tions of a great number of the caterpillars of exotic
species, most of which had been figured by Cramer
in the perfect state. These caterpillars are extremely
well engraved and coloured, and afford singular
examples of the variety and strange configuration of
parts and appeudages to be found in this depart-
ment. Their accuracy may be depended on, as
they were drawn from life by a skilful artist, and
were traced through their various metamorphoses
in their native country. The greater number of
them are from Surinam.

Six years subsequently to the date of ihe volu-
minous work of Cramer, another appeared in this
country, devoted to the rare Lepidoptera of Georgia,
by John Abbot and Sir J. Edward Smith. Of
this magnificent publication it is not easy to speak
in terms of too high commendation. The drawings
were made by Abbot, who w T as a first-rate entomo-
logical draftsman ; Sir J. E. Smith superintended
the arrangement, and John Harris engraved the
plates : such co-operation could scarcely fail to pro-
duce valuable results. Abbot was sent to America
for the express purpose of examining and collecting
its insect productions, his expenses being in part
defrayed by a few T naturalists in this country, who
looked for remuneration in the remittance of speci-
mens and the general advancement of the science
to which they were attached. In prosecution of this
object he traversed many parts of the United States,
and ultimately settled in Georgia, whence he trans-

INTRODUCTION.

70

mitted many fine specimens of insects to private
individuals in Britain, as well as to public museums
both here and on the continent. “ Abbot’s speci-
mens were certainly the finest that have ever been
transmitted as articles of commerce to this country ;
they were always sent home expanded, even the
most minute ; and he was so watchful and indefatig-
able in his researches, that ho contrived to breed
nearly the whole of the Lepidoptera. His general
price for a boxful was sixpence each specimen ;
which was certainly not too much, considering the
beauty and high perfection of all the individuals.
Abbot, however, was not a mere collector. Every
moment of time he could possibly devote from his
field researches, was employed in making finished
drawings of the larva, pupa, and perfect insect of
every lepidopterous species, as well as of the plant
upon which it fed. These drawings are so beauti-
fully chaste and wonderfully correct, that they were
coveted by every one. So many, in fact, applied for
them both in Europe and America, that he found it
expedient to employ one or two assistants, whose
copies he retouched ; and, thus finished, they gene-
rally pass as his own. To an experienced eye,
however, the originals of the master are readily
distinguished. M. Francillon possessed many hun-
dreds, but we know not into whose hands they
have now passed. Another series of one hundred
and three subjects, not included in that which has
been published, was executed for us, with the inten-
tion of forming two additional volumes to those edited

INTRODUCTION.

71

by Dr. Smith ; but the design is now abandoned.
The healthy and peaceful occupations of this meri-
torious entomologist has led to great length of life ;
for we had the pleasure of receiving a collection of
insects from him only two years ago. He is pro-
bably now above eighty."*

This splendid work is in two large folio volumes,
and contains one hundred and four plates, of which
no fewer than eighty are devoted to the crepuscular
and nocturnal Lepidoptera. In almost every in-
stance both sexes are figured, along with the larva,
and the plant it frequents. There are no descrip-
tions ; and rather a paucity of details regarding the
general history of the respective species. It deserves,
notwithstanding, to occupy a very high place among
the illustrated works which have advanced our
knowledge of the tribe of insects of which we are
now treating.

The various works of Donovan on the insects of
China, India, and New Holland, although chiefly
occupied with other tribes, furnish not a few highly
finished delineations of beautiful and interesting
moths from these several countries. They • were
published at intervals between the years 1799 and
1805.

For originality, pains-taking, and a successful
elucidation of the subject taken in hand, few works
surpass the small publication of J. IV. Lewin on
the lepidopterous insects of New South Wales. It
forms a thin quarto, with nineteen plates, engraved
* Sivainson, Lard. Cyclop., vol. exxvi. p. 99,

IXTJtOUL'CTlON.

72

by the author. It was designed to be the precursor
of several other works on the natural history of
that country and of Otaheite, where the author
spent nearly eight years, and was published in the
hope that the profits of the sale would enable him
to return to his native country ; a prospect, how-
ever, which was unhappily not realised, for he died
at Sidney in 1821. The work is now extremely
rare, and it is probably on that account that the
interesting groups which it describes have not
much attracted the attention of recent entomological
writers.

The extensive works of Ilubner and Herbst de-
serve a conspicuous place among the illustrated
works devoted to the Lepidoptera, and there are
many others of great merit which we cannot afford
space more particularly to advert to.

Of those authors who have arranged the hefero-
cerous Lepidoptera systematically, it is scarcely
necessary to allude to the well known classifications
of Linnseus and Fabricius. The former at one time
included the whole in his genus Phalama, but he
afterwards added the genus Sphinx, and divided
Phaliena into numerous sections. Latreille was the
first who attempted a natural arrangement, which
appeared in 1796, in the “ Precis,” &c. of which
we have already spoken. Following out the views
of Mr. Macleay with regard to a circular relation of
affinities, several British aulhors have endeavoured
to apply his principles to the insects in question.
Mr. Stephens, the author of one of the best de-

Introduction.

73

scriptive works on British entomology we possess,
divides the whole of the sphinges and moths into
live primary groups, viz. Crepuscularia, romcridi-
ana, Noctuma, Semidiurna, and Yespertina, and the
following tabic is designed to show the degree of
relationship subsisting between the different fami-
lies, the diurnal tribes being likewise introduced to
indicate the connexion. *

.'Egeriiclte : Sesiidae. Papilionidre : Nymplialidso.

II. Spliingidte : Ilesperiidae. I.

Zygsenids;. Lycsenidoe.

NotodonticUe : Hepialidae. Geometridae : Platypterioidse.

III. V.

Bombyeidto : Arctiidie. Pyralidcc.

I.ithosi'dos : TineidiE. Tortricidse.

Noctuida’. IV. VT. Yponomeutida!

Ptcrophoridou.

Sir. Newman has likewise attempted a circular
arrangement, of a more elaborate character than the
above, assuming seven to be the typical number of
groups, which will be found explained in his work
entitled “ Sphinx Yespiformis.”

Most of the classifications hitherto alluded to, as
well as many others which it is unnecessary to de-
scribe, as they present no very remarkable feature,
are founded more or less exclusively on the perfect
insects. There are others, however, which have
acquired some celebrity, which may be said to run
* Systematic Catalogue of British Insects, Intro, p. x.

INTRODUCTION.

74

into a corresponding error, by taking the peculiari-
ties of the caterpillar and metamorphoses too much
into account, to the entire neglect of the mature
forms. The most remarkable of this description is
that of Dennis and Sckiflfermiiller, published anony-
mously at Vienna in 1776, founded exclusively on
the caterpillar. It attracted little attention in this
country till a comparatively recent period, when
considerable prominence was given to it by Dr.
Ilorsfield, who adopted a similar method, and ap-
plied it to the Lepidoptera of Java. Nearly all the
groups, indicated and named by the authors above
mentioned, have since been established as genera.
The following is a view of their system, as far as it
applies to sphinges and moths, with the names of
the modern genera attached.*

Sphinx is divided into seven families : —

A. Lame aeroceplialtc. Smcri/ithus ocellatus.

B amplocephal*. Sphinx convolvuli.

C maculatae. DiclcphUa lHuphorbia.

D optbalmicaB. Metopsilus celerio.

E elongatse. Macroglossa stdlatarum.

F subpiloste. Seda apifonnis.

G plialceniforines. Zygoma jUipendula.

Bombyx is divided into twenty families : —

1. Larvai with Sixteen Feet.

A. Lame sphingiformes. Endromis versicolora.

B. ...... verticillatEB. Suturnia Pyri.

* See Westwood's Intro, to Modern Class, of Insects, to!, ii.
p. 326,

INTRODUCTION.

C. I.arvse tuberos®. Penthophora rubea.

D nodosae. Leucoma salicis.

E ursin®. Arctia caja.

F celeripedes. Spilosoma lubricipeda.

G fasciculated. Dasycheim pudibunda.

II cri stated. Closiera curtula.

I collar!®. Gastropacka tpiercifolia.

K villosae. Lasiocampa qucrcus.

L pilosae. Eriogaster lanestris.

M subpilos®. Pygasra bucephala.

N lignivorae. Cossits ligniperda .

0 radicivor®. Hepialus humidi.

P noctuiformes. Petasia cassinea.

Q geometriformes. Pterostoma palpina.

R gibbos®. Nododonta dromedarius.

2. Larv® with Fourteen Feet.

S ftjrcat®. Cerura virnda.

T cuspidat®. Platypteryx sicula.

3. Larv® without conspicuous Feet.

U limaciformcs. Limacodes testudo.

The division of the Noctuee is as follows : —

1. Larv® with Fourteen Feet.

A. Larv® tenticulat®. Europus Ulmi.

2. Larv® with Sixteen Feet.

B bombyci formes. A cronycta ti'idens.

C tinciformc8. Lithosia quadra.

D rhomboid®. Hercyna paliolalis.

E pubesccntcs. Bryophila Alyas.

F corticin®. Milesia bimaculuta.

H tenuistrat®. Polia fiavidnda.

1 variegat®. Cucullia Absinthii .

K albospars®. Xylina exoleta.

L albopunctat®. Orthosia inslabilis.

M albilateres. Orthosia (B. Sleph.) pistacino .

76

INTRODUCTION.

N. Larvae terricolsB. Agrotis snffusa.

0 largo-striata*.

P. obliquo- striata?. Phhgopkera meticulosa.

Q arcto-striata?. Leucania comma.

1< scutollatcc. Cerastis vaccinii.

S ocliroccpliakc. Xanthea citrago.

T la wield®.

V furtivsB, Apamaa laimncula.

W. curvilineatie. HdinHUs Ononis.

X ciliatco. Cutocola Fraxini.

V pseudo-geometric®. Abrostola irip'asia.

0. Larvae with T wclve Feet.

Z semigeoraetr®. Plasia Fesiucce.

A. A . ... ecrpenfciuae. Ophiusa tunaris.

In lilce manner tlie Geometras arc thus divided : — •

1. Larva? with Twelve Feet.

A. Lame scminoctuales. EUopia marguritaria.

B stoloniforme8. Geometra cythisaria.

C corticinsB. Amj hidasis hhtaria.

D. pcduncularcs. Boarmia roboraria.

E. ...... mirculiforrnca.

F ramiformes. Fnnmnas oliiana.

G striata?. Hylernia defoliuria.

II strigihatse. Culcra penaularia.

1 rigid®. Gnophos p illata.

K noctuiformcs. Acidalia rhamnata.

L rugosffl. Lareniia bipundata.

M squamos®. Cidaria fulvata .

N signat®. Zt rene adustaia.

O punctata?. Jdcea dealbuta.

F filiformes. pelljnia vibicaria.

Dr. Horsfield bad conceived a method of arrange-
ment similar to the above, and began to act on it

INTRODUCTION. 77

before he was aware of the existence of the Weiner
Verzeichnm. Adopting the views of Mr. Macleay,
he endeavoured to work out on this basis a circular
arrangement of the lepidopterous order, and ac-
cordingly divided it into the five following sections,
namely, Papilionidae, Sphingid®, Bombycid®, Noc-
tuid®, and Phalmnid®. The small portion of his
work hitherto published is almost entirely confined
to the diurnal Lepidoptera, and we have accordingly
spoken of it in one of the volumes of this series de-
voted to that section ; but he supposes that the
other primary sections admit of a corresponding
division into five types of form. Thus among the
Sphingid®, these are thought to be represented by
Zyg®ua, Macroglossa, Smerintlius, Acherontia, and
Sphinx. Among the Bombycid®, the five predo-
minating forms are: — 1. Fasciculat®, such as the
genera Arctia and Laria; 2. Verticillat®, exampli-
fied by Satumia ; 3. Pilos®, as in Lasiocampa ;

4. Lignivorre, typified by Hepialus, Cossus, &c. ;

5. Cuspidat®, represented by Notodonta.l The Noc-
tuidffi are divided in a similar manner, but we are
so imperfectly acquainted with the larv® of many of
these, that the grouping is professedly provisional :
— 1. Nud®, as in Agrotis, Polia, &c. ; 2. Fusiformes,
typified by Lithosia ; 3. Fasiat® ; 4. Ciliat®, exem-
plified by Catocala ; 5. Semigeometr®, as in Plusia.
A like number of dominating forms, to which all
the others are supposed to be referrible, is thought
to be exhibited by the riialmnid® ; viz. — 1 . Semi-
noctuales ( Phal. margarilaria ) ; 2. Geometr® ;
3. Pyralidai ; 4. Tortrices ; 5. Tine®.

78

INTRODUCTION.

“ The arrangement of these tribes," says Mr. West-
wood, to whose work we have been chiefly indebted
for the above abstract ; * is admitted to be but a
provisional sketch, of which the outlines require to
be filled up in future numbers of the work. It is
consequently to be regretted that only two parts,
comprising but a portion of the diurnal Lepidoptera,
have hitherto been published. Dr. Horsfield en-
deavours to complete the lepidopterous circle by
means of Hesperia, which in its strictural characters
and tortriciform larvce (which roll up leaves, &c.),
exhibits a decided departure from the typical Diur-
na, and a tendency towards some of the nocturnal
Lepidoptera, as the Tortrices. Affinities also, of a
more general nature, exist between the Papilionidte
and Phakenidaa. The situation of the genus Ptero-
phorus, which, according to Reaumur and the W«-
ner Verzeichniss , is to be considered as intermediate
between the diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera, he
does not attempt to determine. With the excep-
tion, therefore, of the diurnal species, but little pro-
gress is here made in the classification of the order.
A plan is indeed indicated for its natural arrange-
ment ; but it appears to me that the nocturnal
groups will be found, when more satisfactorily
investigated, by no means to correspond to these
view's.”

Numerous and various as are the forms and as-
pects of the caterpillars of the lepidopterous tribes,
Mr. Swainsou thinks that they may nearly all be re-
ferred to five principal types. These he names : —
* Modem Classification of Insects, vol. ii. p. 328.

INTRODUCTION.

79

1. The Iuliform or pre-eminently typical, which
are smooth and destitute of horns or other excres-
cences ; for example, the caterpillars of cabbage
butterflies. 2. Raptorial , or sub-typical. These
are the type of evil, having the body covered with
pungent spines, &c . ; for example, the caterpillar of
tho peacock butterfly. 3. Natatorial or Anopluri-
form; caterpillars of the Hespcridas, and Hawk-
moths. 4. The Suctorial or Vermiform, called also
the Onisciform ; example, caterpillars of Polyom-
matus. 5. Rasorial or Thysanurifonn ; head and
tail armed with spines ; for example, the caterpillar
of Pap. Cassia.

However much deserving of commendation cer-
tain parts of these classifications may be, they are
far from being satisfactory on the whole. In a race
of insects having the parts of the mouth, which
afford such valuable characters in most other groups,
so similar to each other, it can only be by a judi-
cious combination of characters derived from all
the different states, and not from one of them
only, that a proper arrangement can bo effected.
The state of our knowledge is not at present such
as to render an attempt of the kind advisable. A
long and careful investigation of larva; in their native
haunts, — a more diligent search than has yet been
made for the perfect insects, particularly of the
smaller kinds, in foreign countries, must previously
be undertaken. In scarcely any other department
of exotic entomology has so little progress been
made as in this. This has been partly owing to the

CO

rNTRODl'CTION.

difficulties formerly alluded to, and partly to the
vast extent of the subject. Let any one attempt to
arrange and name a moderate sized collection of fo-
reign moths, and he -will soon be convinced how little
has been done to facilitate his labours. The system
of Latreille, one of the few that professes to apply
to the whole subject, may now be regarded as little
more than an outline, which leaves a great mass of
the species altogether unprovided for. Hence the
necessity that continually arises, even when giving
the history of a comparatively limited number of
species, for the establishment of many new genera.
It must be admitted that such a step, in regard to
insulated species, and when there is no means of
distinctly pointing out the limits and relations of
the genus so constituted, is in some degree unsatis-
factory; and it becomes even more so when the
genus is formed, as is sometimes necessarily the
case, from the mere inspection of an engraved figure,
destitute of those details of structure which should
enter into the generic definition. But when it is
found that the insect thus distinguished cannot with
propriety be included in any of the existing genera ;
that it affords prima facie grounds of distinction
which cannot be overlooked, there is no alternative
but to adopt this course. It is at least advancing
on the right path, although the progress may not
be so considerable as might be desired.

There are few departments of entomology more
worthy of the attention of travellers in foreign coun-
tries than that now under consideration. Scarcely

INTRODUCTION.

81

any will supply them with a greater number of new
objects, or afford a wider field for interesting ob-
servation. The history of a large proportion of the
moths of which we possess figures and descriptions
in the perfect state, is entirely unknown to us. The
appearance of the larva, its habits, food, metamor-
phoses, &c. have either never been noticed or not
recorded. Of many, we are acquainted with only
one sex ; and in many cases, there is such a disparity
between the male and female, that there is reason to
believe that not a few, now regarded as distinct
species, stand merely in that relation to each other.
The subject, too, is far from being void of interest in
an economical point of view. Thcro is every reason
to believe that there aro indigenous moths in most
countries capable of affording excellent silk ; which,
even although it might not supersede that afforded
by the mulberry moth, might yet be converted to
many useful purposes. Although much, as will be
afterwards seen, has recently been done in India in
manufacturing silk from a great variety of species,
there is still strong inducement for further experi-
ments and investigation, particularly in reference to
those of large size, for if their produce could be
made available, it might be so managed as to obtain
it in almost any quantity.

EXOTIC MOTHS.

It is still a matter of dispute whether the Ura-
niidse, the splendid tribe of Lepidoptera with which
we terminated our account of Foreign Butterflies,
really appertains to the true butterflies, or should
be included among the crepuscular kinds. The
structure of the antenna, organs of the highest
importance in the arrangement of this order, seem
to indicate the latter as their true position; and
this is further corroborated by the metamorphoses,
with which we have but recently become acquainted.
In ignorance of these, and influenced by the brilliant
colours of the typical species, and their general ap-
pearance, Latreille arranged them with butterflies
after Hesperia, and has been followed by most sub-
sequent writers. In commencing the Ileterocerous
section, as has been done by the author just named,
with Agarista, a very close connexion, therefore,
subsisted between tho two great divisions, so close,
indeed, that it would be no easy matter to define

PLATE 1.

«

PLATE 2.

lit/ arista pi cm.

*2. Eusemut. /cctrEv.

3 iTiaculatria>.

AGARISTA PICTA.

83

the line of demarcation. Mr. "Westwood has not
hesitated to include Agarista in the family of the
Uraniidee, and completely to disjoin the latter
from the Rhopalocera (or Lepidoptera with club-
shaped antennae, including all the true butterflies)
by the interposition of the Spliingidse. It is im-
possible, however, to look at one of the brightly
coloured day-flying Uraniidaj, without at once re-
cognising a much closer affinity to the true butter-
flies than is presented by any of the sphingideous
species ; and whatever distribution may be ulti-
mately adopted, it seems indispensable that the
Uraniidaj should immediately succeed the Rhopalo -
cera.

AGARISTA PICTA.

PLATE II. Fig. 1.

Leach, Zoo I. Miscellany, vol. i. pi. 15 ; God. Ency. Meth. vol. ix.

p. 803 j Boisduv. Voy; de I'Astrolobe, p. 172 Pap. Agrieola,

Donovan's Insects of New Holland.

According to his arrangement, Latreille justly
regarded the genus Agarista as one of the most
characteristic of the group which he named Hesperi-
sphinges, as intermediate between the Hespereidau
butterflies and the sphinxes properly so called. The
antennas of the hesperi-sphinges are simple, thick-

84

AGARISTA P1CTA.

ened towards the extremity, at which they again be-
come slender and have the point recurved ; but the
latter is never furnished with a pencil of hairs. The
spiral tongue is long and conspicuous ; the palpi are
also developed, and consist of three joints. In Aga-
rista these joints are elongated, the second very
much compressed, the terminal one slender and
nearly naked. The fore tibiae are provided with
spurs.

The Agarista! fly by day, and are similar in their
habits to the hawk-moths ; they do not, however,
possess the same power of sustained and vigorous
flight as the latter. Their metropolis is New Hol-
land, although individual species occur elsewhere ;
A. octomaculata , for example, is a native of South
America. * Lewin has made us acquainted with the
metamorphoses of one of the species, viz. A. Glt/cince,
which he figures and describes in his Lepidoptera of
New South "Wales (pi. 1), under the name of Pha-
lasnoides Glt/cince. The caterpillar has no resem-
blance to that of a hawk-moth, but is cylindrical
and hairy, the anal segment with an indistinct tuber-
cular elevation on the back. It does not confine
itself for food to any one family of plants. Before
changing to a pupa, it spun a slight web on the
under side of a branch, in the month of January,
in which the chrysalis remained for seventy-five
days, the winged insect emerging in April.

* We are acquainted with this species only from a descrip-
tion in the Ency. Meth. It may possibly turn out not to be a
true Agarista.

AGARISTA PICTA.

85

A. picta is an elegant insect, measuring about
two inches and a half between the tips of the
wings. The fore wings aro black, with a short
longitudinal bar of pale green scales at the base,
continuous with a bar of the same colour at the
hinder part of the thorax ; behind this is a curved
and rather indistinct fascia of bluish scales, which is
succeeded by a large oval orange-coloured spot, at
some distance from which is an irregular row of six
oval spots of the same colour ; behind this a slight
fascia of bluish scales, which is indistinctly con-
tinued in a serpentine form beneath both the orange
bars so as to appear continuous with the middle bar
of the hind wings ; still nearer the apex of the wings
aro several patches of greenish scales, and the ex-
treme tip is white. The hind wings are black,
with a centra 1 cross bar of greenish-blue scales ; and
there is a dark pink fascia extending from the anal
angle half-way across the wing. The thorax is
black, spotted in front with pale green, and having
a pale green transverse fascia at the base, and a
broader one at the apex of the tippets. The abdo-
men is black, with a terminal tuft of orange- coloured
hairs. The palpi, as well as the hairs round the
eyes, are white : the breast and thighs clothed with
long red hairs. The four anterior tibiae have an
orange line externally, and the tips of the tarsal
joints are annulated with white. The anal appa-
ratus of the specimen hero figured is remarkable;
consisting of two very large valves arising from the
extremity of the body and recurved ; between these

86

EUSEMIA LECTRIX.

lies a slender horny piece thickened at the tips, in
front of which is an erect bifid horny process, the
upper division of which forms a slender and very
acute hook.

The species is a native of New Holland. The
specimen here figured from a drawing made for us
by Mr. "Westwood, is in the collection of the Rev.
F. W. Hope.

EUSEMIA LECTRIX.

PLATE II. Fig. 2.

Bombyx lectrix, Linn.; Cramer , Pap. Exot . pi. 192, fig. C. ;

Donovan's Ins. of China , pi. 43, fig. 2.

