Plate XIII. fig. 1.3. ♀.—2. ♂.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Argynnis, Fabr. Latr. et God. Argyreus, Scop. Dryades, Hubn. Papilio (Nymphales Phalerati), Linn. Drury.
Argynnis Idalia. Alis dentatis, anticis utrinque fulvis nigro-maculatis; posticis suprà nigro-cœruleis, punctorum serie duplici, subtùs fuscis costâ baseos maculisque 26 argenteis. (Expans. Alar. ♂. 3 unc. 6 lin.—♀. 4 unc.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Idalia, Drury. Herbst. Pap. tab. 252. 253. Cramer, pl. 44. fig. D. E. F. G. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 145. No. 446. Latr. et God. Enc. Méth. ix. 263. (Argynnis Id.)
Habitat: New York (Drury); taken on the 28th June. Jamaica (Enc. Méth.).
Upper Side. Head and thorax of a deep brown orange. Anterior wings of a dark orange, the anterior and external margins bordered with black; near the latter are eight white spots on the wings of the female. Above these, in the female, are five, and in the male six, round black spots; those of the latter being smallest. Several black waves and streaks are dispersed on other parts of the wings. Posterior wings of a fine dark blue, almost black, and slightly dentated; the anterior ones being entire. Near the external margin is a row of seven cream-coloured spots, which in the male are red. Above these, is another row of the same number of cream-coloured spots, situated near the middle of the wings. The base of these wings is covered with brown orange-coloured hairs.
Under Side. Head, breast, and feet dark blue, nearly black. Anterior wings dark orange, with some triangular silver spots placed along the external edges, whose upper points are edged with black, and are generally more distinct in the female than in the male. The several black waves and streaks seen on the upper side, are here more faint, some being scarcely visible. Posterior wings of a dark olive brown, with twenty-six different shaped silver spots on each; one of which, in the centre of the wing, is divided by a short black line.
Plate XIII. fig. 4. 5.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Hesperiidæ, Stephens.
Genus. Pamphila, Fabr. Hesperia (urbicolæ), Fabr. Latr. et God. Papilio (Pleb. urb.) Drury, Linn.
Pamphila Phylæus. Alis rufo-fulvis, anticis supra fasciâ obliquâ interruptâ (mas.) maculâve arcuatâ (fœmina) limboque postico fuscis, posticis ibidem extùs fusco marginatis. (Expans. Alar. 1½ unc.).
Syn. Papilio (Hesp. urb.) Phylæus, Drury, Latr. et God. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 767. No. 112. (Hesperia Ph.)
Hesperia (urb.) Vitellius, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 327. No.. 240
Pamphila Vitellius, Steph. Illust. Brit. Ent. H. 1. p. 103. Haworth, in Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. 1. p. 334. Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georgia, tab. 17.
Habitat: Antigua, St. Christopher's, Nevis, &c. (Drury). Antilles and Brazil (Enc. Méth.).
Upper Side. Thorax and abdomen of a yellowish olive. Superior wings of a tawny yellow, having a dark brown (almost a black) indented margin, running along the external margin, from the tips to the lower corners. Near the middle of each wing are two dark-brown spots, one oblong, the other of a longish square form, the former being the largest. Inferior wings tawny yellow, and angulated, having a dark brown indented margin.
Under Side. Wings tawny yellow, but rather paler than on the upper side. The anterior with several dark brown angular spots, placed along the external edges, and in the middle of the wings, with a large one near the shoulders. Posterior wings also spotted with many small dark brown spots, some being scarcely visible.
A specimen of this species is stated to have been captured by the late Dr. Abbot in Bedfordshire. It is most probable, however, now that the Pamphila Bucephalus has been proved to be an indigenous species, that the specimen the capture of which is recorded by Mr. Haworth, belonged to that species. The caterpillar of this skipper-butterfly feeds upon a species of panic grass (Panicum Crus-Galli) and on the buffalo grass.