This sub-genus was proposed by Dalman in his
monograph on Castnia for the beautiful insect here
figured. He considered it as very nearly allied to
Agarista, and such is certainly the case, since they ,
agree in the structure of the antenna;, palpi, spiral
tongue, veins, bridle, and general colouring of the
wings. The principal difference is in the structure
of the fore legs, which are sufficiently unlike to
warrant the separation. The anterior thighs (as
they appear in E. maculatrix ) have not the strong
brush of hairs, which is so conspicuous in Agarista,

EUSEMIA LECTRIX.

87

and in fact are glabrous. The tarsi are very long,
and become gradually more slender to the tips,
which are furnished each with ono very long and
slender unguis, the other being short and bifid. The
four terminal joints of the tarsi are almost denuded,
except that there exists a row of very delicate short
setae, and another of slender, short, incurved spi-
nulae.

E. lectrix measures about three inches between
the tips of the wings; the ground colour of the
upper pair is deep black, with numerous bluish-
white and yellow spots, one of the latter forming a
broad abbreviated band near the middle, and the
former a curved series not far from the tip ; under
wings likewise deep hlack, the base red, and an
irregular macular band of the same colour towards
the middle, succeeded by a series of remote bluish-
white oval spots, nearly on a line with those of the
superior wings. The thorax is black, with an ob-
long yellow spot on each side ; abdomen black,
annulated with red. The under side corresponds
in its markings to the upper.

It has been hitherto found only in China, but
it is not unlikely that it likewise occurs in Eastern
India.

88

EUSEMIA MACULATRIX.

PLATE II. Fig. 3.

Expansion of the -wings nearly three and a half
inches : colour of the anterior pair intense black,
-with some slight patches of blue scales at the base ;
this is succeeded by a small white triangular patch,
then two large suboval ones, then three placed
wider apart, and between these and the apex are
five small oval spots. Hind wings bright orange,
black at the base, with a black costal spot and a
large black discoidal one extending to the anal
angle, and posteriorly emitting two narrow longi-
tudinal bars which are connected with the very
broad and irregular black margin; in the latter are
two white spots, that nearest the fore wings being
largest. The head and thorax are black, the shoul-
ders pale yellow ; abdomen orange, with black
transverse stripes. In the specimen here figured,
the abdomen is terminated by two broad triangular
horny lobes, externally covered with orange-coloured
hairs. The sides of the thorax beneath are black,
with an orange-coloured stripe down the breast;
the belly is also orange with black spots. The legs
are long and black.

PLATE 3

l.Eterusia, tricolor 2 . Erasmia, pulchella 3,Avtcsia , saru/uifhui .

ETERUSIA TRICOLOR.

89

The specimen we have here the pleasure of figur-
ing is unique. It was recently brought from the
Assam territories, and is one of the numerous rarities
in the Rev. F. W. Hope’s collection.

ETERUSIA TRICOLOR.

PLATE III. Fig. 1.

Hope, Limuean Trane., vol. xviii. pi. 31, fig. 4.

This and the two following insects we place toge-
ther, because they present several points in common,
although there remains, notwithstanding, consider-
able diversity among them. For accurate descrip-
tions of the two first, we are indebted to Mr. Hope,
in the work above cited, who refers them, with
doubt, to the family Zygenid®. Nothing, indeed,
can be more uncertain, in the present state of our
knowledge, than their true relations ; and these we
are not likely to be in a condition to determine, till
we become acquainted with the metamorphoses and
general history of the group. As far as we are
acquainted with their geographical distribution, they
seem confined to Eastern India, most of them being
from Assam. Eterusia * is characterised as a genus
* En^unas, qui alterias seu diversi essentise.

90

ETERUSIA TRICOLOR.

by haying the wings narrow and entire, the anterior
apical nerve trifurcate, the middle nerve also trifur-
cate, the branches nearly straight; under wings
rather short, entire, the cell elongated, and the apex
emitting nerves which are nearly straight antennas
of the female slender, very slightly serrated on one
side ; tongue spiral, elongated ; palpi short ; abdo-
men provided with a small exserted terebra. The
species figured expands two inches eight lines.
Head dark violet, antenna black; anterior wings
greenish, marked with several white spots ; the
hinder pair orange at the base, the exterior half
black, passing into violet towards the apex, and
spotted with white. The thorax is velvet black,
tinged before and behind with violet. Abdomen
orange, the first or basal segment violet. Under side
of the body violet-blue, the segments of the abdo-
men alternately variegated with white and black.

This insect is a native of Assam. “ It appears,”
says Mr. Hope, in whose extensive collection speci-
mens are preserved, “ to be a nondescript, .and is
one of the most beautiful in colouring of my ac-
quaintance ; it is probably one of the genera of a
family peculiar to the East Indies. Little is known
of the oriental Lepidoptera, except those described
in the Annulosa Jacanica of Dr. Horsfield, so much
so that I hesitate in hazarding an opinion respecting
them. It is almost impossible to describe the beau-
tiful colouring of this lovely insect ; the dye of the
under wings is of a rich mazarine blue, which
passes insensibly into violet and black. Jn affinity

ERASMIA PULCHELLA .

91

the genus is allied to Campylotes of Westwood,
described in Professor Royle’s work on the Natural
History of the Himalaya mountains. * It is allied
also to Gymnautocera of Guerin, and to Heleona and
Anthomyza. of the same author. It is doubtful if
the insects composing this family are more allied to
the Zygenidw than the Lithosiadai : they appear to
have been greatly neglected, and it is the more re-
markable, as they are certainly some of the most
beautiful of the Lepidoptera.”

ERASMIA PULCHELLA.

PLATE III. Fig. 2.

Hope, Linnean Trans., vol. xviii. pi. 31, fig. 5.

The antenna of this genus (the name of which is
derived from toag/uog, amalilis ) are bipectinated,
the pectinations of moderate length ; anterior wings

* For the purpose of comparison, Mr. Westwood's definition
of the genus Campylotes is subjoined. — “ Genus anomalum :
Ate oblong®, subo vales, integr®, nervis apicalibus valde re-
curvis, antic® cellula discoidali clausa nervos duos postice
emittens, quorum exterior 3-furcatis j postic® ctiam cellula
discoidali clausa, nervo recurrente intermedio bifurcato. An-
enn® graciles biramosm.”

92

ERASMIA FULCHELLA.

oblong, suboval, entire, the hinder nerve a little
curved, the discoidal cell closed ; posterior wings
subrotund, the hinder nerves curved ; body slender,
subcylindric ; head and palpi small ; tongue long
and spiral ; legs slender.

The only species hitherto described measures
about three inches two lines between the tips of
the wings : prevailing colour silvery green ; ante-
rior wings black, ornamented with green-blue sil-
very spots, an irregular red bar before the middle,
and large white spots behind the middle ; posterior
wings straw-coloured, black at the base and apex,
the nervures green-blue.

“ The above insect,” says Mr. Hope, “ is one of
the most lovely in colouring of all the Lepidoptera.
When viewed by individuals standing in different
lights, the blue appears to one person to be a vivid
green, to another of a lazulite blue. I have had
drawings made by different persons ; the first con-
tends that the colour is green, the second that it is
blue ; in short, both are right ; all depends on the
situation in which the individual views the speci-
mens.”

This insect is likewise from Assam.

93

AMESIA SANGUIFLUA.

PLATE III. Fig. 3.

Phatena sanguiflua, Drury, Exot. Ent., vol. ii. pi. 20, figs. 1 , 2.

We have been induced to re-figure this very singu-
lar moth from a specimen in the collection of the
Rev. F. W. Hope, not only because Drury’s figures
are very inaccurate, especially in the form of the
wings and arrangement of the nervurcs, but because
they are incomplete, wanting the head and antennse,
so that it is impossible to obtain an idea of the re-
lations of the insect. This is still, however, a matter
of difficult determination, although a certain rela-
tionship between it and the two species last de-
scribed cannot be questioned. But the present
species differs from these in its considerably larger
size, the singular arched form of the fore wings, and
the arrangement of the wing-veins, winch, it will be
seen, are curiously curved at the apical part of the
fore wings, instead of running straight to the tips.
In this respect the insect is more nearly related to
Campylotcs, but it differs from this, and all the
allied genera, except Eterusia, in not possessing the
single simple vein which runs from the extremity of

94

AMESIA SANGUIFLUA.

the cell formed between the postcostal and great
medial veins to the tip of the wings.

The antennas are rather long, slender, and bipec-
tinated to the tip, the pectinations being of nearly
equal length throughout, those at the extremity
very slightly longer, so that the antenna) appear at
first sight rather clavate.

Expansion of the wings four inches and a quarter
Head and thorax bluish-black ; antennae of the same
colour. Anterior wings black, with a considerable
number of small spots scattered over the surface,
five of which, placed towards the base, are yellow,
the rest white ; the nervures from the middle to the
apex are each accompanied by a dark red stripe ;
posterior wings black from the base to beyond the
middle, with a few white spots encircled with blue,
the exterior part brilliant mazarine blue, with a
considerable number of white spots : abdomen deep
blue, all the segments having a small white spot on
each side. On the under side the spots are smaller
and more numerous, most of them encircled with
blue, the marginal row double ; the nervures with-
out the red stripe.

Mr. Hope’s specimen is from Assam ; and we have
seen another very fine one in the possession of James
Wilson, Esq., which wa3 received from the neigh-
bourhood of Serampore. Drury gives Surinam as
the locality of his insect ; but the probability that
there is some mistake in this, is much greater than
the likelihood that it would occur so remotely from
what is evidently its native region.

'

'

PLATE 4.

/ ffeleona fenescrata.
?. Anthonu/za Ten’sia.

I

■< ■

95

HELEONA FENESTRATA.

PLATE IV. Fig. 1.

Guerin. — Swainson's Zoo/. IRust., pi. 1 16.

This and the following genus belong to the family
of the Anthroceridae, of which many small and
finely coloured species are known as occurring both
in this country and on the continent. Several of
these we have already characterised, and shall pro-
ceed to describe the only exotic examples which we
can here afford space to introduce.

Heleona is characterised by Mr. Swainson as
having the anterior wings papilioniform, that is,
with the exterior margin as long as the posterior,
or even longer ; the hind wing lengthened perpen-
dicularly, but short and rounded ; the antennas pec-
tinate in both sexes. The typical species is the
Phal. militaris (Cramer, i. pi. 29 B. ; Koescl, Ins.
Belust., vol. iv. p. 6. fig. 3 ; Donovan, Ins. of
China, pi. 43), an elegant insect found in several
parts of Eastern Asia. It expands nearly four
inches; the upper wings with the inner half yel-
low, spotted with violet-blue, the apical half blue
spotted with white ; the hind wings yellow, with

96

HELEONA FENESTRATA.

several broad macular violet-blue bands ; thorax and
abdomen yellow, the former with blue transverse
bars. Another example is IT. Numance ( Bomhyx
Numana, Cramer, pi. 227 A. male, and 228, A.
female), the upper wings of which are of a deep
blue with yellow spots; the under pair with the
whole of the disk yellow, abdomen likewise of that
colour, with black bands. It is a native of the
Molucca Islands.

The species figured has the upper wings hyaline,
clouded with irregular spots and waved bands of
violet-blue ; hinder wings with a few transverse
violet-blue marks and a broad marginal band of the
same colour, in the centre of which there is an
irregular band of orange spots, some of which are
angular, others round, and that on the anal angle
inclining to semicircular. Head, thorax, and abdo-
men orange ; antenna: black.

It is a native of Australia, and is said to be very
rare in that country. We are informed by Mr.
Swainson that it was twice seen by Mr. Cunning-
ham, on the north-west coast of Australia ; once in
shady woods descending to the shores of York
Island, and again in nutmeg-woods adjoining Bruns-
wick Bay.

07

ANTHOMYZA TIRESIA.

PLATE IV. Fig. 2.

Pap. Tiresia, Cramer , Pap. Exot ., pi. 85, f. B. — Anthomyza
Tiresia, Swainson's Zool. Illus., pi. 124.

This subgeneric group may be distinguished from
the other Anthrocerida?, or moth-like day-flying
Sphingidie, by having the antenna; slightly pecti-
nated in one sex only ; palpi pointing vertically ;
anterior wings with the outer or exterior margin
much shorter than the posterior ; hind wings length-
ened horizontally, but short and rounded. This
definition, according to Mr. Swainson, includes all
the large and imposing species of this tribe found in
Tropical America ; and by comparing their charac-
ters with those of the oriental group last described,
it will be seen how strikingly they differ. Thu
author just named states that he paid great atten-
tion to these insects, during his researches in Brazil,
which is the chief metropolis of the group. They
fly slowly and heavily during the middle of the day,
and on the least touch counterfeit death. Most of
the species, when handled, discharge from their
body a brown linuor, like their prototypes the Heli-

a

98

ANTIIOMl'ZA IIRESIA.

conidae. They certainly bear a very striking general
resemblance to the Heleconian butterflies, and the
analogy must be admitted to be close.

A. Tiresia measures three inches and three-quar-
ters between the extremities of the wings : the upper
pair are deep black with two broad, opaque, deep
yellow bands lying obliquely across the surface,
one near the middle, the other, somewhat abbrevi-
ated, towards the apex, and a patch of the same
colour on the hinder border before the middle ; the
base with a few small white spots, and a remote
series of the same near the exterior margin and
parallel with it. The hinder wings are yellow, with
a broad black border bearing a marginal row of
white spots : anterior part of the thorax spotted
with white ; abdomen brown.

A. heleconides. Colours and the mode of their
distribution precisely as in the preceding species, but
the yellow paler, approaching to yellowish-white,
and the bars and spots transparent. Expansion of
the wings three inches. Swainson’s Zool. Illus.,
pi. 124, fig. 2.

plate 5 .

/. MdtopsUus Tersa.

2. Sp/un. c ( '/liomuitfi i .

99

METOPSILUS TERSA.

PLATE V. Fig. I.

Sphinx tersa, Linn. Mant., p. 538 ; Cramer, Pap. Exot., t. 39/,
fig. C. ; Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Gear., i. pi. 38. — Deilephila
tersa, Drury, vol. i. pi. 28, fig. 3.

This prettily marked insect affords a very charac-
teristic example of that section of sphinges which
presents a distinctive modification in the form of
the anterior wings, a peculiarity associated with
another in the appearance of the caterpillars, which
are rather suddenly attenuated in front, and have the
power of drawing these narrowed segments within
each other. This group, to which we have given
the subgeneric name of Metopsilus, * has the an-
tennas hut slightly clavate, the anterior wings very
acute at the apex, with a sinuosity or emargination
on the hinder edge just below the tip, which gives
them a somewhat falcate shape ; the inner margin
likewise sinuated behind the middle. The cater-
pillars are ornamented with eye-like spots on some
of the anterior segments ; the anal horn in most
cases distinct, but occasionally obsolete. We have
several elephant hawkmoths, as the members of
* See Nat. Lib. Ent., yoI. iv. p. 154.

100

METOPS1LUS TEHSA.

this group are termed in Britain, and like the ma-
jority of the larger Sphingidae, they are extensively
distributed, occurring in almost every quarter of the
globe. M. tersa is a native both of North and South
America, as well as of the West Indian Islands. It
measures about three inches across the wings ; the
general colour greyish olive-brown; the anterior
wings entirely of that hue, with a few delicate
parallel lines of a lighter colour, running from the
base somewhat obliquely to the tip ; posterior wings
black at the base, brown along the external margin,
with a row of cream-coloured triangular spots be-
tween these two colours ; fringe of the wings white.
The head is flesh-coloured, and there is a stripe of
the same running along each side of the thorax ;
the back of the latter clay colour, the sides yel-
lowish-brown.

The caterpillar (Hate VI. fig. 1) is of a delicate
green with numerous small longitudinal spots of
reddish brown ; prolegs yellow ; on each segment,
except the second and third, there is a yellow oval
spot, marked with black above and below, placed
on a lighter ground ; and higher up a longitudinal
white stripe, commencing at the fifth segment and
running to the tail, and having a series of ocellated
spots placed on it ; there is likewise a large ocel-
lated spot, of a more complex description, on the
fourth segment, in line with the others ; tail red.
The pupa is yellowish-brown. The caterpillar feeds
on what Abbot calls wild thyme, but which is a
species of spermacoce (S. hyssopifolia). The author

SPHINX CniONANTni.

101

just named found the caterpillars spin themselves
up on the 21st July, and come out in the perfect
state on the 15th August; others of them spun on
the 11th September, and the fly came out on the
9th May. This hawkmoth is not very common in
Georgia, but may sometimes be observed sucking
the gourd blossoms in autumn.

SPHINX CHIONANTHI.
PLATE V. Fig. 2.

A bbot and Smith, Lcpul. Geor., i. pi. 34 Sphinx rustica, Fubr.

Cramer, Pap. Exot., t. 301, f. A.

This conspicuous and curiously marked insect is
another fine example of the sphinges of the New
World. The ground colour is a rich brown, the
surface variously marked and mottled with white.
The base of the fore wings is of the latter colour ;
there is then a transverse bar of the same before the
middle, from which the inner margin of the wing is
broadly white, that colour blending at the posterior
extremity with another broad waved stripe from
(he anterior border a little beyond the middle; the
brown semicircular space in the middle of the wing

102

SPHINX CHIONANTni.

bounded by these white portions, bears a small
round white spot in the centre, and there is a
waved white streak at the apex of the wing ; the
whole of the white parts are waved and clouded
with light brown. The hinder wings are almost
wholly brown, excepting the base and a few marks
near the anal angle which are white ; fringe of all
the wings brown and white alternately. The head
and thorax are variously marked with white, the
latter with two small round white spots anteriorly,
and a large posterior patch bearing a very faint
resemblance to a death’s-head ; three anterior seg-
ments of the abdomen with a largo yellow round
spot on each side.

The caterpillar (Plate VI. fig. 2) is yellowish
green, the latter hue prevailing on the under side,
and the former on the back and sides. There is a
series of oblique stripes along the sides of the seg-
ments, consisting of a streak of white, purple, and
faint blue. These are wanting in the three segments
behind the head, which have two dorsal rows of
reddish tubercles ; tail yellow, granular. “ It feeds,”
says Abbot, “ on the fringe-tree ( Cliionanthus Vir-
ginica), called old-man’s-beard from its clusters of
white blossoms, and also on the privet and lilac.
I procured several in Virginia upon the last men-
tioned shrub, which went into the ground July 31st,
but every one of them died in the chrysalis during
winter. After I had been several years in Georgia,
I found some on the old-man’s-beard in June, which
buried themselves on the 22nd of that month, and

SPHINX CHIONANTHI. 103

came forth on the wing July 20th. It is not a
common moth.

“ Of those insects which go into the earth, and
breed twice in the year, it is best to procure the
spring caterpillars, which are much more likely to
survive, the autumnal ones commonly dying in chry-
salis in the winter.”

On the same plate with the preceding caterpil-
lars, we have figured a very beautifully marked
larva (fig. 3) of an American species of Humming-
bird Hawk-moth, described by Abbot and Smith
under the name of Sphinx Gaurce. It is nearly re-
lated to the S. Medea and S. (Enotherae of Fabricius.
The moth has the wings dentated ; the anterior pair
olive-green, with two whitish transverse streaks,
and a discoidal small rounded spot of the same
colour; the hinder pair ferruginous, with a pale
streak exteriorly. The caterpillar feeds on the
gaura ( Gaura liiennis ) in the month of May. The
moth is rare in Georgia and most other parts of
America, and in its habits seems closely to resemble
our own Humming-bird Hawk-moth.

104

PHILAMPELUS VITIS.

PLATE V.

Sphinx vitis, Linn. Syst. Nat . ; Merian, Surin. Ins., t. 47, f. 1 ;

Cram. Pap. Exot., t. 267, fig. C. j Abbot and Smith, Lepid.

Gear., i. pi. 40 ; Drury, Ins., i. pi. 28, fig. 1.

On first examining this beautiful sphinx, we are at
some loss to determine to which of the modern
genera of the family it should be referred. It has
obviously some relationship to Daphnis, and the at-
tenuated anterior segments of the caterpillar might
lead us at first sight to suppose it to he a species of
Metopsilus. We soon perceive, however, that these
segments are not so suddenly narrowed, and therefore
not so perfectly retractile as in a genuine Chenille
cochonne, while the absence of the lateral ocellated
marks is a still further proof of deviation from that
genus. After fully considering its peculiarities, Dr.
Harris, in his valuable Memoir on the American
Sphiugidse, found it necessary to make it the type
of a new genus, which he names Philampelus. He
says, of this and the other insects belonging to the
genus so designated, “ They cannot with propriety
be included in the genus Chmrocampa of Duponchel
or Metopsilus of Duncan, to which they approach
the nearest. They, indeed, seem to form a charac-
teristic and typical group peculiar to the New
World.” Besides the species here figured, S. salel-
litia and S. achemon belong to this group.

Philampelus VCtis.

— . r -

PLATE G.

/ Caterpillar of
'* of Sphinx- ChioruinthU

3. Dt of ' « Sphinx faunae .

PIIILAMPKLUS VITIS.

105

The expansion of the wings, in Philampelus vilis,
is about four inches ; head, antennae, and thorax
dark flesh-coloured, the latter with a broad central
stripe of olive-brown and a shorter one on each
side, the central one sometimes prolonged over the
vertex of the head. Anterior wings olive-brown,
with various flesh-coloured bars and stripes; two
conspicuous broad bars of the last mentioned colour
diverge from the base of the wing, one of them run-
ning along the centre, the other along the anterior
border, and unite with a transverse one, which com-
mences at the apex and terminates towards the
middle of the posterior margin; external margin
with a broad clay- coloured band. The base of the
under wings is bluish-ash, which colour is succeeded
by a broad black band, and the hinder extremity is
red ; the anal angle black. The ground colour of
the abdomen is the same as that of the thorax, the
back with two parallel streaks of olive-brown, which
are intersected by a narrow' band of the same colour
on each segment.

The caterpillar is greenish-yellow, transversely
striped with reddish-brown, with a series of oblique
white stripes on the sides, terminating a little below
the spirales, which are included within the white
portion; head and legs reddish-brown; the anal
segment acutely prominent on the back, but not
prolonged into a horn. Its food seems to be various.
Abbot figures it on the Jussica erecta, but it more
commonly feeds on the vine and magnolia glauca,
It is not a very common insect in America.

106

HEPIALID2E.

The Hepialid.£ have a peculiar aspect, combined
with minute peculiarities of structure, which ren-
ders the family one of the most distinct of all the
Heterocerous Lepidoptera. They form the first
group of Latreille’s section Noctuma, which differs
from that named Crepuscularia by having the an-
tennas setaceous, or tapering gradually to the tip.
“ They have the antennas very short and filiform,
never feathered to the tip ; the spiral tongue is
either obsolete or very short ; the palpi are also
generally obsolete ; the abdomen is elongated, as
are also the wings, which are deflexed in repose, the
extremity of the former being attenuated into an
ovipositor of considerable length, so as to he capable
of being withdrawn, or introduced into the crevices
of the bark of trees, &c. : the thorax is never crested ;
the nerves of the wing are far more complicated
than in any of the preceding groups. The caterpil-
lars are fleshy naked grubs, with a few straggling
hairs ; they are 16-footed (having 6 pectoral, 8 ven-
tral, and 2 anal feet). They feed upon the wood of
standing trees, or the roots of vegetables. When
full grown, they construct a cocoon of the morsels
of wood or vegetables upon which they have been
feeding.” *

* Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects, by
J. O. Westwood, vol. ii. p. 3 76,

I

.

'• -

PLATE 8

J. 0 ly^lDrard deZf

/. 2. ffeptolus lignirora.

3. Cuterpil/ar oC D?

4. Zcuzera mine a.

\

107

HEPIALUS LIGNIVORUS.

PLATE VIII. Figs. 1, 2, 3.

Hepialus lignivoren, Lewin's Nat. Hist. Lcpid. of New South
Wales, pi. 16.

Examples have been already given of British He-
piali, * with some account of their general habits.
The foreign species are pretty numerous, and some
of them remarkable for their size. This is the case
in particular with II. crassus (Drury’s Exot. Ins.,
vol. iii. pi. 2, fig. 1), a native of Sierra Leone,
which measures upwards of half a foot between the
tips of the wings. They are in general of very
plain colours, but the species figured on the plate
above referred to is a striking exception in this
respect. It is in fact a highly ornamental insect,
the fore wings being of a brilliant yellowish-green,
divided into two patches by a waved band of a
faint ferruginous colour, intersected by dusky, and
several acute points of scarlet ; there are some short
marks of the same colour on the anterior edge.
The posterior wings are reddish flesh-colour, tinged
with blue at the base, the abdominal margin with a
black stripe.

Nat. Lib. Ent, vol. iv. p. 179.

108

HKPIALUS LIGNIVORUS.

Not only does this moth fully answer to the
observation of Lewin, that it is the most beautiful
species we have seen of that tribe of moths some-
times known in England by the name of Swifts,
but its transformations are equally unlike those of
the rest of the genus, having more resemblance to
those of Cossiis or Zeuzera. The larva forms a
lodgement or chamber in the centre of a stem of a
species of Casaurina or the she-oak of the colony,
and feeding on the bark and sappy wood directly
above the entrance, eating round the stem, and care-
fully hiding its dilapidations by weaving fragments
of wood and bark which it gnaws off, in a strong
web ; forming at once a fortification and disguise of
considerable bulk and thickness around the stem,
under which, in a winding cylindric passage, the
larva constantly keeps its body while at work,
alternately gnawing and weaving; but retires to
the chamber in the stem to repose. Across the
mouth of this chamber it spins a close web, and
changes to a pupa in January, soon after which the
concealing fabric, to form which the larva took so
much pains, falls away. It remains in the pupa
state about twenty-five days, when, by a strong
vertical motion of its joints and serrated rings, the
pupa forces the web, and the moth is produced
generally in February. The moth is shown at rest
in the upper part of the plate, and the larva in a
section of its chamber, and its disguise, as men-
tioned above, in other parts of the plate.

109

ZEUZERA MINEA.

PLATE VIII. Fig. 4.

Plialsena milieus, Cramer , Pap. Eiot.. vol. ii. pi. 131, fig. D. ;
Donovan's Insects of India, pi. S3, fig. 1 and 1 a — Zeuzera
viridicans, Eschschottz in Kotzebues, Reise in die Zud-see, & c.
pi. 11, fig. 29.

The first figure published of this splendid Zeuzera
was that of Cramer, which indifferently represents
the male, which he states to have been received
from Batavia. Donovan subsequently gave highly
coloured figures of both male and female, brought
by Mr. Fichtel from Bengal, and Eschscholtz ap-
pears to have delineated a very indifferent specimen
in his voyage to the South Sea. The figure in the
adjoining plate is from a drawing by Mr. Westwood
from a specimen in Mr. Hope’s collection, and was
received by that gentleman from Bengal.

The body is of a fine cyaneous blue, the wings
pale orange, marked with cyaneous; the anterior
having eight small patches on the costal margin, a
transverse bar near the base, a broad longitudinal
bar, several circular and oblong marks between the
costal and central marks, two spots on the posterior
margin and eight upon the apical margin. The

110

OIKETICUS XIRBYYI.

hind wings are almost entirely covered by the very
broad central cyaneous mark, and there are also
several spots on the hinder margin. The expanse
of the wings varies from three to four inches.

OTKETICUS* KIRBYI.

PLATE IX.

Lansdoim Guilding, in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 371.

Tms insect, as well as that next described, was
first made known to entomologists by the Rev.
Lansdown Guilding, in a paper read to the Linnean
Society of London on the 6th June 1826, and
published in the fifteenth volumo of their Transac-
tions. Its economy is so remarkable that it has
ever since excited attention, and its history can
scarcely fail to be read with interest. The most
curious circumstance is that the female is entirely
apterous, that she never leaves the puparium, but
there receives the male and produces her eggs, after
which she soon dies.

Various moths exist, both in this and other coun-
tries, the females of which are apterous ; such as

* Named from iuamii qui halitaculum qvesrere sold.

■

-

I

PLATE 9.

12.3.4. S.Mchwiorphes&s of Oikdzcus Kirbyi
3. Crypto thelr-aMacUayi

OIKETICUS KIRBYI. 1 ] 1

those of the genus Psyche, F umea, &c. “ The

male larva of Psyche,” says Mr. Westwood,* “ pre-
viously to assuming the pupa state, fastens its case
by the mouth to the surface of leaves and the stems
of plants ; the larva then turns, so that its head
is pointed towards the opposite aperture, out of
which the pupa half pushes itself before becoming
an imago ; the females, on the other hand, never
leave their cases ; and from some observations made
by Ochsenlieimer and Ingpen, it would appear that
these females produce fertile eggs without impreg-
nation.” There is therefore, a striking analogy be-
tween these insects and Oiketicus, although many
points remain in which they materially differ.

Mr. Guilding states that he became acquainted
with these animals on returning to the West Indies
in 1817; but although he had attentively studied
them, he was unable to complete their history for
many years afterwards. The larva: being common
on many different kinds of trees, were bred in con-
siderable numbers, but he was long disappointed in
discovering the female insect. The male, at the
stated period, mado its appearance; but he never
dreamed that its unwieldy and almost motionless
partner was to be searched for in the puparium,
which it was destined never to desert. Judging
from other insects, he imagined that the female
pupa had not been fully developed in consequence
of the attacks of parasitic ichneumonidas. It was

+ Introduction to the Modem Classification of Insects,
vol. ii. p. 389.

112

OIKETICUS EIKBYI.

only by accident that a specimen, uncased after the
rupture of the thoracic carina, cleared up the mys-
tery. When the pupa had slept the appointed
time, the animal, still resident within the habita-
culum formed by the larva, was found to open the
carina by the motion of its head, and prepare to
receive the winged male. Here, therefore, we have
an animal which in its adult state is for ever ex-
cluded from the light, and never even beholds the
mate to which it is indebted for its progeny. After
impregnation, the female begins to fill the bottom
of its puparium with her ova, closely packed in the
down rubbed from her body, and having performed
this duty, either presses herself through the thoracic
carina, reduced to a shrivelled morsel of dried and
scarcely animated skin, or dies within the case.*
The eggs are rounded, small, and yellow, and
exist in very great numbers. As soon as hatched, the
larvas force their way out of the puparium, spread
themselves over the tree, and commence to prepare
a habitation even before they have taken food.
This habitaculum is cylindrical, open at both ends,
and strengthened by small pieces of wood, gnawed
leaves, &c. held together by interwoven threads.
Under its protection the larva moves about much in
the same manner as takes place with the Pliryga-
nidse. When young the tail is home erect, but it
soon becomes horozontal owing to the weight of the
incumbent mass. The larva is thick and fleshy
with broad black feet, the three pectoral pairs very
* Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 372.

OKlilTICUS KIltBYI.

113

strong ; the abdominal feet are ten in number, two
of them anal. The body consists of twelve segments,
the sides somewhat prominent, the whole with
thinly scattered hairs. The three anterior segments
and the head are yellowish variegated with brown
marks, the rest of a dull livid colour. When the
larva is alarmed, it very rapidly shuts up the purse-
like aperture of its dwelling by means of its man-
dibles and fore legs, and thus remains in security
suspended only by a few threads. (Plate IX. fig. 1
represents a female larva in its case, in the act of
creeping. Pig. 2, the same larva withdrawn from its
case.) Having attained its full growth, and about
to undergo metamorphosis, it fixes one end of its
liabitaculum firmly to a branch by means of silk
threads spun for the purpose, and allowing itself to
hang perpendicularly, awaits in this position the
pupal sleep. (Plate IX. fig. 3 represents the habi-
taculum of an adult male thus suspended.) The
pupa of the male is elongated, brown, the abdomi-
nal segments with a rust-coloured ring, the front
somewhat carinated, and each segment furnished
with a double series of dorsal spinulse ; that of the
female is of the same colour, hut much thicker.

When the male appears in the winged state, he
is found to be of a uniform black colour glossed with
purple ; the upper wings rather narrow and elonga-
ted, the under pair small and slightly produced at
the anal angle. The abdomen is extensile and
elongated ; tarsi rufescent ; mouth pale ; antenna?
strongly pectinated from the base to the middle,

H

114

OKEITICUS KIHBVI.

the apex serrulated. Extension of the wings about
an inch and three-quarters ; length of the body one
inch two lines. (Plate IX. fig. 4.)

The female has more the appearance of a pupa
than a mature insect, the three great divisions of
the body being scarcely defined, and the whole en-
closed in a tough envelope. Here exist neither
spiral tongue (this, indeed, seems to be wanting in
the male also), palpi, nor antennae; the feet are
spurious, very short, and destitute of claws. The
eyes are rufescent ; the general colour of the body
brownish ; the neck and anus clothed with wool-like
hairs. (Plate IX. fig. 5.)

It may well appear surprising, under such cir-
cumstances, how the sexes can communicate with
each other for the continuance of the species, the
female being continually enclosed in the pupa case,
which might be supposed to present an insuperable
obstacle to the approaches of the male. The mode
in which this is accomplished has already been
hinted at ; the ridge on the upper side of the thorax
splits asunder, and such is the length and flexibility
of the abdomen, and the peculiar construction of
the organs of generation, that this suffices for the
purpose. *

The insect appears to be plentiful in many parts
of the West Indies, and is extremely injurious to
fruit trees in gardens. It is difficult to determine
the proper relations of this moth ; in its habits and

* Gians penis longitudine corporis, extensilis, non retractilis ?
spinulis rccurvis sparsns. Guild wy

CRYPTOTHELEA MACLEAYI.

115

metamorphosis it obviously approaches to Psyche,
but the appearance of the perfect insect is very dis-
similar. Guilding conjectured that it might be
allied to Zeuzera; Sir. Westwood considers it as
forming the connecting link between the Hepialidse
and the remainder of the Bombycidae, and certainly,
if we put out of view the metamorphosis, there can
he no doubt about its affinity to the former.

CRYPTOTHELEA* MACLEAYI.
PLATE IX. Fig. 6.

Lamdown Guilding, in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 371.

Mr. Guilding has described this species in the
same paper as the last, and under the same generic
name. But the slightest examination of his beau-
tiful figures at once shews that tho characters he
assumes as specific possess a generic value. Nay,
in an artificial arrangement, the two genera must he
widely removed from each •other ; for while Oiketi-
cus, in the perfect form, shows an obvious affinity
to the Hepialidae, the moth in question makes a
near approach to Psyche. Although we notice it,

Kgurroc concealed, and Benta, female

116

CRYPTOTHELEA JIACLEAYT.

therefore, in connexion with the former species, it
must be understood that they resemble each other
only in their metamorphoses, which are indeed
strikingly similar.

Cryptothelea has the antennae pectinated through-
out their -whole extent, the pectinations gradually
diminishing in length from the base to the apex;
wings broad and ample, the exterior margin of all
of them rounded ; body slender, and the extremity
of the abdomen not projecting beyond the line of
the hinder wings. Female apterous, never leaving
the puparium.

The male of this species, named by its discoverer
in honour of Mr. Macleay, is wholly of a black
colour ; the female yellowish, each segment with a
band of yellow wool-like hairs. The larva has the
three anterior segments of the thorax and the head
yellow with brown marks ; the rest obscure and
bearing scattered palo warts. It always carries its
tail erect, and lives among the branches and trunks
of old trees, frequently forming its moveable tent of
the lichens with which they are covered. In most
other respects the history of this insect nearly cor-
responds to that of 0. Kirlyi.

\

PLATE 10.

Metamorphoses of Ctyprop/msa irrom/a -

Lixars sc.

f

*

117

CEYPTOPHASA IKKORATA.

PLATE X. Figs. 1, 2.

Lewin , Lepid. of New South Wales, pi. 10.

The genus Cryptophasa (or, as it was termed,
section of the genus Bombyx) was established in
1822 by Mr. Lewin, * for the reception of several
very interesting moths, inhabitants of New South

* Lewin had discovered these curious moths so early as
1 80S, although entomologists in general had no means of be-
coming acquainted with them till the appearance of his work
many years after. We find the following reference to them in
a manuscript letter addressed to Mr. Dru Drury of London,
the celebrated collector of insects, from New South Wales,
7th March, 1803. w I was at a loss to know where to look for
the larvoB of moths for a great while after I came here, for I
never could find any in all my different travels into the country ;
but now my surprise is at an end ; and I daresay you will he
greatly pleased to hear that I liave twenty drawings, with the
larvae, chrysalis, and moths complete for engraving, of species
which feed by night, and secrete themselves in a hole either in
the body or branches of a tree. There they lie hid all the day,
and sometimes for several days together ; for when they want
to feed, they come out at night and gnaw off* a small twig and
drag it to their hiding-place to feed on at their leisure. They
cover up their hole with a web in a very careful manner, so
that it requires a careful person to find their hiding-place.”

118

CRYPTOPHASA IRRORATA.

"Wales, remarkable for their economy in the larva
state, imitating in this respect the goat moths,
jEgerim, &c., but differing from them materially in
the winged state. * The wings are smooth and
generally glossy ; the antennas of the males pecti-
nated, but terminated by a thread at the extremity.
The female antenna! are filiform ; the palpi are
curved up before the eyes, divergent, round, and
terminating in a point ; and the spiral tongue is
described as short or not at all discernible. In
several respects this genus seems allied to the Arc-
tiidae, but its true relations are doubtful.

The species here figured is distinguished by its
dusky grey anterior wings, thickly speckled with
brown and white dots, a conspicuous ear-like mark,
and an angular patch of dark dots near the shoulder ;
the hind-wings are dark, with a silvery margin.

The eggs of this moth are deposited on the bark
of the Casaurina figured, where some branch shoots
from the stem ; and the larva, when hatched, imme-
diately enters into the bark, boring downwards a
cylindrical cell to the centre of the stem, which it
increases as it grows in bulk, and uses as a retreat
and dwelling-place, weaving over its entrance a
convex covering, in which is interwoven the ends of
leaves, together with some of its excrement, as re-
presented on the plate. This covering is fastened
securely at the upper end, while the lower is left in

* The genus corresponds to Nyctcrobius of Maclcay. Wo
have placed it provisionally at the end of the Hepialidse, in con-
sequence of the similarity in the habits of the larvse.

CUYPTOPHASA ALBACOSTA. 119

such a manner that the larva can pass and repass at
pleasure. After sunset it goes in search of food, which
it conveys, a leaf at a time, to its dwelling, where
it is deposited by being dragged part down the cell.
Thus the larva proceeds during the whole night,
and on the approach of day retires with precipi-
tation to its retreat, where it lies with its head
towards the entrance, feeding on the leaves thus
provided, and never ventures out during the day.
In this retreat the larva also changes to a pupa in
January, spinning no web, remaining in that state
fourteen days, and the moth is on the wing in
February. The pupa is figured at the bottom of
the plate, in a section of its dwelling when in the
larva state. The moth frequents the Casaurina,
growing in barren forests.

Mr. Lewin has described and figured the trans-
formation of three other moths belonging to the
same genus, and having the same habits, the cha-
racters and peculiarities of which we shall here
subjoin.

C. albacosta. — Anterior wings silvery grey, the shoulder,
thorax, and a broad margin on the anterior edge of a
silvery white ; a row of angular yellowish-brown marks
near the exterior margin, with a faint ear-like mark and
a dusky dot in the middle of the wing. From the shoul-
der runs an oblique cloud of chocolate dots or little
tufts. Posterior wings brown, with a broad silvery white
margin and fringe. Rather larger than C. irrorata ;
female expanding two inches and a quarter. Lewin,
pi. 11.

The larva resides on the Banksia serrata , in the

120

CRYPToPHASA RUBESCENS.'

large stems of which it bores deep cylindrical holes,
generally in the axillae of the branches. It sallies
out only by night, and brings to its dwelling whole
leaves of the broad foliage of this tree with dex-
terity and great labour, exhibiting many marks of
sagacity in its progress, and when it arrives at the
entrance to its retreat, it raises up the covering
with its hinder parts and slips into its cell back-
wards, dragging the leaf after it, the extreme end of
the stalk being held artfully in its jaws. It does
not quit its hold till the leaf be almost entirely
within its cell, where it fastens it down, together
with the covering of the entrance, by a web. It
changes to a pupa within this cell, in January,
making no web ; it remains thus thirty days, and is
on the wing in February, when it frequents the
tops of lofty trees.

C. rcbkscens. — Anterior wings yellowish-clay coloured,
tinged with rose-colour ; posterior wings orange-yellow ;
abdomen with a square mark of red at the base. Ex-
pansion, female two inches ; male, an inch and a half.
Lewin, pi. 12.

The larva is a nocturnal feeder, like the rest of
this tribe, and does not differ much in its habits
from the preceding species. It lodges in the stems
of the Mimosa ensi/olia, having the entrance to its
gallery secured by a covering of excrement, which is
held fast, when the inmate is within, by a web.
The leaves of the mimosa are lanceolate, and of
such a length as to preclude the possibility of being
taken wholly within; the greater part of the leaf

CRYPTOPHASA PPLTENJE.

121

therefore is left out, and the larva hauls them gra -
dually in as it consumes them. The pupa state
continues for thirty-eight days, the moth appearing
in the end of February. It frequents banks of
rivers, ponds, and deep gulleys ; these being the
places where the trees it feeds on are usually
found.

C. Pulten-b. — Wings silvery-white, the anterior pair with
three small black spots in the middle and a marginal
row at the extremity ; hinder wings black in the male,
white in the female, with a series of angular black marks
at tho hinder margin : abdomen with a square spot of
bright red towards the base. Expansion, male one inch ;
female, one inch and seveu lines. Lewin, pi. 13.

The larva bores downwards a cylindrical chamber
in the centre of the stem of Pultencea villosa, Willd.,
having the entrance arched over with a fabric of
web and excrement, under which, having taken its
food thither in its nightly excursions, it feeds during
the day in secret security.

Lewin informs us that all the larvae of the genus
Cryptophasa seal themselves in by an agglutinated
covering across the cell or chamber where they
transform to pupae, through which, however, the
moth can force its way from below ; yet it is a
strong bulwark against external foes, and effectually
supplies the purposes of the old covering at the
mouth of the cell, which falls off soon after the
larva’s final retirement. The group is named Cryp-
tophasa, from the secret and secure manner in which
this new and evidently natural division of moths

122

CltYPiOPHASA.

live in the larva state ; reflecting on the singularity
of which, we are struck at the wonderful means of
self-preservation which the great Author of Nature
has bestowed on different members of the animal
creation, among which we know insects of every
country abound with examples. The great enemy
against which these larvae take such precaution, is
the mantis or walking-leaf, which abound in New
South Wales, devouring multitudes of larvae in the
day-time. The natives also seek these wood-boring
caterpillars as a delicious article of food, climbing
high trees and searching for them with great labour.

In addition to the preceding species of Cryp-
tophasa, Mr. Lewin has also described one of the
Noctuidae forming a section with the same name,
in which the palpi are similar in form to those of
the Bombycideous section, but the antenna; are
thread-shaped in both sexes, and the tongue short
and spiral, but sometimes scarcely discernible. The
species is named C. strigata, and has light wain-
scot-coloured wings, the anterior with a brown
stripe from the shoulder to the end, and the pos-
terior with a broad silvery fringe, the whole insect
being silvery, especially near the stripe. The larva
of this species is provident and wood-boring, enter-
ing the sappy branches or slender stems of the
Banksia serrata, where it forms a cell, having its
entrance barricaded with a fabric of interwoven
web and excrement; under which the larva con-
veys its food by nightly perambulations, that is,
so much of a leaf of the above tree as it can con-

BOMBYCID-E.

123

veniently convey away at a time, and which it
partly forces down its cell, where in security it
feeds and sleeps during the whole day. Within
this dwelling it is transformed to a pupa, generally
in January, remaining twenty-two days in that
state, is on the wing in February, and is then
found on Banksia shrubs near Sidney.

BOMBYCIDjE.

The family of the Bombycid® ( Bombycites, Lat.)
contains an extensive assemblage of moths very
varied in their aspect, but agreeing in having the
organs of the mouth generally in a rudimentary
or undeveloped state; the wings either extended
horizontally or deflexed at the sides ; antennae of
the males pectinated; larvae naked, often with
transverse insulated tufts of hairs rising from tuber-
cles ; 1 6- footed ; living exposed on plants. When
about to change to pupae, they enclose themselves
in cocoons of silk ; and the pup* are destitute of
teeth on the margins of the abdominal segments.

Of all the genera included in this family, the
pre-eminence must be assigned to Satumia, whether
we regard the number, size, and beauty of the
species, or their utility to man. As at present con-

124

BUMBYCIDjE.

stituted it is of very great extent; but the most
cursory glance suffices to show that its contents are
far too heterogeneous to accord with the notion we
now form of a genus. "Without a full series of spe-
cimens, or more accurate descriptive details than we
now possess, it would be impossible to make a satis-
factory revision of the Saturnise with a view to
their distribution into consistent genera. But there
are certain characteristic features affording a basis
for this distribution to which it may be worth while
briefly to advert. The hinder margin of the poste-
rior wings is either regularly rounded, produced
into an acute angle, or drawn out into a long nar-
row tail. As these distinctions are connected with
others of an equally important although less obvious
kind, they may be adopted for the establishment of
three primary groups. Of these the first is by far
the most extensive, including the great mass of the
species, such as S. atlas, hesperus, cecropia, & c.
To S. atlas and its congeners, distinguished by
their great size, development of the palpi, large
vitreous spaces on the disk of the wings, &c., we
would assign the name Hyalophora , * a term nearly
corresponding to Porte-mirroir of the French and
Spiegeldrager of the Dutch. The great majority of
the middle-sized and smaller species, in which the
vitreous space is supplanted by an ocelliform spot
(the British and continental species are examples),
might retain the old name Saturnia ; but even in
the section thus restricted, there is room for further
* From SaXof, vitrum , and <pigu,fero.