Plate XIV. fig. 1. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ.
Genus. Nymphalis. Latr. God. Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.), Linn. Drury.
Nymphalis Bolina. Alis dentatis, supra nigris, anticis maculis duabus, posticis solitariâ magnâ, cœruleo-albis, subtus corticinis fascià albâ. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Ph.) Bolina, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. p. 781. No. 188. Cramer, pl. 65. fig. E. F. Herbst. Pap. tab. 244. fig. 3. 4. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 126. No. 384. Latr. et God. (Enc. Méth.) ix. 396. No. 157. (Nymphalis Bol.)
Habitat: Bombay, Surinam, all the West Indian Islands, New York, Carolina, Brazil, Cape of Good Hope, Malabar, Coromandel, China, Ceylon (Drury). "In Indiæ orientalis Portulaca" (Fabr.). Cayenne (Enc. Méth.).
Upper Side. Three white spots, one before, and two behind, on the head, which, with the thorax and abdomen, is of a blackish brown. Wings dentated, and of a dark chocolate colour, almost black; but when held against the light, in a certain direction, display a blueish purple. Anterior wings, in the middle, having a large oval, and another smaller oblong white spot at the tips. Posterior wings with a large white spot, larger than that in the superior ones. On the edges of all these spots, the purple colour before-mentioned, is very conspicuous.
Under Side. Palpi white. The sides of the thorax spotted with white. Anterior wings, next the body, of a reddish chocolate; but near the tips, of a dirty olive. The large and small white spots appear here as on the upper side; with three small angular white spots, close to the anterior margin, near the middle. Along the external edge, is a row of white crescents on a black border; over which are six small, round, faint, white spots. Posterior wings, next the body, of a dirty olive; but toward their external edges, more of a chocolate, with a broad central white bar running entirely across the wing, with a small angular black mark, near the anterior margin. Along the external edges, is a row of white crescents; above which is a row of small white triangular spots, placed two and two, between the crescents. Above this, six small round white spots are placed in a row.
The flight of this species is said by Drury to be exceedingly quick and rapid, so that it is very difficult to catch them, and hence they are seldom obtained in fine condition, being generally secured in a faded state when they are taken with more ease. The purple tint upon the upper side of the wings is most intense, and when the insect flies in the sun, glancing before the eye of the observer at a little distance (for it is by no means a timid creature), the vivid purple, observes Drury, is not much less than the electrical spark, and its changes depending on the degree of obliquity which it presents to the sun, are scarcely less rapid.
Plate XIV. fig. 3, 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. God. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.), Linn. Fabr. God.
Nymphalis Iphicla. Alis denticulatis, supra fuscis, fasciá communi albâ antrorsùm rotundatâ, retrorsùm acuminatâ; anticis suprà maculâ apicis, et auguli analis, ferrugineis. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Iphicla, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 380.
Papilio (N. P.) Iphicla, Drury, App. v. 2. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 135. 417. Cramer, pl. 188. fig. E. F. (var.?)
Papilio Basilea, Cram. pl. 188. fig. D. (♂).
Papilio Cytherea, Cram. pl. 376. C. D. (♀).
P. Cythereus, Herbst. Pap. tab. 284. f. 1. 2.
P. Iphicla, Herbst. Pap. 148. fig. 3. 4.
Nymphalis Iphicla, Enc. Méth. ix. 374.
Habitat: Surinam (Drury). Guiana and Brazil (Enc. Méth.).
Upper Side. Thorax and abdomen nearly black. Anterior wings of a light liver colour, having some faint lines a little waved, of a darker colour, running along the external edges. Each has an orange spot, situated at a small distance from the tip, and joining to the anterior margin. Posterior wings dentated, and angular at the anal angle, of the same colour as the anterior; with the same faint waved subapical lines. In the middle of the anterior wings arises a bar of a very pale brimstone colour, near a quarter of an inch broad, and which extends to the anal angle of the posterior wings, below which is an orange spot.