BOMBYCILbE.

125

subdivision. Of those having the hinder wings
produced into an angle, we are acquainted with
only two species; Epimcthca and Erythrince ; and
in the latter the peculiarity exists only in one sex.
All the species with the hinder wings drawn out
into a long tail are so dissimilar, that each must be
referred to a different genus. In a brief and imper-
fect synoptical view, the two last mentioned sections
may stand thus : —

A. Hinder wings with an angular projection posteriorly.

* In the male.

Gen. Arsenura.* — Species Erythrince. Fabr. Spec. Ins., ii.
p. 169. No. 9.

* * In both sexes.

Gen. Lomelia. + — Species Epimethea. Fabr. Drury’s Exot.
Ins., ii. pi. 13.

B. Hinder wings produced into a long tail.

Gen. Arctias (Leach), — Tail about the length of the body ;
fore wings subfalcate on their exterior edge. — Species
A. Luna. Linn. Drury's Exot. Ins., i. pi. 1 4. fig. 1.

Gen. Eustera. — Tail very long and dilated at the ex-
tremity ; exterior line of the fore wings curved out-
wards Species E. Argus. Fabr. Drury’s Exot. Ins.,

iii. pi. 29. fig. 1.

Gen. Copiofteryx. X — Tail very long, divergent, and dilated
at the extremity ; fore wings truncated at the apex. —

C. Semiramis. Fabr. Cramer, Pap. Exot., i. pi. 1 3, fig. A.

* From mas , and ouga, cauda.

*t* An ancient proper name.

X From xentfiov, remus, and ala.

126

BOMBYCIDjE.

It may be thought that the strongly falcate shape
of the anterior wings, in many of the Saturniae,
would afford a good mark of distinction ; and in
certain instances such may he the case. But this is
a character that requires to he used, with caution,
for in many cases it is only a sexual distinction. A
careful comparison of the two sexes in all the species
we can find either figured or described, has con-
vinced us that there are few genera in which the
male and female present such marked differences.
The male, as is usual among insects, is much smaller
than the female, and the -whole outline of his form
is, so to speak, comparatively contracted. Hence
there is almost always a strong tendency in the
exterior line of the upper wings to he curved in-
wards, or assume a falcate shape. The outline of
the female, on the contrary, is comparatively full,
and the tendency of the line in question is rather in
an opposite direction. The species, accordingly, in
which the fore wings of the male are most decidedly
falcate, have this form much less strongly marked
in the female; where the former are not very strongly
falcate, in the female they become suhfalcate ( H.Pro -
methea may serve as an example) ; wliilo the females
of suhfalcate winged males have the exterior out-
line of their fore wings either straight or slightly
curved outwards. Nay, if our view's regarding one
of the species be correct, there exists an example of
the fore wings of the male being strongly falcate,
while those of the female are as obviously rounded
laterally, describing a convex curve.

BOMBYCIDjE.

127

But the shape of the wings is not the only sexual
difference. The colours of the male are always
darker than those of the female, and the markings
on a much smaller scale. Nay, some of the mark-
ings found in the one entirely disappear in the
other. Thus the female of II. atlas has a small
supplemental vitreous spot on the disk of the
wings ;* in many of the smaller species the form of
the vitreous spaces is quite different in the two
sexes ; and there is commonly some additional liar
or spots peculiar to the female. In short, when an
attempt is made to unite the sexes to their legiti-
mate partners, it must be kept in mind that this
relationship has often no other external indication
than an approximation in size, and a certain gene-
ral resemblance in the design and colour of the
wings.

In consequence of these considerations having
been overlooked, there is reason to believe that the
two sexes have sometimes been described as distinct
species. Cramer committed this error in regard to
A. erythrinw , and it is not surprising that he
should have done so, for they are remarkably dis-
similar. A fine species from Assam has recently
been described by the Rev. F. W. Hope, under the
name of Bombyx spectahilis , and figured with his

* We are informed by Mr. Westwood that there is an article
on tlie habits and variations of the sex of //. atlas in the “ Actes
de la Soci^te Linneenne de Bourdeanx, t. iv. 3d levraison.
June 1830 a work which we have not had an opportunity
of consulting.

128

BOMBYCIDrE.

usual accuracy and elegance by Mr. Westwood, in
the Linnean Transactions.* The individual figured
is a female ; we havo seen another specimen of the
same sex belonging to Mr. James Wilson, lately
received from Serampore ; and taking into account
the prevailing character of the sexual differences
in this group, it appears to us that there can be
little doubt that this is the female of Phal. Altacus,
Lucina of Drury, vol. iii. pi. 34, fig. l.t Drury's
insect is a male ; all the specimens in this coimtry of
Bombyx spectahilu (as far as we know) are females ;
the size corresponds ; and the general character of
the colour and markings is similar. The fore wings
of Lucina are strongly falcate, those of Spectabilis
rounded laterally ; and although this peculiarity is
in no other instance that we are acquainted with
so strongly marked, the considerations formerly ad-
duced are sufficient to show r that it is not incom-
patible with the view now taken of the supposed
relationship of the two insects in question. The
difference of the ascertained localities does not mili-
tate against this view ; nearly all the Saturnise have
a wide geographical distribution ; and it is judi-
ciously observed by Mr. Hope, that the entomology
of Africa (whence Drury obtained his S. lucina )
seems to combine the character and possess some of

* Vol. xviii. Part Third, pL 31. fig. 3.

+ Since the above remarks were written, we have learned
that the B. spectabilis of Hope has been previously figured by
Gray in the Zoological Miscellany, under the name of B. Wal~
licJiii,

BombyciDjE.

129

tlie leading characteristics of both continents, i. e.
Africa and Asia; a remark in which all who have
examined the insects of the two countries will not,
we think, hesitate to concur. *

As far as we are acquainted with them, the cater-
pillars of this group are pretty similar to each other,
having smooth skins, generally of a yellow or green
colour, with transverse rows of tubercles of a diffe-
rent colour from the body. Considerable variations,
however, from this typical form, are observable in
many of the species. The caterpillar of A. ery-
thrince, for example, is even more anomalous than
the perfect insect, affording one of tho most remark-
able instances with which we are acquainted of
important changes at different periods of develop-
ment. If we may place full confidence in the figures
which have been given of it, after having attained a
certain stage of its growth, it is either yellow spot-
ted with black, the head, legs, anal segment, and
caudal horn ferruginous; or it is black, with the
parts just mentioned ferruginous; or, finally, it is
yellow with broad black rings. In all these modifi-
cations as to colour, it bears four very large black
spines behind the head, and two others near the
hinder extremity, t When full grown, all these
spines fall off with its last change of skin, and the
caterpillar is either black, yellow mottled with

* Linn. Trans., vol. xviii. p. <37.

+ In Madame Mcrian's figures, the size of the spines is
•omewhat exaggerated. See the 11 til plate of her Insects of
Surinam.

I

130

BOMBYCIDJE.

black, or yellow with a round black spot on each
segment ; the head, a transverse oval spot on the
segment behind it, the membranous legs, anal seg-
ment, and horn, in every case remaining ferru-
ginous. Some of these states are represented on
Plate T. : figs. 1 and 2, the larva when rather more
than half grown ; fig. 3, the full grown larva, after
shedding its spines. On the same plate we have
represented some other remarkable forms of the
caterpillars of exotic moths. Fig. 4 is that of the
species named Bombyx molina by Cramer, and
figured in his 302d plate, E. F. Fig. 5 is the cater-
pillar of Pkal. Bombyx Nesea of Stoll, remarkable
for the brilliancy of its colours and a long dorsal
horn projecting forwards. Fig. G is the caterpil-
lar of Bombyx netrix of the same author, the
moth of which is figured by Cramer on plate 307,
fig- B.

The insects of this extensive family are called,
par excellence , silk-spinning moths, because they pro-
duce silk in greater profusion than any other lepi-
doptera. They may be said to be almost the only
insects, except bees, which it has been thought worth
while to cultivate and domesticate on account of
their utility to man. Besides the common silk-moth
( B . mori ), a great variety of other kinds are culti-
vated in various quarters of the world. Some of
these wo have figured and described. The great
obstacle experienced in rendering their produce ser-
viceable, is the extreme difficulty in unwinding the
silk from the cocoon, owing to the tenacious quality

BOMBYCID.E.

131

of the gum which the insect uses in forming it.
Warm water, which is found sufficient in the case
of the common silk-worm, has in most instances
no perceptible effect on it ; nor, in fact, any solvent
that has yet been tried. The silk, therefore, can
he made available only in an imperfect way, by
tearing it from the cocoon and carding it like wool.
The subject is well worthy the attention of che-
mists, for the discovery of a substance which should
dissolve the gum without destroying the texture of
the thread, would enable us to add incalculably to
the sources whence the finest silk may he derived.
Perhaps a hint might be taken on this point from
the fact that the insect itself is provided with a
fluid which dissolves the gum, and which it employs
for the purpose of opening a passage for itself when
emerging from the cocoon. Could a portion of this
substance be obtained and subjected to analysis, the
ingredient to which it owes its solvent quality might
he detected. In some cases it is discharged in great
abun dance.

132

HYALOPHORA CECROPIA.

PLATE XI.

Plial. (Bombyx) cecropia, Linn. Cramer , Pap. Exot iv. t. 42,
f. A. B. ; Fabr. Ent. Syst iii. 1. p. 408, No. 4 ; Drury's Exot .
Ins., i. pi. 18, fig. 2 ; Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg., i. pi. 46.

We have given figures of II. cecropia in all its
stages, as a very characteristic example of the con-
spicuous genus to which it belongs ; and they will
afford, in connexion with similar details of several
nearly related species, a very accurate notion of the
metamorphoses of the Saturnim. It is one of the
larger kinds, measuring upwards of half a foot
between the tips of the wings. Antennas broadly
pectinated, black ; head small and red, the neck
white ; thorax clothed with reddish-brown hairs
of considerable length ; abdomen with alternate
bauds of white and orange-brown, the latter edged
behind with black. The ground colour of the wings
is dark reddish brown ; the anterior pair with the
base orange-brown, that colour bounded exteriorly
by a narrow whitish baud suddenly bent towards
the anterior margin, but becoming obsolete be-
fore reaching it; disk rusty brown, with a large
white kidney-shaped spot, margined with black and
tinged with reddish brown ; beyond this there is a
broad transverse reddish orange band ; the extre-

PLATE 11.

HYALOPHOBA CECROPIA.

133

mity of the wings brown, appearing as if powdered ;
a round black spot is placed towards the tip having
a light-coloured crescent within it, and there are
several hlood-coloured stains near it : a white zigzag
line, accompanied with a blood-red streak, runs from
this black spot to the anterior edge. The hinder
wings are similar to the upper, but the white dis-
coidal spot is larger, the transverse band broader,
and bordered internally with white ; the external
margin dull buff-colour, with two faint black lines,
and a row of transverse curved spots. All the mark-
ings described appear brighter and more distinct on
the under side. The hinder wings arc bordered
along the anterior edges with white, that colour
becoming broader as it approaches the shoulders.

The caterpillar is green, with the head, legs, and
numerous projecting points over the body, yellow’ ;
there is also a pair of small blue spots on each seg-
ment. It feeds on the wild American plum ( Prunns
Pensylvanica) and spins its cocoon on a branch.
The cocoon is larger than a pigeon s egg, of a yellow-
ish-brown colour, the outer layer of silk rather coarse,
the interior of finer texture. We are not aware that
this silk has ever been unwound, but it has been
carded, spun, and made into stockings, and Abbot
states that it will wash like linen. The insect is
rather plentiful in the neighbourhood of New York,
but scarce in Georgia. The caterpillar has occasion-
ally been reared by feeding it with the leaves of the
apple-tree, but it is at all times difficult to make it
flourish in confinement.

134

HYALOPHORA PROMETHEA.

PLATE XII.

Phalsena (Bombyx) Promethea, Drury, Ins., vol. ii. pi. 1 1 male,
plate 12 fem. ; Gmel. Syst. Ned., 2403 ; Cramer, Pap. Exot.,
t. 75, fig. A. B., and 76, A. B. ; Palisot de Beauvois, Ins.
d'Afrique et d'Amer., t. 21 ; Peale's Lep. Amer., pi. 3 and 4 ;
Abbot and Smith, Lepid, Georg., pi. 46.

Although this fine moth has been figured in several
general works, we have here given original repre-
sentations of both sexes, in order to render the illus-
tration of the transformations and singular economy
of the spocies more complete. The figures of the
larva, cocoon, and chrysalis are copied from the
work of Mr. Titian R. Peale on the Lepidoptera of
North America, of which, we believe, only a single
number has been published, and which is scarcely
known in this country.

The colour of the male, on the upper side, is
dark chocolate brown; the exterior margin of all
the wings light greyish brown, with a narrow waved
line of black running through it not far from the
margin ; within this line the colour is lighter ; about
one-third from the tips, a narrow waved light grey
line commences, and traverses all the wings, in a

/

u PLATE VI.

Metamorphoses of Saturn ia Prometheus.

HYALOPHOBA PBOMETHEA.

135

direction nearly parallel to their external edge ; near
the tip of each of the anterior wings there is a
black spot surmounted by a blue crescent : hinder
wings with a row of spots within the narrow black
line skirting the outer border. The markings on
the under side, in this sex, are similar to those just
described; but the colour is paler, and the most
considerable differences consist of a small transverse
whitish spot in the centre of each wing, and in the
grey waved line near the middle of the hinder
wings being continued round, except on the abdo-
minal edge.

The female presents important differences. The
body is reddish-brown ; on the upper side the half
of the wings next the body is dark red, with a pretty
large angular light-coloured spot towards the centre,
and in the upper pair, a light-coloured bar runs
out from the base, and after proceeding for some
distance, bends towards the anterior border ; a little
beyond the middle, a light- coloured waved band
runs across all the wings, bounded by dark cho-
colate on its inner edge ; tips of the anterior wings
with a black spot partly encircled with blue ; the
margin itself dark buff', with a narrow zigzag black
line running through it ; within this, on the under
wings, is a row of irregular red spots. On the under
side the body is streaked with white; the colours
pale ; the angular band wanting at the base of the
anterior wings, and the light-coloured portions ap-
pearing as if sprinkled with fine grey powder.

The following is Mr. Pcale’s account of the habits

136

HYALOPHORA PROMETHEA.

of this moth: — “ During the present year (1833),
this beautiful moth will be unusually abundant in
the vicinity of Philadelphia, judging from the num-
ber of cocoons which are to be seen hanging from
the branches of the sassafras ( Lauras sassafras)
and spice-wood [L. benzoin). The casual observer
would no doubt suppose them to be merely withered
leaves that have withstood the blasts of winter, for
such they were evidently intended to resemble, by
the little architect, when preparing its narrow cell.
The naturalist, however, is not to be thus deceived,
as a boy and myself collected from three to four
hundred specimens during short winter rambles in
the neighbourhood.

“ The perfect insects appear about the end of
May and beginning of June, at which time the
leaves of the sassafras, spice-wood, and swamp but-
ton-wood (Cephalanthus occidentalis) have attained
a sufficient size to afford a plentiful supply of food
to the caterpillar ; the parent insect most commonly
selecting those trees for the sustenance of her future
progeny, and depositing her eggs on or near tho
leaves which have been chosen for that purpose.

“ The caterpillar casts its skin three or four
times, increasing in bulk and brilliancy of colour
with each change, and finally attains the size repre-
sented in the figure ; it then loses the voracious
appetite which had hitherto been its predominant
character, and begins its preparations for the great
transformation it is to undergo, by selecting a per-
fect leaf, the upper surface of which it covers with

IIY ALOPHORA PROMETHEA. 137

fine light yellowish brown silk, extending this coat-
ing, with great skill and foresight, over the footstalk
of the leaf, and attaching it firmly to the branch, so
as to secure the leaf from being separated by any
accident. This preliminary operation having been
accomplished, the caterpillar next draws the edges
of the leaf together ; thus forming a perfect external
covering or mantle, in which it spins a fine strong
durable cocoon of fine silk. In this habitation our
little architect passes the winter, secure from birds
and other enemies. (This is attempted to be repre-
sented in the upper right-hand figure of Plate XII.)
As soon as the cocoon has been completed, the
caterpillar again sheds its skin, and is transformed
into a pupa or nymph, as represented in the par-
tially opened cocoon figured in Date XII. fig. 2. At
first, the leaf enveloping the cocoon remains green,
but soon changes to a red or brown colour, when it
becomes brittle, and is gradually carried away by
the winds and storms of the winter, until finally
nothing remains except the cocoon itself, which is
firmly suspended by the silk which once covered
the footstalk of the leaf. The instinct of the cater-
pillar, in thus providing for the permanent attach-
ment of its future habitation, appears to be superior
to that shown by many other species.

“ The caterpillar is of a delicate green colour,
with yellow feet ; each segment of the body, except
the posterior, is marked with six blue spots, from
which arise small black tubercles ; in the second
and third segments, however, the two centre tuber-

138

SATURN r A ISIS.

cles are replaced by club-like projections of a third
of an inch in length, and of a bright coral red
colour. The last segment is furnished with but
five tubercles, the central one of which is of the
same clavate form as those on the anterior segment,
but is of a fine yellow colour. As before stated,
they feed on the leaves of the sassafras, spice-wood,
and swamp button-wood, and are to be found
during most of the autumn months.

“ The silk spun by this species is as fine, and is
produced in as great abundance, as that furnished
by the Bombyx mori (or the silk-worm usually
reared for manufacturing purposes, and which was
originally a native of Asia), but is of a darker
colour, and will, it is feared, always present diffi-
culties in reeling, from the manner in which part of
it is attached to the branch.”

SATURNIA ISIS, Westwood.

PLATE XIII,

On first drawing and describing this fine species, we
thought that it was quite new, never having seen
another specimen except one in the possession of
Samuel Stevens, Esq., from which our drawing was
made. But we have since learned that a figure

.

1

PLATE 13.

SATURNIA ISIS.

139

of the female was published by Klug in 1836, in a
a pamphlet of eight pages, published at Berlin,
4to. He names it Satumia maja, hut as the
latter term has already been applied by Drury
to another species, we think it better to retain the
name by which it was originally designated by
Mr. Westwood.

The wings measure very nearly six inches in ex-
panse, and are of a very pale grey colour, especially
the anterior pair, which are, however, almost en-
tirely covered with fine black and brown hairs.
The centre of these wings is ornamented with a
small oval mark, half of which, towards the body,
is covered with black scales, and the other half is
vitreous ; between this and the base is a very
curved and irregularly dentate fascia crossing the
wing, and immediately behind the eye is a nearly
straight slender brown bar. This is succeeded by
slender black wavy bars, the space between which
and the apex of the wing is divided as it were into
three compartments, the first of which is covered
with small brown patches, the second is paler and
covered with very fine black speckles, and the
apical part is much darker, with large black specks.
The apical margin of the fore wings is slightly
scolloped; the hind wings are entirely covered on
the upper side by a most magnificent eye-like spot,
surrounded by successive rings of various colours.
The oval pupil is black, but the part furthest re-
moved from the body is denuded of scales, and
would be vitreous, were not the under side of th.e

140

SATURNIA ISIS.

wings clothed with scales ; this is surrounded by a
narrow fulvous iris, then black, then a broader ova!
of dirty clay-colour, then a narrow oval of pale
flesh-colour, then a broad rich claret oval ring;
between this and the base of the wing is first a
bar of flesh-colour, then black shaded into claret ;
towards the extremity of the wing the claret is
succeeded by a half-ring of flesh-colour, then a
narrow one of black, then of pale buff stone-colour,
and another moderately broad of grey speckled
with black. The thorax is dark and rich brown
colour, with two white bands across the neck and
two across the extremity of the thorax whitish ;
the abdomen is buff, with black dots. The margin
of the wings is scolloped, and their external angle
is considerably produced beyond the hind angle of
the fore wings. The under surface of the wings
of this magnificent moth is by no means equal to
the upper side in the beauty of the markings, all
the wings being of a very pale huffish white with
dark speckles ; the fore wings are marked nearly
as on the upper side, but the hind wings have only
a very small eye in the centre, having a black
pupil with a fulvous orbit surrounded by a slender
black circle ; immediately connected with the pos-
terior part of this eye is a curved row of brown
arches, between which and the apex of the wings
is another and more slightly marked series of black
scollops.

The palpi are distinct, forming a small brown
muzzle, but they are not visible from above ; they,

PLATE 14

PLATE II

/. Caterpillar of S. Cynthia.

2. ~Do of S.Mylitta. — Dc.

3. Pedunculated cocoon of the. latter. Do.

lizars sc.

SATURNIA CYNTHIA.

141

as 'well as the rest of the head, are brown. The
spiral tongue appears to he wanting ; the antennae
are slightly bipectinated, being gradually more slen-
der from about one-third of the distance from the
base to the apex. The legs are short.

This insect seems allied to Saturnia alenda,
Drury, vol. ii. pi. 19, and S. phcedura , Drury, vol. ii.
pi. 24 and 25, both of which are from Sierra Leone,
but differing from both in the form of the wings.

In the possession of palpi, 5. Iris agrees with
Aglaia rather than Saturnia, but that is evidently a
character of slight importance ; the giant Atlas moth
of China has similarly developed palpi, and yet
nothing would be more absurd than to place these
three species in one modern genus.

SATURNIA * CYNTHIA.

PLATE XIV. Fig. I.

Phal. (Attacus) Cynthia, Drury's Exot. Ins., ii. pi. 6. fig. 2 ;
Oliv. Ency. Moth.

The expansion of the wings is about five inches :
head and antenna; greyish-brown, the latter strongly
pectinated ; thorax and abdomen lighter grey ; wings

* Tliis and the following species might perhaps be included
in Hyalophora, but as they deviate somewhat from the type of
that genus, the old name has, in the mean time, been permitted
to remain.

142

SATURNIA CYNTHIA.

with a broad transverse light-coloured hand near
the middle, the space within which (forming nearly
an equilateral trianglo) is brownish-grey, and that
without ash-colour, running into brownish-grey at
the margins of the wings ; just within the margins
there are two narrow brown streaks running parallel
with them, somewhat interrupted before reaching a
black spot near the apex of the superior wings;
this spot is surmounted by a white crescent, and
a zigzag white line runs from it to the tip. The
basal portion of the superior wings is traversed by
an ash-coloured bar, commencing on the posterior
edges next the shoulder, and after continuing nearly
in a straight line for about half an inch, is suddenly
deflected and terminates on the anterior margin;
between this bar and the transverse serpentine line,
there is a pale longitudinal spot surmounted with
black. The under wings likewise bear a similar
spot, but more crescent-shaped ; and towards their
base, there is an ash-coloured arched bar, bounded
on the outer side with black. The under side differs
principally in being paler and destitute of the angu-
lar and arched bars at the base of tlio upper and
lower wings.

The caterpillar of this moth is the Arrindy silk-
worm, for an account of which we are indebted to
Dr. Roxburgh, who published an interesting me-
moir on the silk-producing moths of the East Indies
in the 7th volume of the Linnean Transactions. The
eggs are described by him as numerous, ovate, pure
white, about the size of a large pin's head. They

SATURNIA CYNTHIA.

143

hatch in from ten to fifteen days, according to the
temperature of the air. The caterpillars arrive at
their full size, which is from two and a half to three
inches, in the space of about one month ; during
which time they, like the caterpillars of the common
silk- worm, cast their skin three or four times. They
are also composed of ten segments : across the middle
of each are several small, soft, conic-pointed tuber-
cles ; otherwise they are smooth and delicately soft.
Tho prevailing colour pale or sea green. In this
state they are very voracious, devouring daily many
times their own weight of food. (The full grown
caterpillar is represented on Plate XT. fig. 1.) The
cocoon is white or yellowish, of a very soft and
delicate texture ; about two inches long and three
in circumference, pointed at each end. Enveloped
in this case the animal remains dormant from ten to
twenty days, according to the state of the weather.
The perfect insect issues from one end, and in that
state exists from four to eight days, during which
period it is wholly employed in the grand work of
Nature, generation ; remaining perfectly contented
in its chamber, seldom attempting to fly away. In
this respect it differs exceedingly from the Bughy
and Jarroo moths.

The caterpillars, like the common silk-worm, are
reared in a domestic state, and entirely fed on the
leaves of tho Palma Christi plant ( Recinus com-
munis). The filament of the cocoon is so exceed-
ingly delicate as to render it impracticable to wind
off the silk ; it is therefore spun like cotton. The

144

SATURNIA CYNTHIA.

yarn thus manufactured is wove into a coarse kind
of white cloth, of a seemingly loose texture, hut of
incredible durability, the life of one person being
seldom sufficient to wear out a garment made of it ;
so that the same piece descends from mother to
daughter.

Dr. Roxburgh’s correspondents furnished him with
much additional information regarding this insect as
a silk -producer. Mr. Atkinson states that he reared
two parcels of them with a view towards winding
off the cocoons, but all his endeavours to obtain
cocoons that would reel off were in vain. He even
brought a man from the country where this species
of silk -worm is cultivated, and he laughed at Mr.
Atkinson’s endeavours to get cocoons to reel ; as-
serting that it was impossible, and that they were
always spun off into thread like cotton by the
women only.

On the same subject Mr. Creighton writes as
follows : — “ The Palma Christi silk-worm goes by
the same name as the plant does among the natives,
which is Arr indy. They accordingly call it Ar-
rindy-worm , Arrindy-thread, Arrindy-cloth, &c.
They rear it in their houses much in the same way
the silk-worm is reared. Their manner of spinning
it is as follows : — Four or five of the cocoons are
fastened to a stick stuck in the ground, or some-
times they hold it in their'hand. These are united
into one thread, and made fast to a piece of wood,
with something heavy to make it spin round while
suspended by the thread : when they let out suffi-

SATURNIA CYNTHIA.

145

cient of the cocoons from their hand, it is twisted
by this piece of wood spinning round, and when
well twisted, it is wound round the wood, and ano-
ther length let out from the hand. The cocoons are
spun wet, but only with cold water. The cloth is
woven in small pieces in a loom, and is as coarse as
light vitrce, but more open ; and on being washed
and beaten well, is made very soft and pliable. It
is entirely confined to the districts of Dinagepore
and Rungpore ; no other place in Bengal having
got it. Its uses are for clothing, for both men and
women. It will wear constantly ten, fifteen, or
twenty years ; the merchants also use it for packing
fine cloths, silks, or shawls. It must, however, be
always washed in cold water; if put into boiling
water, it makes it tear like old rotten cloth. There
is a cocoon produced wild upon the mango-tree,
which they gather, and mix with Arrindy cocoons
in spinning. I have only seen one caterpillar of
it, and did not succeed in rearing it. I shall in-
quire for some, and get a drawing made, if possible,
as they cannot be sent or carried to any distance."

K

146

SATURNIA MYLITTA.

PLATE XIV. Fig. 2.

Phal. (Attaeus) Mylitta, Drury's Exot. Ins., vol. i. pi. 5, fig. 1.
— Plial. Papliia, Cramer, Pap. Exot., pi. 14G, fig. A. ; pi. 147,
fig. A. B. ; pi. 148, fig. A. — Bombyx Mylitta, Encyc. Meth.

This species, like several others of its congeners, i3
liable to considerable variation both in size and
colour. The expansion of the wings is usually be-
tween five and six inches, although individuals
occur exceeding these dimensions (the figure on
the plate above referred to is somewhat diminished).
The colour of the wings is yellowish-brown, varying
a good deal in tint ; each wing with a round tran-
sparent ocellus in the centre, those on the fore wings
largest, surrounded first by a yellow ring, then a
greyish band, and lastly a black line, the transpa-
rent pupil divided by a fine dark line; the ante-
rior margin of the superior wings is grey, the base
with two abbreviated light-coloured bands, and a
narrow dark streak, commencing near the apical
angle, runs across all the wings parallel with the
exterior margin and not far from it ; a faint arched
black streak is observable over each of the eyes on
the under wings. The thorax and abdomen are

SATUItNIA MYLITTA.

147

greyish yellow, the antenna?, which are strongly
pectinated in the male, ferruginous. The colour of
the insect on the under side is greyish-brown, and
besides the markings nearly corresponding to these
of the surface, there is a dark band commencing at
the anterior edges of the upper wings and continued
across the disk of both in a line with the eyes,
terminating at the abdominal edges just behind the
body. The upper wings are strongly falcate, par-
ticularly in the male.

The eggs of this valuable species are white, round,
compressed, with a depression or pit in the centre
on each side ; the circumference crossed with rugae,
corresponding with the rings of the enclosed animal.
They hatch in from two to four weeks, according
to the state of the weather.

The caterpillars acquire their full size, which is
about four inches in length and three in circum-
ference, in about six weeks ; they are of a yellowish-
green colour, and composed of ten segments, of
which the posterior one is in some degree bifid.
There is a light yellowish coloured stripe on each
side, which runs from the second or third anterior
segment to the incisure of the last ; immediately
under these stripes, the middle five, six, or seven
segments are marked with an oblong gold-coloured
speck. The back is also marked with a few round
darker coloured spots, and a few long, coarse, dis-
tinct hairs issue from these spots, with others of a
smaller size scattered over the insect. When these
caterpillars approach near their full size, they are

148

SATUKNIA MYLITTA.

too heavy to crawl in search of their food with
their back up, as is usual with most caterpillars,
but traverse the branches suspended by the feet.
(See Plate XY. fig. 2.)

When the caterpillars are ready to spin the cases
in which they are to pass the chrysalis state, each
of them connects, by means of the recent glutinous
filament of which the case is made, two or three
leaves into an exterior envelope, which serves as a
basis to spin the complete case or cocoon in ; be-
sides, the case is suspended from the branch of the
tree in a wonderful manner by a thick, strong, con-
solidated cord, spun of the same material, from the
bowels of the animal. (This pedunculated cocoon is
represented on Plate XY. fig. 3.) This case is of
an exact oval shape and exceeding firm texture ; in
it the animal remains dormant and perfectly pro-
tected for about the space of nine months, viz. from
October till July, so that they make their appear-
ance in time for the caterpillars to come into exist-
ence when Providence has furnished them with the
greatest plenty of proper food, viz. during the
months of August, September, and October. When
the insect is prepared to make its escape and be
changed to its perfect state, it discharges from its
mouth a large quantity of liquid, with which the
upper end of the case is so perfectly softened as to
enable the moth to work its way out in a very short
space of time ; an operation which is always per-
formed during the night.

The perfect insect, according to Dr, Roxburgh, to

SATCRXIA MYLITTA.

149

whom we are indebted for the above information,
as well as for what follows,* does not live for more
than from six to twelve days, at least in a state of
confinement. It takes no nourishment whatever,
not having any mouth or channel hy which food
could be received. When the female is impregnated,
she deposits her eggs on the branches of the tree
she may he resting on, to which they adhere firmly
by means of the gluten they are covered with w'hen
newly laid.

This insect is a native of Bengal, Baliar, Assam,
&c. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the
Rliamnus Jujula ( Byer of the Hindoos), and on
those of Terminalia alata glabra , known to the
Hindoos by the name of Assem. It is found in
such abundance over many parts of Bengal and the
adjoining provinces, as to have afforded to the
natives, from time immemorial, an abundant supply
of a most durable, coarse, dark-coloured silk, com-
monly called Tusseh-silk, which is woven into a
kind of cloth called Tussey doot’/iies, much worn by
Bramins and other sects of Hindoos. The following
more detailed account of this interesting and valu-
able insect, is from a letter published by Dr. Rox-
burgh, which was written by Mr. Atkinson to a
Mr. Pope of Mahometpore. In reply to the ques-
tions that had been addressed to him, the writer
states : —

“ 1st, That the cocoons of the insect, which feeds
on the Byer leaf, are called hy the natives Bugbv,

* See I.innean Trans., vol. vii. p. 33.

150

SATURNIA MYL1TTA.

producing a Tusseh silk. They are annual, and are
said to remain in the cocoon nine months, and to ho
three months in the egg and worm state.

“ 2d, That the species cannot ho domesticated ;
the natives apparently not being able to retain any
of it for seed. The hill people say that they go
into jungles, and under the Byer and Asseen trees
they find the excrement of tho insect; on which
they examine the tree, and, on discovering the small
worms, they cut off branches of the tree sufficient
for their purpose, with the young brood on the
branches ; these they carry to convenient situations
near their houses, and distribute the branches on
the Asseen tree in proportion to the size thereof,
but they put none upon the Byer tree. The
Parieahs, or hill people, guard the insects night
and day while in the worm state, to preserve them
from crows and other birds by day, and from bats
by night.

“ I have myself seen them,” continues the writer,
“ thus watching the brood. This species cannot he
confined, for so soon as the moth pierces the cocoon
it gets away ; and the people add, that it is impos-
sible to keep it, by any precaution whatever.

“ To wind off these cocoons, they put them into a
ley made of plantain ashes and water, for about two
hours, after which they take them out of tho ley,
and put them in their wet state into an earthen pot ;
those which are properly softened are first applied to
the reel, and so on, as the cocoons become soft, for
four or five days, till the whole are wound off.

SATURNIA MYLITTA.

151

“ The implement used for taking off the thread
is a small common reel of four bars. The cocoons
are laid in a smooth earthen dish, without water ;
the reel is turned by the right hand, whilst the
thread of four or five cocoons passes over the left
thigh of the spinner, and he gives the thread a twist
with his left hand upon his thigh. The operation
is this instant in my sight, with a thread of five
cocoons, the produce of another species called Jar-
100, and described below, but the reeling is exactly
the same as that of the Bughy, and therefore one
description answers for both. I must add, that the
thread is exceedingly apt to come off double and
treble for several yards together, which is not re-
garded by the natives, as breaking off double threads
would diminish the produce, and, moreover, would
occasion loss of time : a very even thread, however,
may with care be reeled from either the Bughy or
Jarroo cocoon.

“ The Jarroo cocoons, just alluded to, are so called
from being produced in the coldest month of the
year, say January ; the Bughy being about a month
before them. The Jarroo are likewise annual, and
the history of them is nearly the same as that of
the Bughy; they are, however, different, as I am
assured. The Jarroo will eat the Byer leaf if he
cannot get the Asseen, but he will always prefer
the latter, and produce a better cocoon when fed on
it. His silk is more of a dull colour than that of
the Bughy, which latter worm the hill people put
on the Asseen alone, not because it prefers it to the

Jo2

SATURNIA MYLITTA.

Byer, but because they have greater plenty of Asseen
than Byer, and, moreover, trim and dress out plots
of Asseen on purpose for the worms. The princi-
pal difference between the above two species is, that
the natives retain a part of the Jarroo cocoons for
seed ; these they hang out on the Asseen trees
when the proper season of the moth arrives ; when
the moths come out, the male insects invariably all
fly away, but the females remain on the trees.
These are not impregnated by the males bred along
with them, but, in ten or twelve hours, or perhaps
one, two, or three days, a flight of males arrive,
settle on the branches, and impregnate the females ;
by the bye, the hill people calculate good or ill for-
tune in proportion to the speedy or tardy arrival of
the stranger males. These insects die as soon as the
purposes of Nature are effected, and the females live
only to produce the eggs on the branches of the
trees, and then expire. In regard to the Bughy
species, they all take flight, females as well as
males, and hence the natives firmly believe that
they are all males, though I cannot see any physical
reason for supposing them so. I have frequently
endeavoured to detain the males of the Jarroo spe-
cies, and have kept them locked up in a box for that
purpose ; but whether they did not like to make
free with their female relations, or from what other
cause I know not, but I never could obtain a breed
in the domestic state, and the efforts of the male to
escape were wonderful, and at last always effectual.
The accounts given by the natives of the distance to

SATURNIA MYLITTA.

1 53

Avhicli the male insects fly are very astonishing. I
have put, at different times and occasions, innume-
rable questions to them on this subject, and they
assure me that it is no uncommon practice amongst
them to catch some of the male moths and put a
mark on their wings previous to letting them fly,
the marks of different districts being known. I am
told that it has been thus ascertained that male
moths have come from a distance equal to a hundred
miles and upwards : I of course cannot vouch for
the truth of this, but have no hesitation in declaring
that I believe it. The Jarroo worm is guarded on
the trees in like manner as the Bughy ; this I have
had opportunities of seeing on the hills westward of
me : the cocoons arc darker coloured than the Bughy
species, and are wound off as described above. The
accompanying skein I had reeled off at my elbow
this morning; it consists of five Jarroo cocoons at
first, of four when one cocoon was finished, and of
three when two cocoons were ended ; I then stopped
the reel ; the three that remained of course gave a
filament the entire length of the skein."

The Tussey silk is extremely well adapted for
general wear in warm climates, as it makes a dress
a once cheap, light, cool, and durable.

r54

SATURNIA MAIA.

PLATE XVI. Fig. 1.

Plial. (Bombyx) Maia, Drury's Exot. Ins.; Cramer, Pap. Exot.,
pi. 98, fig. A. — Bombyx Proserpina, Fair. Abbot and Smith's
Lepid. Georg., pi. 50 ; Encyc. Meth.

This species is of comparatively small size, but it is
rendered very conspicuous by the strongly defined
character of its colours. It seldom expands much
beyond two inches and a half ; head and antennae
black, the latter strongly pectinated. Wings thin
and filmy, nearly transparent, black, with a broad
white bar running across the centre; the anterior
pair having a half-formed eye on the inner side of
the white bar, and the posterior an angular black
spot on the white bar, before the middle. Thorax
light grey anteriorly, the other parts black ; abdo-
men likewise black, the extremity orange. On the
under side the abdomen is grey, with white spots at
the side, extremity orange. Legs black, thighs
orange.

The caterpillar (Plate XYI. fig. 2) frequents the
red oak ( Qttercus rubra, Linn.), as well as other
American species of Quercus. They vary much in
colour, according to age. That figured on the plate

PLATE 16

/. 2. Salami a Jfaia.
3. A alia To ■

SATLKiMA MAIA.

155

referred to is yellow, with a broad dark-coloured
stripe along each side, and two reddish tubercular
spots on the back of each segment ; head, anal seg-
ment, and legs purplish-red ; each segment with a
series of setose spines. We are informed by Abbot
that this moth is called in America the Buck-fly,
from an erroneous vulgar notion that bucks breed
its caterpillar in their heads and blow them out of
their nostrils. This opinion originated from the fly
coming out in the rutting season, while the bucks
are pursuing the does. The hunters therefore take
notice of the insect, in order to know the proper
season for their sport, which is later in Georgia
than in Virginia, as is the appearance of these flies.
They are much the most plentiful in the last men-
tioned country. One of the caterpillars in Virginia
went into the ground tho 1st July, and came out
20th October. In Georgia the same species buried
itself June 14th, and the fly did not appear till
December 8th, after which other individuals kept
coming out from time to time till February 16th.
The male appears by day, and flies very swiftly,
mounting and descending. The caterpillar sting 3
very sharply : when small, the whole brood feed
together, but they disperse as they grow large.

I5G

AGLIA 10.

PLATE XVI. Fig 3.

Bombyx lo, Fair. — Fhal. Io, Abbot and Smith's Lepid. Georg.,
Yol. i. pi. 49.

The genus Aglia was founded by Oehsenheimer on
the Bomhyx Tau of authors, and is very closely
related to Saturnia. It has the palpi distinct, rather
short, clothed with scales, compressed, triarticulate,
terminal joint short, ovate ; maxillae obsolete. An-
tennae short ; those of the male bipectinated, each
joint bearing a simple pectination, the latter dimi-
nishing in length towards the apex of the antenna? ;
those of the female with each joint unidentate, not
pectinated ; head moderate ; thorax rather short
and pilose ; abdomen moderate, pilose, tufted at
the apex; wings entire, broad, horizontally ex-
panded. *

The finely coloured species figured is a native of
America. Antenna?, head, and thorax yellow, the
two latter hairy ; upper wings yellow in the male,
with several waved transverse brown streaks ; red-
dish-brown in the female, with three waved continu-

Stephen’s Ulus, of Brit. Ent. Ilaus., vol. ii. p. 36.

ACLTA 10.

157

ous yellow lines across the surface, and a cluster of
small yellow spots towards the centre. The upper
wings are yellow beneath, with a black ocelliform
spot in the middle, with a white pupil, behind
which is a transverse reddish ray. The under wings
are yellow above, witli a large central ocelliform
spot, which is black, with a white elongated pupil ;
behind this eye there is a black semicircular band,
succeeded by another parallel one which is ferru-
ginous ; the inner margin of the wing is likewise
ferruginous. On the under side the wings in ques-
tion are yellow, with a transverse ferruginous ray.

The caterpillar is rather thick and fleshy; light
green, with a lateral stripe of ferruginous and white,
commencing at the fourth segment from the head
and terminating at the anus ; each segment bears a
transverse row of large tufts of hair. It may be
called polyphagous, feeding on Indian corn, dog-
wood, sassafras, &c. The pupa is very dark brown,
approaching to black, and if Abbot's delineation be
correct, free from hairs. The author just alluded
to found the caterpillar spin up on 27tli September,
and the fly appeared on the wing on the 17th of
May, and continued coming out at different times
till the 15th of August following. The caterpillar
stings very severely, and encloses itself in a brown
web on the leaves. It is not very common, and is
a very tender fly to keep in cabinets, the male
sooner decaying than any other. When young, the
caterpillars feed in large companies, but ultimately
become solitary.

158

CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS.

The nearly allied species Aglia Tau, has the
wings testaceous, with a large discoidal subviolace-
ous ocellus on each, having a white mark like the
letter T as a pupil. It is a native of Europe, and
was introduced by Martyn, in his Aurelian's Yade
Mecum, as a native of Britain ; no doubt through
some mistake, for his statement has never been con-
firmed.

CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS.

PLATE XVII. Fig. 1.

Bombyx imperialis, Fair. Gmel . — Phalcena imperatoria, Abbot

and Smith, Lepid. Gear., ii. pi. 55 Ceratoeampa imperialis,

Harris, Westwood's Dniry, i. pi. 9, figs. 1, 2.

Tins genus was proposed by Kirby, under the name
of Cerocampa, for the reception of the insect above
named, and that delineated on the following plate.
The term was subsequently changed by Dr. Harris
(Append, to Hitchcock’s Geology of Massackuscts)
to that above used (derived from xioara, cornua,
and xafiirr), eruca J, and the change has been sanc-
tioned by some recent authors adopting it. Although
Kirby designed the genus as constituted by him to
include both B. imperialis and B. regalis, Fab., nei-

/ Ceratocampa imperial is.

2 ■ 3. Harpy ia ? Hank star « £ Caterpillar.

,,

V

.

CERATOCAMPA imperialis'. 159

tlier the appearance of the caterpillars, chrysalides,
nor the form of the wings in the perfect insect, will
fully authorise this, and wo have accordingly given
another generic designation to the latter.

The antennaa of C. imperialis are reddish-brown ;
head, thorax, and abdomen yellow, the two latter
with various clouds and spots of light reddish-brown
with a purple gloss. The upper wings are of a
beautiful bright yellow, with several large patches
and numerous small rounded spots of reddish-brown
glossed with purple sprinkled over the surface ; the
dark clouds vary somewhat in their size and form,
but commonly there is a broad patch occupying the
external margin of the wing, from which a curved
band runs down the middle and turns forward to
the anterior edge near the centre, from which it
follows the margin to the base ; the w r hole of the
latter is occupied by a large cloud. The ground
colour of the hinder wings is likewise bright yel-
low, with a purplish-brown cloud near the base, a
brown eye with a small light spot in its centre on
the disk, and beyond that an undulated bar of
purple-brown ; there are likewise many irregular
specks scattered over the surface, most numerous
beyond the transverse bar. The under side is of the
same bright yellow as the upper, with sprinkled
spots of brown, each wing with a reddish-brown
eye in the centre, that on the upper wings having a
round brown spot above it ; all the clouds, however,
have disappeared, except that along the exterior and
anterior margins. Expansion of the wings from

160 CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS.

four to six inches, the female considerably larger
than the male.

The caterpillar, which is well figured by Abbot
and Smith (vol. ii. pi. 55), varies very much in
colour, being sometimes, as these authors express it,
tawny like a negro, at other times orange and
tawny, and occasionally green. It has two short
rugose horns on each of the second and third seg-
ments, and some minute sharp points on the others,
from which pretty dense tufts of long rigid hairs
arise. There is a small yellow spot, surrounded
with a black ring, on the side of all the segments,
except the three immediately behind the head. It
feeds on the plane-tree ( Platanus occidentalism Linn.),
likewise on the oak, liquid-amber, and pine. The
species breeds twice a-year, in June and September.
“ The caterpillar,” says Abbot, “ went into the
ground September 16, and came out July 4th. The
caterpillars are not common, and are the most diffi-
cult of all to bring to perfection in confinement, as
they will not eat in that situation ; and even if they
change into a chrysalis, they die afterwards."

I

PLATE 18

DorycamptL TegaZis

161

DORYCAMPA* REGALIS.

PLATE XVIII.

Bombyx regalis, Fair. — Phal. regia, Abbot and Smith, Lepid.
Georg., ii. pi. 61. — Cerocampa regalis, Kirby.

This moth is among the largest of the nocturnal
Lepidoptera of America, and in many respects a
remarkable one. From the thickness of the body
and general aspect it is not unlike a gigantic Cossus.
The figure on the annexed plate is that of a female,
somewhat reduced in size. The antennas of the male
are pectinated, those of the female setaceous. The
wings are rounded on their external margin, but
considerably more so in the female than the male.
The ground colour of the upper wings is greyish-
brown, of a deeper or lighter tint in different indi-
viduals, with a series of large yellow patches rather
behind the middle, others of smaller size at the base,
and two or three towards the centre ; all the ner-
vures are accompanied with a regular reddish stripe.
The under wings are reddish-brown, the nervures
red, a few yellow clouds anteriorly, an indistinct i
yellow band beyond the middle, and a series of
black angular spots towards the hindor extremity.
Head yellow; thorax reddish-brown, with a band
in front, two diverging dorsal stripes, and two spots
* Aofu, kasta , and xetjuirn-, eruca.