Under Side. All the wings, next the body, are marked and clouded with lines and marks of ash colour and olive brown. The pale brimstone bar is seen very distinctly on this side; and the two orange spots on the upper side of the anterior wings, here assume a tinge of flesh colour, separated in the middle by the tendon, which is of an orange cast. The faint waved lines also are very conspicuous, of a very dark flesh colour, shaded with brown.
Plate XV. fig. 1. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Vanessa, Fabr. Latr. God. Curtis. Hamadryades, Hubn. Papilio (Nymphalis Phal.), Fabr. Drury.
Vanessa Charonia. Alis dentatis, supra nigris, fasciâ communi submarginali cœruleâ, in posticis serie punctorum nigrorum divisâ; anticis apice productis, posticis subcaudatis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Charonia, Drury, App. v. 2. Cramer, Pap. tab. 4. pl. 47. fig. A. B. C. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 119. No. 304. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 308. 27 (Vanessa Ch.).
Habitat:: China (Drury). India (Fabr.).
Upper Side. The thorax and abdomen black, and furnished with grayish hair. The ground of all the wings is black; but towards the body inclines to copper. On the anterior wings, near the tips, is a white spot placed close to the anterior edge. This edge is narrowly bordered with blue, and dappled with little wave-like stripes of black; from whose middle an oblique blue spot, almost half an inch long, extends down the wings. A little below this, arises a light blue bar of lunules, which runs even with the external edge, and is continued transversely across the posterior wing, excluding the anal angle. On this blue bar, in the posterior wings, are placed six small black angular spots. Beneath these is a narrow double border of blue, running along their external margin. All the wings are deeply dentated and angulated.
Under Side. The ground of the wings is of a dark orange, with various broad transverse purplish shades, and with a variety of irregular small wave-like markings, and different tints of brown, intermingled with orange shades.
The under side of the male is of a very dark brown, almost black, with some faint wavings, which are not so strong and beautiful as in the female.
Plate XV. fig. 3. 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ.
Genus. Argynnis, Fab. Latr. God. Argyreus, Scop. Papilio (Danai Festiv.), Drury.
Argynnis Erymanthis. Alis subrotundatis, subdentatis, fulvis, anticis fasciâ flavescenti transversâ mediâ nigro maculatâ, apice nigris; posticis serie punctorum, duabusque lunularum nigrorum. (Expans. Alar, fere 3 unc. [Drury], 2 unc. [Enc. Méth.]).
Syn. Papilio (Dan. Fest.) Erymanthis, Drury, App. v. 2. Cramer, pl. 238. fig. 9. Fab. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 139. 427. Enc. Méth. ix. 257.
Papilio Lampetia, Cram. Pap. pl. 148 fig. E.
Habitat: China (Drury). Coromandel, Java (Enc. Méth.).
Upper Side. Head, thorax, and abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings, next the body, of a dark tawny orange, which colour occupies about half the wings, and is bounded by a very irregular line. A broad black patch occupies the tips of the wings, beginning about the middle of the anterior edge, and extends along the external one to the interior angle; on which, near the tips, are two clay-coloured round spots; and below them, in some specimens, are two more spots near the external edge. The space between the black patch and the tawny orange is of a clay colour, with three round black spots on it, the lower one the largest. Posterior wings tawny orange, the posterior edges being of a dirty brown; and above them are seen two rows of black crescents irregularly placed, over these are five round black spots. The wings are slightly dentated, the inferior ones most.
Under Side. All the wings clay colour. A dark, faint, engrailed line, composed of a number of crescents, joined together, runs transversely across the superior and inferior wings, extending to the anal angle.
Plate XV. fig. 5. 6.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Hipparchia, Fabr. Stephens. Satyrus, Latr. et God. Argus p. Scop. Orcades, Hubn. Papilio (Nymphales Gemmati), Drury.