162 IjORYCAMPA REGALIS.

behind, yellow. Abdomen reddish-brown, each seg-
ment with a yellow band. The female often mea-
sures half a foot between the tips of the wings, the
male somewhat less.

The caterpillar when full grown is about fire
inches and a half in length; of a yellowish-green
colour, inclining in some places to blue, each seg-
ment armed with a few black setose spines. On
the three segments immediately behind the head,
the spines are of very great length, curved and
granular, the upper half black, the under reddish-
yellow.

DORYCAMPA REGALIS.

163

When the caterpillar raises its head, and draws
the anterior segments together, as it is in the habit of
doingwhen disturbed, it has averyformidable appear-
ance, the spines forming a kind of crest over its head.
At the same time it shakes its head from side to
side as if preparing to make an attack on its as-
sailant. By the natives of Virginia it is called the
Hickory Homed Devil, and Abbot states that they
are so afraid of it that he never saw one who would
venture to handle it, people in general dreading it
as much as a rattle-snake. “ Nevertheless,” he adds,
“ it is perfectly harmless, neither stinging by its
horns nor any other part. When I have handled
this animal in the presence of the negroes, to con-
vince them it was innocent, they would reply that
it could not sting me, but would them.”

When the caterpillar changes its last skin, the
horns fall off along with it. It feeds on Persim-
mon ( Diospyros Virginiana , Linn.), walnut, hic-
kory, and sumach. Abbot found one to enter the
ground on the 16th June, and the fly came out on
the 27th July; another on the 5th August, and
remained in the chrysalis till May 9tli. The chry-
salis is comparatively short and thick, with a small
mucro at the tail, and the edges of the segments
without spinuke ; in these respects differing much
from the chrysalis of C. imperialism which is rather
narrow' and elongated, the tail of considerable length
and bifid at the extremity, and the edges of the
segments armed with a regular series of spines.

1G4

HARPYIA ? BANKSIAE.

PLATE XVII. Fig. 2.

Lewin's Lepidopterous Insects of New South IFa.’ei, pi. 9.

We believe that this conspicuous moth has been
referred to the genus Harpyia by Boisduval, but it
may well be questioned whether that be its proper
situation. It seems to offer sufficiently distinct
marks to form the type of a new genus.

The male expands upwards of two inches, the
female three inches four lines. The upper wings
are of a leaden colour, slightly glossed with purple,
having several black marks, and freckled here and
there with white and orange dots, and several clouds
and dashes of tho same. The hinder wings are
brown and glossy in the female, whitish aud silvery
in the male, the base tinged with orange. Thorax
black, with two large white patches spotted with
red anteriorly; abdomen orange, with a rounded
black spot at the side of each segment, and the
hinder extremity black.

The caterpillar (Plate XYII. fig. 3) is a very
beautiful one and bears considerable resemblance to
that of a sphinx both in form and markings. The

HAIiPYIA BANKSIJE.

165

colour is greenish-yellow, each segment with an
oblique whitish stripe directed backwards. All the
segments have round white spots surrounded with
hlack on the lower parts, and on each side rather
above the middle, from the fourth to the eleventh
segment inclusively, there is a cluster of three or
four round white spots placed on a hlack ground.
The anal segment bears a small black horn, and
wants the upper lateral spots. This caterpillar feeds
on the Banksia Ilicifolia, and when near its trans-
formation, it is, to use Lewin’s words, of consider-
able hulk, very showy, and in general a great de-
vourer. He found it change to a pupa in February,
spinning on the surface of the earth a slight web or
cell, and collecting about it some fragments of earth
and leaves in order to disguise it. It remained in
this dormant state thirty-six days, and was on the
wing in March. The moth occurs in the neigh-
bourhood of Sidney.

ARCTIIDiE.

Many of the families into which the nocturnal
Lepidoptera have been divided by authors, however
distinct they may appear when viewed at their ex-
treme points of difference, comprise species of so
ambiguous a character, that it is not easy to pre-

166

Anemia.

scribe a definite line of boundary. The character-
istic peculiarity of the Arctiidae, however, is, that
they have the wings deflexed in repose, the posterior
pair not extending beyond the costa of the anterior,
and they are connected together by an apparatus
consisting of a kind of ring in the one which re-
ceives an elastic spine from the other, thus forming
a connexion, but still admitting of considerable in-
dependent motion. The antennas are bipectinated,
sometimes serrated ; palpi rather small, mostly tri-
articulate ; spiral tongue generally short, and some
times altogether wanting. The caterpillars of the
more typical species are densely clothed with hairs ;
sometimes with long fascicles or tufts of peculiarly
formed hairs ; and in some cases they are naked.
They feed externally on plants.

This family corresponds to the Faux-Bomijyx
( Pseudo-Bombyces j of Latreille. It comprehends
a great number of species, many of which are con-
spicuous from their rich colouring, but they never
make any approach to the size of the gigantic
Bombycidee.

I

I

/ Art-tea Hebe.

2 Spilosania Arpe.

3 _ Vu\(/o.

4 Cater, of do. 5 Chrys of do.

lixars

167

ARCTIA HEBE.

PLATE XIX. Fig. 1.

Shrank, b. ii. 152. — Bombyx Hebe, Linn. Hubner, Bo., pL 30,
fig. 129 ; RoescI, Insecten Belustigung, iv. t. 27, figs. 1, 2 ;
Goedart, Pap. do France.

This insect, belonging to the same genus as the well
known Great Tiger Moth of this country, has been
mentioned by several authors as a native of Britain,
but although occuring in several parts of the con-
tinent of Europe in some plenty, there is no authen-
ticated instance of its having been found here. It
is a handsome insect, measuring two inches and a
quarter between the tips of the wings ; the anterior
pair of the latter deep black, with five irregular
white bars, the two exterior ones united by a longi-
, tudinal white bar. The posterior wings are deep
red, with several abbreviated irregular black fascite ;
the fringe likewise black. Head and thorax deep
black, the collar bright red ; abdomen of the same
colour as the hinder wings ; the apex and a broad
dentate band down the back black.

Several varieties are described by Goedart; 1st,
one in which the third band of the upper wings is

168

ARCTIA HEBE.

sometimes wanting, at other times replaced by a
mere point ; 2d, one in which the bands and spots
of the under wings are bordered with yellow ; and,
3dly, one haying more black than red in the under
wings ; but this is of rare occurrence.

The caterpillar is black, with tubercles of the
same colour, each of them bearing pretty long
hairs, which are grey on the back, greyish-yellow
on the sides, and deep red near the belly. It feeds
on a great variety of common plants, such as
dandelion, millefoil, &c. It passes the winter un-
changed, its metamorphoses taking place about the
beginning of May in the following year. The co-
coon is white and soft, but rather densely woven ;
the chrysalis black.

The Hebe moth (so called from h£jj, youth , , on
account of its beauty) is not rare in many parts of
the continent of Europe, but is most plentiful in
the south. In France it is common in the vicinity
of the Mediterranean, becomes rarer in the central
provinces, and is confined to particular localities in
the neighbourhood of Paris.

V

PLATE 20.

> °0 O o

1. Spilosoma acrea, 2. Cater, of do.

3. Chrysalis of do 4.Arctia ■ OculatisstTiuv .

]()9

ARCTIA OCULATISSIMA.

PLATE XX. Fig. 4.

Homliyx ocularia, Fubr. ; Cramer, t. 344, fig. D, and vol. v.
pi. 41, fig. 3. — Phal. oculatissima, Abbot arid Smith, Lepid.

Georg., ii. pi. 69 Phal. Noct. Scribonia, Stoll., pi. 41, fig. 3.

— ISombyx cliryseis ? Encyc. Meth.

The Great Leopard Ermine Moth, like several
others of the same tribe we have figured, is a
native of Georgia and other parts of North America,
but it does not appear to be very common. The
wings of the female expand three inches three
quarters, those of the male nearly 'an inch less.
Antennas black ; head white, with a black point on
each side near the insertion of the antennae. Thorax
with ten or twelve black spots, some or all of them
with a pale bluish-white centre, making them ap-
pear annular; the two hinder spots largest, and
somewhat curved. Ground colour of the wings
white, the surface of the upper pair variegated with
black spots, most of which are ocular, placed irregu-
larly towards the base, but having a tendency to
form transverse rows externally ; the hinder wings
also white, with a few faint black spots behind.
The abdomen is blue-black, variegated on the back

170 ARCTIA OCULATISSIMA

and sides with orange-yellow ; legs white, the ex-
tremities with black rings.

The caterpillar feeds on the wild sun-flower
( Polymnia letragonothcca ? J, wild cherry, persim-
mon ( Diospyros VirginianaJ, and several other
plants. When young, it is one-half orange-coloured
and the other black. At its full growth it becomes
brownish-black, with an orange-red band along each
side ; the incisures of the segments and legs likewise
of that colour. The hairs are placed on tubercles
alternately nearer the anterior edges of each seg-
ment, so that they form a pretty broad band, and
leave the rest of the body naked. When about to
change to a chrysalis, it spins a thin gummy yellow
web, something like that constructed on the same
occasion by our common tiger-moth. Some observed
by Abbot spun on the 14th March, and came out
on the 18 th of April ; others spun on the 15 th of
June, and appeared on the wing July 7th.

It might be supposed from the general appearance
of this moth that it would be a Spilosoma, but the
caterpillar and chrysalis indicate a closer relation to
Arctia. The species figured by Cramer under the
name of Cunigunda is closely allied to it; but the
latter is of smaller size, has the annular spots tinged
with brown in the centre, and the abdomen is
variegated with brown. It is a native of Surinam,
Cayenne, &c.

171

SPILOSOMA ACREA.

PLATE XX. Fig. 1.

Bombyx acrea, Fair Phal. acrea, A Hot and Smith, Lepid.

Georg., pi. 67 Spilosoma acrea. West. Drury, i. pi. 3, figs. 2

- and 3 Arctia Pscuderminea, Peck.

This genus (the name of which is derived from
aviXo;, macula, and eu/j.u, cropus ) was first named
by Mr. Stephens, in his Illustrations of British
Entomology, and characterised in the following
manner : Palpi short, a little descending, triarticu-
late, the two basal joints very hairy, the terminal
scaly, the basal joint somewhat longer than the
second, the apical rather small, oval, subconic ;
maxillae short; antennae slightly bipcctinated in the
males, serrated in the females, each articulation
with a bristle at the apex ; head rather small, hairy ;
thorax and abdomen rather stout in both sexes,
the latter slightly tufted in the male, acute in the
female ; wings trigonate, deflexed, and opaque ; legs
moderately stout ; anterior tibiae short, with a spine
internally, the four posterior with spurs at the apex.
Larva slightly tuberculated, each tubercle producing
a whisker of hairs ; pupa obtuse, folliculated.

It contains a great number of species both British
and foreign, remarkable for their beautiful white

SPILOSOMA ACREA.

172

colour, spotted with black ; on which account the}’
have been named Ermine and Leopard moths.
Like the tiger-moths, to which they are nearly re-
lated, they are subject to great variety in their
markings, even in the same species ; of the common
British species, S. menthastri, not fewer than eight
well marked varieties have been described.

The wings of the male of S. acrca expand about
two inches, those of the female two inches three
quarters. Head, thorax, and upper -wings of the
male cream-coloured, the surface of the latter with
numerous small black spots, five of which are placed
in a regular row along the anterior border, and six
on the external one ; hinder wings entirely yellow’,
with a few black spots near the external edge and
middle. The abdomen is yellow, with a row of
black spots down the centre, and another on each
side ; the apex cream-coloured.

In the female all the wings are white, with nu-
merous black spots, which are very variable in their
distribution, hut there is a marginal row on the
hinder wings which does not exist in the other sex.
The abdomen is coloured nearly as in the male ; eyes
and antennae in both sexes black.

The caterpillar is said to he white when young,
and to become nearly black when full grown, a
transition to two extremes which is not common
even among a 'race of creatures subject to great
variation in regard to colour. In its intermediate
stages, the prevailing hue is reddish-brown. When
it has attained the period of its growth at which we

SPIL0S0MA ACJiEA. 173

have figured it (Plate XX. fig. 2), it is brownish-
black, with two yellow lines along the sides, and a
transverse series of orange-coloured spots on each
segment. From the back of each segment arises a
scopiform tuft of blackish hairs, of considerable
length. The cocoon is oblong, and of a yellowish-
brown colour. (Plate XX. fig. 3.)

This insect is pretty nearly related to one or two
species of the same genus common in Britain. It
seems to be very plentiful in several parts of Ame-
rica, particularly in Maryland, "Virginia, and the
vicinity of New York. Abbot states that he found
the caterpillar on the cancer weed ( Crotidaria per -
foliata ? ) in May, but that it is a general devourer
of almost all field and garden plants and weeds. It
spun up, in a thin web intermixed with its own
hairs, on the 16th of May; the moth came out
June 2. Others of the autumnal brood, taken in
September, spun on the 18th of that month, and
remained in the chrysalis till the 21st of April.
The moth is less frequently seen than the cater-
pillar, as every one must have observed to be the
case with our own tiger-moth ( Arctia cajaj. Dr.
Harris, an American entomologist, has published
an account of this caterpillar in the Massachusets
Agricultural Repository, under the title of “ The
Natural History of the Salt-marsh Caterpillar,” the
name by which it is generally known. It is ex-
tremely destructive to almost all kinds of grasses.
“ When nearly full fed,” says the author alluded to,
“ they become very voracious, and continue eating

SPILOSOMA ARGE.

174

all the day and night without intermission. Soon
they leave the meadows, aggregated in great num-
bers, and commence the wandering state, or begin to
run, as is the phrase, devouring every thing in their
progress ; corn-fields, gardens, and even the coarse
and rank produce of road-sides, afford them tempo-
rary nourishment, until they have found a place of
security from the wind and weather. *

SPILOSOMA ARGE.

PLATE XIX. Fig. 2.

I’lialaena (Noctua) arge, Drury, vol. i. pi. 18, f. 3. — Phalirna
(Bombyx) Dione, Fabr.; Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg .,
vol. ii. pL 63.

Nearly all the Tiger and Ermine moths are subject
to great variation in their markings, but the present
species seems to exceed even the usual limits in this
respect. The ground colour of the upper wings and
thorax is generally cream-colour, at other times it is
of delicate pink ; the surface variegated with nu-
merous black lines and angular spots. The hinder
wings are either cream-colour or tinged with red,
having a fulvous marginal line and many oblong
black spots posteriorly. The antennae are black at
* Quoted in Westwood’s Drury, i. 7.

SPILOSOMA VIRGO.

175

the extremities ; neck red, with two small black
streaks above it ; thorax with a black stripe in the
centre and another on each side; abdomen with
three rows of black spots, those along the back be-
ing largest. Anterior thighs red, having two black
spots on them close to the head.

Abbot has given an accurate delineation of the
caterpillar. It is dark brown, with five pale or
yellow longitudinal stripes, each segment bearing a
transverse row of fulvous tubercles from which
springs a dense tuft of brown hairs, It feeds on a
great variety of plants, but it seems to prefer plan-
tain (Plantago major J, Indian corn, and pease.
A specimen kept by Abbot was hatched on the
23d of July, spun the 28th August, and the fly
appeared September 9th. The chrysalis has five
reddish bands, and terminates in a small mucro.

SPILOSOMA VIRGO.

PLATE XIX. Fig. 3.

Phatena Virgo, Linn. ; Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg., ii. pi. 62.
— Bombyx Virgo, Fabr. ; Encyc. Math.

The antennas of this handsome moth are ferruginous :
thorax cream coloured or fulvous, with three broad
black stripes, and two small spots of the same

SPILOSOMA YIRGO.

176

colour over tlie eyes. Anterior wings black, with
numerous cream-coloured or fulvous stripes dividing
the ground colour into many triangular, quadrate,
and linear spots. The hinder wings are reddish-
yellow, with several large angular black spots to-
wards the posterior margin. Abdomen reddish or
fulvous with a macular or continuous black hand
down the centre.

The caterpillar is brown, with several yellow
tubercles on each segment, bearing tufts of hair :
head and membranous legs yellow. (Plate XIX.
fig. 4.) It feeds,” says Abbot, “ on several species
of mimosa, commonly called the sensible briar,
panting briar, &c., as well as on some other plants.
It spun up June 10th, and on the 20th September
the moth came out. In Virginia it spins in April,
and comes forth in May. This is not a common
kind. The caterpillar, when kept in confinement, is
apt to die before it changes to a chrysalis.” The
chrysalis is of a delicate lilac colour. (Plate XIX.
fig. 5.)

PLATE 21.

/ '/ / imacvdt w Ct'pptis • L : ( VUt / pi lhu\
;i. frEcnomidea pitkccium. <(• Cater.

l.iuirs sc.

177

LIMACODES CIPPUS.

PLATE XXL Fig. 2.

Phalaena Cippus, Cramer, Pap. Exot., i. pi. 53, fig. E. — Bom-
byx Cippus, Fabr., Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg., ii. pi. 73.

The generic name (which signifies resembling a
snail) refers to the appearance of the caterpillar,
which is one of the most singular of the nocturnal
Lepidoptera. It is destitute of feet, properly so
called, their place being supplied merely by a few
protuberances ; and along the under side of the
body there is a soft pliable membrane, always co-
vered with a kind of glutinous matter, by means of
which and the aid of the protuberances the creature
is enabled to slide rather than creep over the surface
of a body. The back appears composed of three
parts, the intermediate of which is separated from
the others by a kind of keel, and is oval, a little
pointed at both ends ; the lateral parts projecting a
little beyond the edges of the body, properly so
called, and forming a kind of ledge when viewed
from below. The head is entirely retractile, and
concealed under a circular portion of the ledge
alluded to, which hangs over it like a kind of hood.

M

LIMACODES CIPPUS.

178

The oval form of the body, and general appearance,
make these larvas somewhat to resemble an Oniscus,
on which account they are named Chenilles-cloportes
by French authors.

In the perfect insects the antennae of the males
are simple, stout, and compressed, rather serrated,
pilose at the apex ; those of the females slender, a
little serrated towards the apex, which is acute.
Head of moderate size, and very hairy; maxillae
obsolete; palpi short, and densely covered with
scales, triarticulate, basal joint short, second as long
as the other two, robust, the terminal one the
length of the first, slender and subfusiform. Thorax
and abdomen both rather robust, the latter a little
tufted at the extremity in both sexes: wings de-
flexed ; anterior elongate, subtrigonate, posterior
margins rounded ; legs very stout and short ; thighs
and tibiae with a broad fringe of hairs ; anterior
tibiae simple, the rest with spines at the apex. *

The pretty little species figured at 2, measures
about an inch between the tips of the wings. Ground
colour of the superior wings brown, with several
deltoid green spots, arranged somewhat longitudi-
nally, on the surface of each ; hinder wings light
brown, without spots. Head and thorax of the
same colour as the ground of thonpper wings, and
the abdomen like that of the under pair.

Tho caterpillar (fig. 1) inclines to purple on the
sides, each of which has three longitudinal yellow'

Stephens’ Illus. Ilaust.

.

t

PLATE 22.

12. Limacodes Afi cilia .

3.4. 5 Doratifera vulncrans.

lizars sc

LIMACODES MICILIA. 179

stripes margined on the under side with black. The
central part of the back is dark, and the pointed
projection brownish-red. It feeds on the dog-wood
( Cornu t Florida, Linn.), oak, and other trees. It
was observed by Abbot to make its web on the 14th
of September, and the moth appeared July 22. He
states that it is not common, though found in Vir-
ginia as well as Georgia. It occurs also in Surinam,
and probably in many other parts of America.

LIMACODES MICILIA.

PLATE XXII. Fig. 2. 1

Cramer, Pap. Exot., pi. 228, fig. G.

Expansion of the wings nearly two inches. Wings
brilliant blue ; the superior pair with a small white
transparent streak towards the base, a large angular
transverse white space in the middle, and an oval
spot of the same description near the apex ; under
wings having a broad white stripe running through
the middle from the base nearly to the hinder mar-
gin. The body is blue and glossy; antennse plu-
mose : legs red.

The caterpillar (Plate XXII. fig. 1) is thick and
fleshy, and of large size compared with the perfect

180

LIMACODES MICILIA.

insect. The greater part of the body is green, with
a large saddle-shaped yellowish-grey space on the
back : numerous thick spinous elevations, garnished
with strong hairs, rise both from the anterior and
posterior part of the body, and along the sides there
is a series of smaller ones of a pink colour. The head
is extremely small, and the segments are scarcely
discernible viewed from above. This caterpillar feeds
on the leaves of the sweet orange. It prepares a
globose-oval cocoon of light yellowish-brown silk :
the chrysalis is short and contracted : the butterfly
comes forth from it in six or seven days.

This singular insect is a native of Surinam. It
has a very close resemblance to Phal. (Bombyx)
Caeleslina of Cramer and Stoll, from the same coun-
try, but the latter is much smaller, the colouring of
the surface slightly different, and the legs are bluish-
black. The caterpillar, as represented by Stoll
(plate 21, fig. 2), has the greater part of the body
covered by a kind of shield, of a green colour, edged
with yellow, on the hinder part of which are two
rounded tufts of velvet black. A considerable num-
ber of similar tufts likewise exist on the anterior
segments.

181

DORATIFERA* VULNERANS.

PLATE XXII. Fig. 5.

Bombyx vulnerans, Lewin's Lepid. of New South Wales, pi. 4.

It is much to be wished that Lewin had supplied
us with a more minute description of this insect in
its different states, that no doubt might exist with
regard to the place it ought to occupy, and that its
generic characters might be given in detail. There
can be no doubt, however, but that it belongs to
the same subsection of the Arctiidao as Limacodes,
and indeed a pretty close analogy can be traced be-
tween its caterpillar and some of those of the South
American Limacodes. The singular formation of
the caterpillar, and the unusually thick body of the
moth (a property for which the South American
species are no way remarkable, although their larvae
are so massive), sufficiently justify its separation
generically from the other kinds, even without ad-
ducing more minute particulars.

The sexes of the perfect insect are very much
alike, the male being rather smallost, the expansion

From Tiastile, and Qi(v,fero.

182

DORATIFERA VULNERANS.

of the wings not exceeding an inch and two lines.
The anterior wings are ferruginous, with a silvery
margin, the surface with numerous transverse lines
formed of tufts of a chesnut colour, changeable in
different lights. The posterior wings are dull white ;
thorax and abdomen light brown.

The larva (Plate XXII. fig. 3) is of very singular
aspect, broad, thick, and massive, with four reddish
protuberances on the anterior part of the body, and
four behind. These knobs it has the power of open-
ing at pleasure, and darting out eight rays or bunches
of little stings of a yellow colour. The general hue
of the body is grey, with numerous black spots and
streaks, the back with a large pale-coloured patch,
marked with several curved black figures. There are
likewise two reddish tufts on the head, and two
others at the hinder extremity. It feeds on the leaves
of the stringy hark tree of the colonists ; changes to
a pupa in the beginning of February, fastening itself
to the stem of a leaf, and spinning a close case
in the form of an egg, which it agglutinates by the
moisture of its mouth into a hard crust of a brown
colour, appearing like a kind of fruit hanging on
the tree (fig. 4). It remains in this state twenty-two
days, and is on the wing in the same month.

The wound inflicted by the little fascicles of
stings is described by Lewin as very painful and
venomous, and it darts them forth whenever it is
alarmed by the motion of any thing approaching.
They must prove a very powerful defence against
birds and many other enemies. It is to be regretted

ECNOMIDEA PITHECIUM.

183

that an accurate account has not been given of the
nature of these appendages, as their occurrence is so
rare among this tribe of insects. It is probable,
however, that the projected points are not stings
properly so called, but merely sharp needle-like
pieces, charged with some acrid or poisonous mat-
ter.

The arrangement and appearance of the tufts on
the caterpillar of Limacodes Ccelestina, formerly al-
luded to, arc so similar to those of D. vulnerans,
that it is no way improbable that they may possess
like properties. But with regard to this and other
species of similar construction, this point can be
ascertained only by the observation of living speci-
mens.

ECNOMIDEA* PITHECIUM.

PLATE XXI. Fig. 4.

Bombyx Pitheeium, Abbot and Smith's Lepid. Georg., pi. 74.

Tois insect belongs to another group nearly related
to Limacodes, but even of more singular aspect in
the larva state, insomuch that it becomes indispen-

* From ixne/ios, inusitatus, and ih'ut, forma; in allusion to the
singular shape of the larva.

184

ECNOMIDEA PIIIIECIUM.

sable to assign it a new generic name, as has been
done above. Altogether only three of these curious
moths have fallen under our observation, and they
have so many points in common, that they may be
all included, at least provisionally, in the present
genus. The perfect insects are in no way remark-
able, but the caterpillars are furnished with long
lateral appendages, commonly curved backwards,
and so disposed as to take away all resemblance to
a lepidopterous larva. So much is this the case,
that Madame Merian, speaking of the one she has
figured, says that she found this rare animal on a
citron, and although it was entirely different from a
caterpillar, it produced a very pretty moth. Her
delineation was the first that appeared of one of
these caterpillars, and it seems to have attracted so
little attention, that we are not aware that even a
specific name has been given to it. Stoll figured ano-
ther, which he found to produce the moth described
by Cramer under the name of Phal. ( Bomlyx )
Hipparchia (pi. 185, fig. D). The third, which has
been engraved on the accompanying plate, was
figured by Abbot and Smith in their joint work on
the Lepidoptera of Georgia.

All these caterpillars are rather of small si?e ;
have the head minute and retractile as in Lima-
codes; the body somewhat flat, and on each side
are three long projecting appendages covered with
hair, having a small fleshy protuberance between
them terminating in a hair ; and there are two other
projecting pieces, of intermediate size, behind the

ECN0M1DEA P1THECICM.

185

head, and a rather larger pair over the tail. The
individual figured by Madame Merian ( Surin. Ins.
pi. 28) has the lateral appendages rounded at the
extremity, and the body is mottled. She affirms that
it is venomous, and that the parts of the body which
it touches become stiff and inflamed; a statement
which the history already given of the larva of Dora-
ticampa tends directly to confirm. The caterpillar of
E. Hipparchia (according to Stoll) is of a uniform
light brown colour ; when it changes to a chrysalis
the lateral flaps are folded round it. The moth is
reddish-brown, the upper wings variegated with a
lighter colour, each having a round white spot be-
yond the middle and a narrow curved band of the
same colour not far from the anterior margin.

The moth here figured, E. PitJiecium , has the
upper wings bluish, with transverse waved bands of
yellowish-brown, and moro or less clouded with
dusky : hinder wings entirely brown, with a narrow
yellow line within the fringe ; body of the female
rather thick, thorax and abdomen bluish, the former
brown on the side, and the latter with brown rings.
The body of the male is wholly light brown with
clouds of a deeper colour, the abdomen tufted at the
apex. The female expands an inch and three lines,
the male somewhat less.

The caterpillar (Plate XXI. fig. 3) is wholly
brown, the head alone being yellow. It feeds on
persimmon and the various kinds of oaks. Abbot
states that it is found both in Georgia and Virginia,
but it is very rare. His specimen spun on the 10th

186

IlYPERCOMPA SYBARIS.

July, and the moth was produced on the 31st. The
cocoon is almost globose. The name Pithecium
has been suggested by the uncouth figure of the
larva, which the author just mentioned likewise
calls the Bat-caterpillar.

HYPERCOMPA? SYBARIS.

PLATE XXIII. Fig. 1.

Phalaena (Bombyx) Sybaris, Cramer, pi. 71, fig. E. ; Palisot da
Beauvois, Ins. d'Afr.et Amer. Lepid., pl.24, fig. 7. — Bombyx
eredula, Fabr. Ent. Syst., vol. iii. part i. p. 47 5.

This beautiful insect is evidently closely allied to
Hypercompa dominula, agreeing therewith in the
arrangement of the wing-veins*, palpi, spiral tongue,
and short spurs on the hind legs. The specimen
figured by Cramer is a male, having the antenna?
shortly bipectinated ; that here represented is a
female, with slender setaceous antennae, each joint
emitting a very short fine seta beneath.

The confines of the families Arctiidae, Lithosiidae,
and Tineidae are so close, that it is impossible in

* There is a slight difference in the branch of the post-
costal vein, which runs to the apex of the fore wings, being
simple in Sybaris, whereas it is furcate in Dominula. The
shape of the wings is also different.

„

a \v iV% v .v wW\*N '!

PLATE 25.

/. II vprrrrtmptL Sr la/' is.

2. Ca/Iimarp/ia Jlylrita,

3. jPhiltta*

HYPERCOMPA SYBARIS. 187

tlie present state of our knowledge to lay down
characters which shall exclusively distinguish the
species belonging to each. Thus, although Mr.
Curtis asserts, under Callimorpha, that a long spiral
proboscis and simple antenna?, in both sexes, distin-
guish the Lithosiidse from the Arctiidce, we find
the present insect possesses the long spiral tongue
of the former, and the male the pectinated antenna
of the latter family.

The whole colour of this moth is black, with
numerous white spots, there being twenty of the
latter on each of the fore wings, and eighteen on
each of the hind wings, the latter being placed in
three irregular rows. The sides of the head are
white ; there are four minute white dots on the
collar, succeeded by a row of eight on the front of
the thorax ; there are also two on the scutellum,
and the apex of each of the lappets is white ; there
are also two on the postscutellum, and four on each
of the abdominal segments.

The specimen here figured is from St. Domingo,
and is contained in the collection of the Reverend
F. W. Hope.

The expansion of the wings is two inches and a
half.

188

LITHOSIIDJE.

This family was proposed by Stephens for the re-
ception of a few moths, which he characterises as
having the antennas moderate, very slender, seta-
ceous, sometimes pectinated or ciliated in the males ;
palpi not longer than the head, cylindric, terminal
joint as short as, or shorter, than the second ; spiral
tongue generally longer than the head ; wings hori-
zontal, somewhat elliptic, the posterior much folded,
the anterior without stigmata, thorax not crested,
body slender. The larva is fusiform, sometimes
hairy, with sixteen legs, solitary, either residing in
a common web, or subcutaneous.

This family is of limited extent, but the species
are generally of great beauty; their gay colours
emulating those of butterflies, which they resemble
by flying occasionally in the day, although the twi-
light is their proper season of activity. It is diffi-
cult to determine their true relations, for they seem
to touch upon different families according to the
point of view under which they are regarded. Lin-
nmus referred such as were known to him either to
the Tine®, Bombyces, er Nocture, and they exhibit
peculiarities which render such a distribution not
unnatural, although they are now included in one
group.

189

CALLIMORPHA HELCITA.

PLATE XXIII. Fig. 2.

Pap. Helcita, Linn Phalama maeularia, Fabr. ; Drury , E*ot.

Ent., vol. iii. pi. 29, fig. 4.

We had occasion in a former volume to notice some
of the British species of this beautiful group, and
we now describe two examples of exotic forms. The
genus is very closely allied to the Arctiidse, through
Hypercompa, and may be briefly defined as having
the antennas, in the male, subciliatcd ; palpi three-
jointed, the second and third joints nearly equal ;
the fore wings subtrigonate, and not showing any
tendency to become truncate.

The species here figured was at first placed among
the Papiliones by Linnseus in his Syst. Nat. (2. 763.
94), and it must be admitted to bear a great resem-
blance to some of the diurnal tribes, particularly
certain kinds of Danais, in the nature and brilliancy
of its colours. The expansion of tho wings is about
three inches and a half : head, thorax, and abdomen
deep black, the two last marked with three rows of
white spots, one on the back and another on each
side. The upper wings are of a beautiful deep red
the whole of the exterior part from a little beyond
the middle black, with a curved row of pretty large

190

CALLIMORPHA PHILETA.

white spots in its centre, the anterior ones, which
are largest, having a tendency to run together. The
under wings are of the same colours as the upper,
the hinder margin with a broad black border, in
which is placed at regular intervals a row of eight
oval white spots. Antennae black and setaceous ;
palpi yellow ; abdomen likewise yellow on the un-
der side, the breast and legs marked with white.

This insect is accounted very rare, and is there-
fore highly prized by collectors. It is said by
Drury, on the authority of Mr. Smeathman, to be
a native of Sierra Leone ; Linnaeus simply says
“ ah Indiis and Fabricius mentions India, which
is in all likelihood a mistake, if he meant to indi-
cate any thing else by the use of that word than
that the species was exotic. Mr. Smeathman states
that it is found in the Savannahs, and so inactive
in its motions that it is easily takcD.

CALLIMORPHA PHILETA.

PLATE XXIII. Fig. 3.

Phalaena (Noetua) Phileta, Drury, Exot. Ent., in. pi. 22, fig. 5.

Expands two inches and a half. Antennae black :
head and thorax deep red, the latter with several
black spots and streaks. Upper wings entirely
black, crossed by a white hand a little beyond the

PLATE 24

/ Detopdcb 6cIIcl. 2. Cydosia- nobiUtcZlct.

3. Chloridca Rhecciac. 4. ALaria/Frastria?/ Gaiirar.

A. Caterpillar of Do.

DEIOPEIA BELLA.

191

middle. Posterior wings yellow, margined exter-
nally with black ; abdomen likewise yellow, with
black streaks running across. Legs black, marked
i with white.

This, like the former, was brought from Sierra
i tieone by Mr. Smeathman.

DEIOPEIA BELLA.

PLATE XXIV. Fig. 1.

Phalsena (Tinea) bella, Linn.; Pair.; Cramer, Pap. Exot.,
pi. 109, fig. C. D. — Deiopeia bella, Westwood's Drury, i.
pi. 24, fig. 3.

In our volume on British Moths, we figured the
only native species of this pretty genus which we
possess, and as the generic characters are there spe-
cified, they need not be repeated in this place. They
are insects of rather delicate structure, below the
middle size, and generally displaying fine tints of
crimson or yellow with small spots of white. Many
of them are natives of the New World, but they
are likewise extensively distributed over the old
continent. The species here figured is found in
the neighbourhood of New York and other parts of
North America. It expands about an inch and

192

DEIOPEIA BELLA.

nine lines : anterior wings fine yellow, traversed
with several narrow irregular white bands, with a
series of black dots in each, and a regular row of
black dots on the outer margin ; the fringe pure
white. The hinder wings are scarlet, irregularly
margined with black behind ; the fringe white.
The thorax and abdomen are nearly white, the
former spotted with black ; antennae of the latter
colour.

D. ornatmx, — S uperior wings flesh-coloured, the anterior
border scarlet with four white spots having a black dot
in each, a regular row of black dots not far from the
exterior margin, within which are a few scarlet streaks :
there are likewise a few scarlet streaks near the base,
with one or two black dots : hinder wings white, with
a black border behind emitting broad patches inter-
nally : thorax spotted. Expansion one inch nine lines.
— Phal. o matrix, Linn. — Bombyx orn. Fabr., Drury , i.
pi. 24, fig. 2.

D. astrea. — Whole surface fulvous ; anterior wings with
seven transverse white bands spotted with black ; hin-
der wings with pretty large scattered black spots ; neck
with two black spots, thorax with four, abdomen with
three rows. Expansion one inch seven lines. — Phal.
astrea, Drury , i. pi. 6. fig. 3. — Phal. Geom. crilrata ,
Gmel. — Gold Coast, Africa.

193

CYDOSIA NOBILITELLA, Westwood,

PLATE XXIV. Fig. 2.

Phalaena nobilitella, Cramer, Pap. Exot., Plate 264.

This lovely insect belongs to the present family,
from the majority of which, however, it offers a
marked distinction in the splendour of its colours,
whilst the arrangement of the veins of the wings
appears to differ from all the rest. It seems doubt-
ful also whether the wings are convoluted when at
rest. The head, setaceous antennae, small palpi
closely applied to the lower part of the face, elon-
gated spiral tongue, and feet, agree with the typical
Lithosias. The medial vein of the fore wings has
the terminal branches all arising close together at
the extremity and at a great distance from the first
branch, and there are three * terminal branches as
in many of the Tortricidse (such as Cnephasia
longiana, Curtis, pi. 100, f. 9); but the terminal
branches of tho postcostal vein are similar to those
of Lithosia quadra, except that the third branch
anteriorly emits two branchlets, whereas in Lithosia

In Lithosia complana there are only two terminal branches.
IT

J94

CYDOSIA NOBILITELLA.

it emits a single branclilet, which is furcate ; more-
over, the vein connecting the postcostal and medial
veins in the middle of the wing is incomplete, so
that the great cell is posteriorly open.

The wings are shining, the anterior steel-blue,
each with about fourteen white marks of variable
form arranged thus 1 3 3 3.1.3; besides which
there are several minute white dots near the apex of
the wing ; there is also a rich shining orange spot
on the costa, near the base, and three transverse
bars of the same colour between the white spots :
the hind wings are white, with a broad black mar-
gin ; the thorax is steel-blue, with six white spots ;
the tippets have an orange spot at the base, with
the apex white; the scutellum has also a white
spot ; the abdomen is steel-blue ; the legs are black,
with white marks.

Cramer’s specimen was from the island of Cu-
ra 9 oa. That here figured is from the island of
St. Domingo, and is contained in the cabinet of the
Eev. F. W. Hope. The expansion of the wings is
one inch and a quarter.

195

NOCTUIDiE.

TnE present family is a very natural one, corre-
sponding to the section Phalana noctua of Linnaeus,
and containing no fewer than about eight hundred
European species, and four hundred British, besides
exotics. The genera already established are very
numerous, and in many cases founded in such mi-
nute structural differences, that they cannot be re-
cognised without great difficulty. The antennae are
simple and setiform, very rarely pectinated or cili-
ated in the males ; the body short and stout, the
thorax being often crested ; the mouth is well deve-
loped, the spiral tongue long, the palpi projecting,
and in general having the terminal joint naked, at
least at the tip. The wings are usually deflexed,
or folded on each side of the body, when in a state
of repose, but frequently they are horizontal, and
partly expanded. The caterpillars are very diversi-
fied, generally solitary, not residing in a web, and
apparently in no case subcutaneous. For the most
part they have sixteen feet. The pupa is never
suspended, and is almost always buried in the
earth.

198

EREBUS CREPUSCULARIS.

PLATE XXV. Fig. 1.

Phal. (Attacus) crepuscularis, Linn., Drury's Exot. Ins., vol.
pi. 20, figs. 1,2; Cramer, Pap. Exot., pi. 159, fig. A.

This genus, which corresponds to that named Thy-
sania, by Dalrnan, was established by Latreille, for
the reception of a group of exotic moths, which he
was of opinion should be separated from the Noc-
tuida;. They bear the wings always extended and
horizontal, and the last joint of the palpi is long,
slender, and naked. The genus comprises some of
the most gigantic moths with which w T e are ac-
quainted ; in particular, tho Erebus strix, or great
owl-moth of Brazil, which measures about a foot
from tip to tip of the expanded wings. The cater-
pillar of this superb moth, “ the glory of the Noc-
tuidse,” as it is termed by Kirby, is of a black
colour, with transverse green bands and a lateral
stripe, bearing pretty long tufts of fine hair, and
having an anal horn like the larva of a sphinx. (See
Merian’s Surinam Insects, pi. 20.) Not greatly in-
ferior in size is the E. odora, which occurs in many
of the West Indian islands. The prevailing hues
among them are very dark, and they are frequently

;

PLATE 23.

?.Triphaena mattrna . Bengal.

Iiiarsjc.

EREBUS CREPUSCULARIS. 197

ornamented with circular marks and waved trans-
verse lines of a lighter colour.

That which we have figured affords a very cha-
racteristic example of the group : it is a native of
the East Indies. The anterior wings are dark brown
at the base, but lighter towards the tip ; near the
middle there is a pale bar, which runs obliquely to
the middle, when it suddenly bends and runs to the
anterior margin ; just witliin it there is a large eye-
like mark ; not far from the margin there are seve-
ral dark and light-coloured spots. The under wings
are buff colour at the base, the rest rich brown,
and crossed by two undulating lines of deeper
brown, accompanied with a streak of buff. On the
under side all the wings are pale clay colour, in-
clining to buff, and there is a transverse irregular
series of light-coloured marks, a large one towards
the tip of the upper wings, and another on the
disk. The edges of all the wings are deeply scol-
loped. The body is of the same colour as the wings,
and without markings.

The example of this insect figured by Drury,
which he states to have come from China, is a
variety.

198

CHLORIDEA RHEXIjE.

PLATE XXIV. Fig. 3.

Phal. Rhexicc, Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg., pi. 100.

The insect to which we have applied the above
generic name is apparently allied to Xanthia of
Curtis, but not only differs in the character of the
colouring, but in several other respects. The upper
wings are long, rather narrow, and triangular, the
outer margin rounded, and having no tendency to a
subfalcate shape; the thorax robust and crested.
The caterpillar has eight abdominal and two anal,
besides the usual number of pectoral legs. Not
having had an opportunity of examining specimens,
we cannot enter into the examination of the minute
parts of structure.

The moth is very finely coloured, and bears some
resemblance, in that respect, to our native Tortrix
prasinana. The upper wings are green, with three
transverse stripes of yellow, a kidney shaped mark
on the disk, and a smaller rounded one before it ;
thorax green; abdomen and hinder wings white,
tinted with reddish-brown, the colour becoming

CHLORIDEA RHEXEE. 199

deeper towards the hinder margin of the wings ;
antenna also reddish.

The caterpillar is dull yellowish-green, having a
narrow white line along the sides, and a yellow one
a little above it, and there is a small reddish spot
on each segment between these lines. It eats the
buds and blossoms of the Rhexia Virginica , as well
as those of the tobacco plant, proving often very
pernicious to the latter by destroying the main shoot.
The only method employed to get rid of it is to
throw hot sand or wood ashes upon the plants ;
sometimes also the caterpillars are picked off with
the hand. Abbot found one of the individuals he
kept enter the ground and spin a web there on the
25th July, and the fly came out on the 9th August.
The insect is a native of Georgia, but is not com-
mon.

200

ALARIA GAUR/E.

PLATE XXIV. Fig. 4.

Phal. Gaurso, Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Geoff., pi. 99.

This delicately tinted moth has some relation to the
preceding, but seemingly not so close as to warrant
its being included under the same generic appella-
tion. The ground colour is white, the wings tinted
with red, that colour deepening at the exterior
margin of the upper pair, and forming a transverse
band beyond the middle not reaching to the hinder
extremity ; thorax crested, inclining to yellow.

The caterpillar (fig. 5) is rather long and slender,
having sixteen feet; the under side of the body
and legs white, the rest yellow, each segment with
a transverse black band in the middle ; head ferru-
ginous. It feeds on the Gaura biennis. When the
moth settles on the blossoms of that plant, there is
such a similarity between its colours and those of
the flowers, that it is scarcely possible to distinguish
them at a small distance.

201

TRiriljENA MATERNA.

PLATE XXV. Fig. 2.

Flial. Noctua matema, Linn . — Noctua hybrida, Fabr., Cramer,
Pap. Exot., pi. 267, fig. E. ; Drury, Exot. Ins., vol ii. pi. 1 3,
fig. 4.

Triph./Ena may be briefly defined as having the
fore wings bistigmatiferous, the palpi ascending,
the wings incumbent and entire, the thorax not
crested, the body flat, and the antennas simple. It
contains a considerable number of well known and
conspicuous British moths, which are commonly
called yellow under-wings ; and it will be seen from
the specimen here figured, that the foreign species
bear a striking resemblance to them.

T. matema expands about three inches and a
half ; the antennas are setaceous, the palpi yellow,
with blue tips; the head is likewise tinged with
blue. The anterior wings are light brown, mottled
with grey and green, the surface glossy, and the
tints changing according to the direction in which
the light falls on them. Posterior wings yellow,
each of them with a round black spot in the centre ;
the posterior border likewise edged with black, the
inner margin of the band dentate, and the exterior

202

CATOCALA NEOGAMA.

one interrupted with a series of small white spots.
The thorax is olive and the abdomen yellow. On
the under side the anterior wings are yellowish, the
tips brown, and there is a black streak running
from the lower comer to the posterior edge; the
under side of the posterior wings nearly like the
upper.

Cramer states that his specimens are both from
the coast of Coromandel and Surinam (?). Drury
obtained it from Bengal.

CATOCALA NEOGAMA.

PLATE XXVI. Fig. 1.

Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg., vol. ii. pi. 88 ; O.'iv. F.nryc.
Method, p. 291.

The characteristic features of this genus have been
described at length, in giving the history of certain
of the species occurring in Britain.* The foreign
species are numerous, but none of them exceed in
size or beauty our own rare C. Fraxini. They are
natives of temperate climates. J?he caterpillars are
called half-loopers, that is, they curve upwards a

Nat. Lib. Brit. Moths, p. 242.

' .

'

PLATE 26.

1. 2. C/ilo chain neogarna .
3 amesia.

CAT0CALA NEOGAMA.

203

portion of their body when walking, after the man-
ner of the geometer caterpillars, thus indicating an
affinity, and forming a passage from the Noctuid®
to the Geometrid®. The caterpillars generally feed
on a great variety of plants. The chrysalides are
often remarkable for their fine lilac or bluish colour,
appearing as if covered by a kind of bloom.

Expansion of the wings, in C. neogama, about
three inches two lines. Head and thorax grey, the
latter with transverse dark lines in front. Upper
wings variegated with brown, ash-grey, and white,
and marked with numerous flexuose black lines,
most of them running obliquely across the wings ;
there is an ear-shaped spot in the centre, and a pretty
regular series of small dark spots not far from the
exterior margin. Hinder wings yellow, each with
two black bands, irregular on their edges, and nei-
ther reaching to the abdominal margin, the exterior
one broadest, and the other not recurved ; abdomen
yellow.