Hipparchia Leda. Alis angulatis supra corticino-fuscis; anticis ocello apicis sesquialtero in plagâ magnâ luteâ, posticis ocellis duobus; omnibus subtus griseo-reticulatis strigâ ocellorum. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Leda, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 773. No. 151. Drury, App. v. 2. Fabricius, Ent. Syst. 3. 1. p. 108. 333. Cramer, Pap. pl. 196. C. D. and pl. 292. fig. A. Encycl. Méth. ix. 478. No. 4. (Satyrus L.)
Papilio Solandra (var.?) Fabr. Ent. Syst. III.1. 106. 328. Donovan Ins. New Holl. pl. 23. f. 1.
Habitat: China (Drury). Ind. orient. (Weber MSS.). Sierra Leone (Fabr. ??). Mauritius (Encycl. Méth.). Otaheite and New Holland (Fabr. and Donovan, P. Solandra).
Upper Side. Antennæ, thorax, and abdomen of a dark brown colour. All the wings dark olive brown. On the anterior wings, near the tips, are two black circular spots united together: the lower one being the largest, each having a small white one in its centre. On the posterior wings are two black circular eyes, towards the anal angle; their irides being of a gold colour, and the pupils white. The superior wings are a little dentated, the inferior ones being angulated.
Under Side. All the wings, on this side, are of a very pale brown, marked all over with short, crooked, wave-like stripes, of a dark brown colour, almost black. On the anterior wings are four eyes, the largest, situated near the middle of the wing, is encircled with yellow, its centre being white; below this is a small one, and two other small ones are placed near the tips. Posterior wings, with a row of six black eyes near the external edge, whereof two are much larger than the rest; the irides of all being yellow, and the pupils white. That next the anal angle is sesquialterate. In some specimens these eyes are less distinct than in others; in some there are not more than five to be discerned, and only one on each superior wing; in others not more than three can be distinguished, the small ones being entirely wanting.
Drury observes (Introd. to vol. iii. p. 16.) that this insect very much resembles a species sent by Mr. Smeathman from Africa, which comes out only about sunset, and is then to be found in dark shades, wavering about amongst the early flying noctuæ, and other nocturnal species. In some manuscripts of the late Professor Weber of Kiel, in my possession, the East Indies are given as the habitat of this species.
Plate XVI. fig. 1. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Hesperi Sphinges (Latr.). Family: Castniidæ. Westw.
Genus. Castnia, Fabricius, Latr. God. Dalman. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.), Drury.
Castnia Licus. Alis integris, supra atris nitidis; anticis sesquifasciâ albâ, posticis serie marginali punctorum rubrorum fasciâque obliquâ albâ. (Expans. Alar. fere 4 unc.)
Syn. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.) Licus, Drury, App. v. 2. Cramer, pl. 223. fig. A. B. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 45. No. 137. (Licas.)
Papilio Lycus, Herbst. Pap. tab. 134. f. 1. 2. Merian Surinam, tab. 36.
Castnia Licus, Latr. et God. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 797.
Habitat: Surinam.
Upper Side. The antennæ are dark brown, at the tips paler; and terminating in a point. The head, thorax, and base of the abdomen dark chocolate brown; the extremity and sides of the latter dark. Anterior wings of a fine deep chocolate brown. A narrow, irregular, and oblique cream-coloured bar runs across the wing; between this and the tip, from the anterior edge, runs another crooked irregular bar, of a much darker colour, reaching almost half across the wing towards the interior angle, the external margin being of a lighter shade. Posterior wings, having a white bar running transversely across the wing, widening by degrees, and ending at the anal angle. Six square orange spots also of different sizes, are placed within the external margin of these wings.
Under Side. Anterior wings, in the middle, dark chocolate; the tips dark fawn colour, lighter next the shoulders. The two irregular bars, on the upper side, are here a little broader. Within the external edge are three rather pearly white spots. Posterior wings greyish fawn colour, with the external edges darker. A pale pearl-coloured bar runs across the wing beyond the middle, widening gradually; below this are some very faint brown spots, and near the external edge some faint orange ones, scarcely visible. The edges of all the wings are entire.