The caterpillar (Plate XXVI. fig. 2) is reddish-
brown, with two darker lines near the back, and a
series of dark spots along the sides. It feeds on the
black American walnut ( Juglans nigra, Linn.), and
like others of its tribe, when done feeding, it de-
scends from the leaves to the body of the tree, and
stretches itself along the bark, to which it bears so
much resemblance in colour and surface, as to be
scarcely distinguishable from it. The perfect insect
appears in June, and is found in Georgia and other
parts of America.

204

CATOCALA NEOGAM A.

The strong resemblance which many of the yel-
low under-wings, as these moths are called, have to
each other, has rendered their synonomy somewhat
complex and confused. The species just decribcd
has been thought not to be specifically distinct from
the Linnean Ph. paranympka (figured by Roesel,
iv. pi. 18, figs. 1, 2), but it is of much larger size,
the wings are more evidently dentated, the outer-
most black bar on the under wings is uninterrupted,
and the inner one is not recurved anteriorly and
continued along a portion of the abdominal margin.
It is likewise nearly related to Catocala affinis
(West. Drury , vol. i. pi. 23, fig. 6), which is a
native of New York, but is at once distinguished
from that species by its yellow abdomen, and having
a yellow space along the margin exterior to the
black band on the under wings.

205

CATOCALA AMASIA.

PLATE XXVI. Fig. 3.

Abbot and Smith, tepid. Geoff., vol. ii. pi. 90 ; Oliv. Encyc.

Method., p. 290.

Considerably less than the preceding, the wings
expanding little more than two inches. Head and
thorax light grey ; abdomen yellow : upper wings
variegated with ash-grey and white, the surface
variously marked with dark spots and transverse
streaks ; in the centre there is an ear-shaped mark,
and towards the exterior margin a dark zigzag line
with a row of fulvous spots within it. The under
wings are yellow, with two curved black bands, the
innermost one narrow and not reaching to the ab-
dominal margin, the exterior one broad and inter-
rupted near the anal angle ; the fringe yellow,
slightly clouded with dusky.

The caterpillar is grey, with darker lines along
the sides. Its most common food is the various
kinds of American oaks ; Abbot found it also on
the Bead-tree, or Pride of China ( Melia azedaraek ,
Linn.). The author just named found that it spun
among the leaves in the beginning of May, and
came out near the end of that month. He adds,

206

CATOCALA AMASIA.

that the moth may be often found sitting on the
trunks of large oaks, and that it is a native of
Virginia as well as of Georgia. The chrysalis is of
a delicate lilac tint. (Plate XXVI. fig. 4.)

The most common of the American yellow under-
wings is the P/ial. consors of Abbot and Smith
(pi. 89), which is somewhat intermediate between
the two just described. It measures two inches and
three-quarters between the extremities of the fore
wings ; the surface of these is greyish brown, with
several angular dark lines and ferruginous marks
running across ; under wings yellow, with two con-
tinuous black bands, very irregular on their edges,
extending to the abdominal margin ; the male with
black spots on the back of the basal segments of
the abdomen. The caterpillar frequents the bastard
indigo ( A morpha fruticosa, Linn.). America like-
wise possesses a species nearly allied to our C. Frax-
ini, namely, C. Vidua (Abbot and Smith, pi. 91),
but it is smaller than the European insect, and
wants the broad bluish band across the disk of the
hinder wings.

207

GEOMETRIC.

This family admits of a more explicit definition
than most of those previously considered. Although
it is not in the perfect insect that the most marked
peculiarities appear, we can seldom fail at once to
recognise them, even in that state, by their general
weakness of appearance, attenuated form of body,
and comparatively ample expanse of wing. But
the singular mode in which the caterpillar advances
over a surface, as if measuring it by successive
spans, is the most distinguishing peculiarity, and
has suggested the name. In typical examples they
have three pair of pectoral legs, a single pair of
abdominal prolegs, and a pair of anal ones. With
the two latter of these they fix themselves to the
plane of position, then move the body forwards as
far as possible and rest on their pectoral legs, when
the hinder part is drawn forwards to the head and
the body curved upwards into a kind of loop ; the
same process is again repeated, and a rapid progres-
sion thus effected. “ Their muscular power is very
great, and hence their positions during repose are
striking. Fixing themselves by their anal feet
alone, they extend their bodies in a straight line,
holding them in that position for a great length

208

GEOMETRIC.®.

of time. This, together with their obscure colours,
and the warts which their bodies exhibit, renders
it often quite difficult to distinguish them from
twigs of the trees on which they feed. They feed
on the leaves of various trees and plants, and have
the instinct, when alarmed, of dropping down from
the leaves, and suspending themselves by a thread,
which enables them to remount when the danger
is past. The chrysalides are either naked and sus-
pended by the tail, or enclosed in a very slender
cocoon, which is rarely subterraneous, and oft-times
placed amongst dry leaves, &c." *

We have numerous species in Britain, many of
them very agreeably adorned. The foreign species
are also very numerous, but none of them attain a
large size.

Westwood’s Modem Class, of Insects, vol. ii. p. 397.

J

>

\

\

PLATE 29.

J. Jstkesiid poJult/iuru'i ; ?. . Vacrotes ne/r/.v .
3 ■ Venilta Sospita. -/ Fumetia Rosalia*

209

ASTHENIA PODALIRIARIA, Westwood.

PLATE XXIX. Fig. 1.

In supplying us with a figure of this new species>
Mr. Westwood has suggested the propriety of refer-
ring it, along with several others, to a new genus,
which he names Asthenia. The species approach
our English Ourapteryx samhicaria in general form
and in the hind wings being tailed. From that
genus, however, they differ in having the antennae
short and strongly bipectinated, and the legs as well
as the body very short and weak. The fore wings
are triangular, not falcate at the tip, the external
margin forming nearly a straight line. The veins
of the fore wings arc arranged as in Ourapteryx,
except that the branches both of the postcostal and
medial veins arise much closer to the base of the
wings. The hind wings are much more decidedly
tailed than in 0. aamhucaria ; the postcostal vein
emits three branches, independently of the medias-
tinal vein, whereas in 0. sambucaria the postcostal
sends off only two branches.

The general colour of A. podaliriaria is very pale
cream-colour, the fore wings having three transverse
narrow brown bars across them, the first before thq
middle, the second behind the middle (interrupted
0

210

ASTHENIA PODALIRIARIA.

towards the posterior margin), and the third close to
the outer margin : the apex of the wings is marked
by a large blackish patch. In the hind wings the
three bars are also continued across the surface, meet-
ing at the anal angle ; the first straight, the second
angulated over the tail, and the third forming an
arch over the base of the tail, which has two black
spots, the outer one with an external orange stripe ;
the tail slender and curved. The antenn® are black.
Expansion of the wings one inch and three-quar-
ters.

This species is from Rio Janeiro, the specimen
figured being in the collection of the Rev. F. W.
Hope.

The following also belong to this genus : —

A. machaonaria Light cream colour ; upper wings with

three uninterrupted brown bars, the outermost midway
between the middle of the wing and the exterior mar-
gin ; the apex with two small oblique brown stripes:
under wings traversed by two brown bars, recurved to
the internal margin, and having a narrow waved lino
between them ; tail angular and acute, with two pear-
shaped black spots, surmounted by a short waved
brown bar. Expansion of the wings two inches. —
Guerin, Icon, des Insecles, pi, 90, fig. 1,

A. geminia. — Cream colour, nearly white ; upper wings
with three transverse brown bars, the second not reach-
ing to the posterior edge, and the third, which is placed
close to the margin, not extending to the apex ; the
latter unspotted ; costa marked with short black lines.
The first and outer bar of the upper wings arc continued
across the under pair, meeting at the anal angle ; the
external one margined with black, and the tail itself

ASTHEUIA LATUCINA.

211

marked with two large black spots. Expansion two
inches seven lines. — Cramer, Pap. JExot., pi. 133, fig. C.
— A native of Amboyna.

A. latdcina. — Wings cream colour, with two brown bands,
somewhat in the form of a W ; the outer one zigzag,
and having a lighter brown stripe behind it: tail with
three black spots. The under wings have a small round
black spot towards the base of each, and the whole of
the exterior region of the wings is sprinkled with mi-
nute brown dots. Expansion two inches and a half.

Cramer, Pap. Exot., pi. 27 3, figs. B. and C Cramer’s

specimen was from Surinam.

212

MACROTES NETRIX, Westwood.
PLATE XXIX. Pig. 2.

Phalrena netrix, Cramer , pi. 151, E.

This moth, remarkable for the great length of the
antennae, legs, and abdomen, belongs to the Geome-
tridae, agreeing with various species of that family
in tho subfalcate and angulated form of the wings.
The head is small ; the palpi about as long as the
head, and compressed. The antennae as long as the
body, and strongly bipectinatud to the tips in the
males, but simple in the females (if it be correct to
refer this species to Cramer’s figure above oited).
The fore wings are long, slightly falcate at the tips,
and angulated in the middle of the outer margin ;
the hind wings are somewhat lozenge-shaped, with
the margins scolloped, and strongly angulated in
the middle. The abdomen is exceedingly long, as
are also the anterior tarsi, which are very slender,
with a small tuft of scales on the outside, close
to the bar, where the joint is slightly curved. The
femora and tibiae of tho fore legs are short, the for-
mer with long slender hairs beneath, and the latter
with fascicles of scales. The hind legs are wanting

MACR0TES NETRIX.

213

in the specimen now described. The general colour
is pale buff, with rather darker brown shades and
dots, some of the latter being larger and more dis-
tinct, especially one near the bar of the costa,
another above the middle, and two- close to the tip
of the fore wings, which are also slightly marked
with three faint transverse fascia; at equal distances
apart ; the costa at the base, and cilia, are pur-
plish. The hind wings have an angulated vitreous
discoidal spot, margined with black, with a purple
patch between it and the costa; behind this is a
curved row of dark dots on the veins, and the anal
angle is also purplish, as are also the anterior tibia?
and the patch of scales at the base of the anterior
tarsi.

The specimen figured is in the collection of the
Rev. F. W. Hope. Its locality is unknown.

The expansion of the wings is two inches and
one-third.

214

VENILIA SOSPETA.

PLATE XXIX. Fig. 3.

Phaloena sospeta, Drury, Exot. Ins., vol. ii. pi. 22, fig. 3.

This pretty species is referred with some doubt to
Duponchel’s genus Venilia, which is characterised
by having the wings deltoid in repose, the hinder
margin of the anterior pair excised, the posterior
subemarginated j palpi short ; spiral tongue long ;
antennae simple.

The expansion of the wings is about two inches
five lines, their colour pale yellow ; the anterior
with several brown spots, which have a tendency to
form two very irregular macular bands ; on the
hinder wings there is likewise a large transverse
brown spot near the abdominal margin. The head
is pale yellow ; thorax and abdomen yellow, the
former shading into brown posteriorly. On the
under side the breast and abdomen are pale yel-
low, the markings on the wings corresponding to
those on the surface. Legs yellow, spotted with
brown.

This geometer is a native of Jamaica.

215

EUMELEA * ROSALIA.

PLATE XXIX. Fig. 4.

PhaL Geometra Rosalia, Cramer, Pap. Exot., pi. 368, fig. F.

"We have been unable to refer this finely coloured
moth to any of the existing genera, and have there-
fore given it a generic appellation expressive of what
seems to be its most remarkablo feature, namely,
the great length of the legs and antennae. The former
are very long and robust, when extended reaching
to the very apex of the wings, and the antenna;,
which are simple, are of corresponding dimensions.
The spiral tongue is developed and of some length.
The wings are pretty ample, the apex simple and
rounded; their colour, entirely a deep rose red,
changing with the light, and marked with many
slender transverse yellowish stria;.

The locality is unknown.

From tv, bene, and fttxiet, membra.

ANGERONA PRUNARIA.

PLATE XXVII. Fig. 1.

Thai. Geom. prunaria, Linn . — Hipparchus prunaria, Leach,
Samoa., Curtis . — Angerona prunaria. Duponchel.

"We have been induced to figure this interesting
specimen of a well known European geometrine
moth (occurring also in this country), for the pur-
pose of exemplifying a phenomenon perhaps more
frequently observed among (his tribe of insects than
any other, namely, what is called Gynandromor-
phism, or the union of both sexes (at least in exter-
nal features) in the same individual. In this instance
the whole right side is that of a male and the left
that of a female, insomuch that one would say some
person had been amusing themselves hy attaching
the wings in this manner ; but the impossibility of
observing the suture at the point of junction soon
convinces us that there has been no artifice in the
case, and that Nature alone hits produced this ano-
malous union. In truth, such occurrences are not
very rare, and various lists of different kinds of
Gynandromorphism have been published by authors.
The example here figured is called semi-lateral
gynandromorphism , and is the most common kind

■ v *

* ,

PLATE 27

1. Arujavnai prunaria.

2. Aids scolopacea.

ANGERONA PRUNARXA.

217

of it. In Angerona prunaria, the abdomen was
dried up in consequence of the specimen having
been long preserved, so that it was impossible to
determine whether the peculiarity extended to the
internal organization. In a specimen of Meliteea
didymus, however, which admitted of dissection, the
male organs were found complete and in their usual
condition, and there was an ovary placed on the
left side, having no connexion with any other or-
gan. Another kind of Gynandromorphism is called
superimposed, the sexual characters not being dis-
posed transversely but according to the longitudinal
axis of the body, whence two combinations result,
the male parts being anterior, and the female pos-
terior, or vice versa ; this is of rare occurrence, and
has been noticed only in a kind of ichneumon.
Crossed Gynandromorphism, is when each side of
the body presents at the same time the characters of
the two sexes. This combination is rare, although
much less so than the preceding. It has been ob-
served in a Bomlyx castrensis, in which the left
antennas and the right wings were female, the right
antenna; and left wings male.*

Lacordaire, Intro, a l’Entom., vol. ii. p. 434.

218

ALOIS SCOLOPACEA.

PLATE XXVII. Fig. 2.

Phal. Noot. scolopacea, Drury, Exot. Ins., vol. ii. pi. 22J fig. 1 .
— Alois, Curtis— Boarmia, Treit.

The above is a very fine foreign example of a genus
containing a good many British moths, which, ac-
cording to Mr. Curtis, may he distinguished from
Bupalus, to which it is nearly related, by the males
being invariably smaller than the females ; the eyes
larger, not so distant in front ; the palpi more por-
rected, shorter, and not hairy, the maxillas very
long, the antenna; not pectinated at the apex. The
posterior legs are long, robust, and hollow, furnished
with two pair of spurs, a longitudinal suture, and a
tuft of long silky hair arising at the base, and con-
cealed in the tibia when at rest. Many Lepidoptera
have their legs, especially the posterior, furnished
with brushes of hair, but in no instance are they
more curiously disposed than in Alcis. It is con-
jectured that they are designed to assist in balancing
the body when in flight.

A. scolopacea is a native of Jamaica; measuring
nearly three inches and a half between the tips of

ALOIS SCOLOPACEA.

219

the wings. The whole colour is brownish-grey.
The wings are crossed by numerous waved lines,
contrasted with light brown and ash colour, and
marked pretty thickly with small dark brown spec-
kles. On the under side, the colour inclines to
light greyish-yellow ; nearly the half of the anterior
wings marked with faint brown lines and streaks,
and the posterior with a faint brown cloud. The
individual figured is a female.

.

.

■

,

'

■ r \ ' vi' ■ t : •

1

/ Epidcsrrua tricolor
?. Scopelod.es unicolor.
3. Tortr'uxy Crameriano,

EPIDE8MIA TRICOLOR. 221

the legs are long and slender, the coxee of the fore
legs being elongated.

The fore wings of this insect are brown, with a
cream-coloured bar running nearly across the centre,
but directed towards the anal angle ; the inner edge
of this bar is nearly straight, but the outer edge is
strongly angulated behind the middle. The hind
wings are also brown, with a large orange discoidal
patch, nearly round in form. The cilia at the outer
angle, both of the fore and hind wings, is white ;
the body is brown, with the abdomen cream-
coloured.

The species inhabits New South Wales. The
only specimen we are acquainted with is in the col-
lection of the Rev. F. W. Hope. The expansion of
the wings is two inches and three-quarters.

V

222

SCOPELODES UNICOLOR, Westwood.

PLATE XXVIII. Fig. 2.

It is not easy to decide on the natural situation of
this curious but plain-coloured moth, although the
elongated palpi and slender antenn* seem to indi-
cate a relation with the Crambidas ; it must, how-
ever be very remote. Its general appearance is
rather that of the female of Odonestes potatoria than
any other moth, somewhat agreeing with that spe-
cies in the broad oval wings.

The head is rather small, but the eyes are large ;
the palpi are very long, fonning a thick clavate
brush of hairs ; the maxilltn are almost rudimental,
forming a very short flat tongue ; the antenn® are
short and slender ; the wings are short and broadly
ovate, the anterior rather acute at the apex, from
which point to the base the hind margin of the
wing forms a regular curve. The postcostal vein is
at a considerable distance from the mediastinal one,
and anteriorly emits three branches, the third of
which is furcate, the apical point of the wing being
included between the fork ; the medial vein emits
three branches, and there are two longitudinal veins
(extending from the vein which connects the post-

SCOPELODES UNICOLOR.

223

costal and medial veins) between the last branch of
the medial vein and the main or fourth branch of
the postcostal vein. There appears to be no bridle
to hook the wings together. The thorax is short
and thick, as is also the abdomen. The legs are of
nearly equal length, and very woolly, the spurs of
the hind legs being almost concealed. The tarsi are
long and thick and very woolly, the tarsal unguis
and large flat pulvilli being concealed above by
Curved black hairs. When at rest, the wings are
deflexed at the sides of the body, like the roof of a
house. The colour of the entire moth is buff, the
wings having a silky gloss, and the palpi have a
pale ring near the apex ; the back of the abdomen
is rather more fulvous, and marked with short black
bands.

It is an inhabitant of Java, and is in the collec-
tion of the Rev. F. W. Hope.

The expansion of the wings is two inches and
three-quarters,

224

DICHROMA EQUESTRALIS.

PLATE XXX. Fig. I.

This genus has been established by Mr. Westwood
for the reception of some pretty moths, of mode-
rate size, brought from the Cape of Good Hope by
Robert Templeton, Esq., R. A., and presented by
him to the Museum of the Natural History Society
of Belfast. When at rest, the wings are reflexed at
the sides of the body ; they arc rather elongate and
subtriangular, the extremity being slightly acute.
They are distinguished by having the ground colour
of a uniform tint, but marked with numerous more
or less confluent spots and lines of a silvery white
colour. This contrast has suggested the generic
name given above : the head is of moderate size,
with the antenna rather short and bipectinated in
the males, the pectinations being rather short ; in
the females they are simple : the palpi are rather
short, but are visible in front of the head, when
seen from above. They are thickly clothed with
scales to the tip, and ascend upwards to about the
height of the middle of the eye. The spiral tongue
is long and convoluted. The body is slender, and
not thickly clothed with hairs. The anterior feet

/

I

PLATE 30 .

1 Dichroma equcs trails.

2 hisCrionalis.

3 — arcitalis.

; ; ,

DICHROMA EQUF.STRALIS.

225

are rather short, the tibia being considerably shorter
than either the femur or tarsus ; the middle tibia
are longer and terminated by two spurs, whilst the
hind pair, of equal length, have a pair of spurs at
the middle and another at the tip. The mediastinal
vein of the fore wings is rather short: the post-
costal one emits two branches before the junction
with the ordinary transverse vein ; the first of these
branches is straight and extends to the costa of the
fore wings, but the second coalesces with the post-
costal vein at a short distance beyond the junction
of the postcostal and transverse veins, but almost
immediately branches off again in a straight line
extending to the costa ; a third branch is also
emitted, which is forked before it reaches the costa,
the lower branch of the fork extending to the tip
of the wing. The median vein extends in three
branches to the extremity of the wing, the ordinary
transverse vein arising at the base of the last three
branches. This transverse vein emits two straight
veins, which extend to the extremity of the wings.
The bridle consists of several very fine set®.

We are so completely ignorant of the character
of the smaller exotic Lepidoptera, that we shall only
venture to observe, respecting the relations of this
group of moths, that they seem to be intermediate
between the Lithosiid® and aberrant Tineidas.

The head, thorax, and fore wings of D. eques-
tralis are of a beautiful pea-green, the latter being
ornamented with numerous spots and lines of sil-
very white, more or less confluent ; three of these

p

. 226

DICHROMA EQUESTRALIS.

are close to the base of the wing, succeeded by a
deeply angulated bar. The middle portion of the
wing is marked with eight or ten white spots, the
middle ones being elongated and corresponding
with the situation of the branches of the median
vein ; then follows an oblique bar, strongly angu-
lated in the middle, extending from the apex to
the inner margin of the wing, and emitting on
the outside eight straight branches which extend
to the outer margin of the wing. The head, wings,
and body are of a silvery white, slightly shaded
with brown. The expansion of the wings is fourteen
lines and a half.

227

DICHROMA HISTRIONALIS.

PLATE XXX. Fig. 2.

The head is white, with a patch of fulvous on the
crown ; the thorax white, ornamented with fulvous.
The fore wings are of a splendid golden fulvous
hue, ornamented with many silvery white marks,
strongly relieved by being edged with black scales ;
the fore margin of the wings is also white. At the
base of the fore wings are two divergent white bars,
the anterior of which is strongly forked ; the upper
bar of the fork abbreviated and succeeded by an
oval patch ; across the middle of the wing, in an
oblique direction, are four oval white patches, the
anterior being, as it were, duplicated ; then follows
an oblique white bar, broken in the middle, from
the outside of which several straight white bars
extend to the outer margin of the wing. The hind
wings and abdomen are of a silvery white, slightly
shaded with brown.

The expansion of the fore wings is twelve lines
and a half.

DICHROMA ARCUALIS.

PLATE XXX. Fig. 3.

The fore wings in this species aro of a dirty and
rather pale brown colour, ornamented with white
markings ; near the base of the wing is a strongly
furcate mark, the anterior branch of which is di-
lated ; parallel to the inner margin of the wing is a
white slender bar, which is connected near the
middle of the wing with a series of white crescents
placed obliquely, and extending upwards to the
middle of the wing, above which is a clavate spot ;
beyond this, and extending in an oblique direction
to the tip of the wing, is a strongly denticulated
white line; and there is a row of white arches
along the outer margin of the wing, diminishing in
size as they extend towards the apical angle. The
hind wings and abdomen are white, slightly tinged
with brownish.

The expansion of the fore wings is one inch.

229

TORTRIX CRAMERIANA.

PLATE XXVIII. Fig. 3.

Cramer, Pap. Exot., pi. 348, fig. I, K.

This prettily coloured Tortrix is named in honour
of the ichnographer, to whose valuable works we
have so often had occasion to refer in the course of
the preceding pages. It is a native of Surinam.

THE END.