The genus Castnia is another of those curious anomalous forms, which exhibit the characters of several groups. The general form of the wings is that of a moth, whilst the variegated colours, indicating diurnal flight, and the structure of the antennæ are those of a butterfly. It is much to be regretted, that travellers in South America have not ascertained the preparatory states of this extraordinary group, which alone will enable us satisfactorily to ascertain its real relations.
Plate XVI. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Bombycidæ, Steph.
Genus. Gastropacha? Ochsenh. Sphinx, Drury.
Gastropacha? Otus. Alis elongatis integris luteo-fuscis, anticis fasciis duabus denticulatis nigris. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Otus. Drury, Append. v. 2.
Bombyx Agrius, Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. 39. 56.
Habitat: Smyrna (Drury).
Upper Side. The antennæ and head are of a reddish brown; the former are strongly pectinated, and very broad in the middle, but at the extremities very narrow and curled. Thorax dark brown. Abdomen reaching half an inch below the wings of a reddish dun colour. Anterior wings dun colour; with a large spot or patch, of a darker colour, situated on the posterior margin, near the base. Two indented black lines run obliquely from the anterior edge, near the tip, to the posterior near the middle; the space between them being rather lighter than the rest. Posterior wings dun colour, immaculate. All the wings, both on the under and upper sides, appear very shining and glossy; the scales or feathers appearing, when viewed through a microscope, very coarse and long. There is no tongue discoverable in this moth.
Under Side. Breast and sides bright dun. The abdomen reddish dun. All the wings dun-coloured. The lower indented line appears faintly through the wing, of a dark brown colour, also a faint reddish brown indented line runs across the posterior wings. The edges of all the wings are entire.
This insect, which appears to have been overlooked by modern authors, seems to form a connecting link between Zeuzera and Gastropacha, agreeing with the former in the general form, and with the latter in the transverse denticulated fasciæ on the anterior wings, and the curved antennæ feathered to the tips.
Plate XVII. fig. 1. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Papilionidæ, Leach.
Genus. Papilio (Equit. Troj.) Linn.
Pap. Polydamas. Alis dentatis, nigro-virescentibus, fasciâ communi interruptâ flavâ, posticis subtus maculis linearibus flexuosis rubris, tribus argenteis adjectis. (Expans. Alar. unc. 4.)
Syn. Pap. Polydamas. Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 747. No. 12. Merian. Surinam. pl. 31. Cramer Pap. 18. p. 33. pl. 211. f. D. E. Herbst. Pap. t. 10. f. 6. 7. Boisd. et Leconte Icon. des Chen. de l'Amer. Sept. pl. 1. Boisd. Hist. Nat. Lep. 1. 321. No. 162.
Habitat: America, from Georgia to Brazil, Antigua (Drury).
Upper Side. The head and thorax are black; with two red spots on the neck, and two small white spots at the base of the antennæ. All the wings are scolloped, and of a dark green colour. The anterior wings have a row of yellow spots rising near the tips, which, running across the middle of the inferior ones, in a circular manner, meet at the extremity of the body; some of them being shaped like the bearded points of arrows. The hollow or concave part of each scollop, in the inferior wings, is edged with yellow.
Under Side. The head, breast, feet, and abdomen are black; with several red spots on the sides, abdomen, and shoulders. All the wings are black; the anterior having some of the yellow spots that are seen on the upper side; with seven irregular red spots, placed along the edge of each posterior wing, and three silver spots or marks joining to the second, third, and fourth.
Linnæus states, that this insect inhabits the Hibiscus mutabilis. By other authors it is stated to feed upon the Aristolochia Serpentaria, or Virginian snake-root. The caterpillar is brown, with fleshy spines of the same colour, and red stripes, each segment also being ornamented with four eye-like spots, half yellow and half red.
Plate XVII. fig. 3. 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. et God. Papilio (Nymphalis Phal.), Linn. Drury.
Nymphalis Assimilis. Alis subrepandis nigris concoloribus, lineis maculisque albo-virescentibus, posticis strigâ apicali punctorum coccineorum. (Expans. Alar. fere 5 unc. [Drury] 3½ unc. [Enc. Méth.]).
Syn. Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.) assimilis, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. p. 782. No. 194. Cramer, pl. 154. A. Esper. Pap. Exot. t. 57. f. 1. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 39. No. 114. (Papilio Eq. Ach.)
Habitat: China.
Upper Side. Head black, with two white frontal spots. Thorax black, with three white stripes. Abdomen black, marked on the sides with white. Anterior wings sooty black, having a number of large spots and stripes on them of different forms and dimensions, of a greenish-grey colour. Near the external edge is a double row of sixteen small spots of the same greenish grey, and above them are five larger of a more circular shape. Posterior wings resemble the superior, but have a broad border of clearer black running along the external edge, whereon are five spots of a scarlet colour, inclining to pink, one having a small black spot in the middle. The wings are slightly dentated.
Under Side. Body black, and ornamented with round spots of clear white. At the base of the wings, is a remarkable round spot of a clear white, about the size of a pin's head. The wings are spotted as on the upper side, the greenish spots being rather larger, and in the inferior wings inclining to a yellow, the general ground of all the wings appearing more sooty on this side.
Plate XVIII. fig. 1.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Bombycidæ.
Genus. Limacodes? Latr. Apoda, Haworth. Heterogenea, Knoch. Phalæna Bombyx, Linn.
Limacodes? Arenacea. Lutea, alis superioribus supra atomis nigris adspersis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Bombyx) arenacea, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. p. 828. No. 65.
Habitat: Cape of Good Hope.
Upper Side. Antennæ pectinated, and of a yellow clay colour. The head and thorax yellow, but covered over with hairs in such manner that the former cannot be distinguished. The abdomen, superior and inferior wings yellow. On the anterior wings appear some very minute black spots scattered thereon in a very irregular manner. The wings are entire.
Under Side. The thighs, breast, and abdomen are very hairy. The superior and inferior wings of the same yellow colour as on the upper side, without a mark of any kind.
This insect appears most nearly to approach the genus Limacodes, Latr.
Plate XVIII. fig. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Bombycidæ.
Genus. Saturnia, Schrank. Latr. Attacus, Germar. Phalæna (Bombyx), Linn. &c.
Saturnia Cecropia. Alis anticis subfalcatis, posticis rotundatis; omnibus griseis fasciâ communi fulvâ maculâque reniformi ocelloque apicali (in anticis) ornatis. (Expans. Alar. 6 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Linn. Syst. Nat. v. 2. p. 809. No. 3. Cramer, Ins. 4. tab. 42. f. A. B. Catesby Carol. 86. t. 86. Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georgia, tab. 45. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 408. No. 4. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2401. 3. Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. p. 25. 5.
Habitat: New York (Drury). North America (Linn. &c.).
Upper Side. Antennæ very broad, pectinated and black. The head is small and red. Neck white. Thorax covered with long orange-brown hairs. Abdomen alternately with broad stripes of white and orange brown, the latter being edged behind with black. Anterior wings, with two bars crossing from the anterior to the posterior edges, one at about three-fourths of an inch from the shoulders, whitish, edged on the outside with black; the other is orange, at about an inch distance from the external margin. The base of the wing is a fine orange brown. The middle is deep rusty brown, which, towards the upper part, is powdered with buff-coloured hairs. In the middle of this is a large white spot verged with black, somewhat resembling a kidney bean, and is broadly tinged behind with red brown. The extremity of this wing, next the bar, is the same dark brown, and powdered, having a black spot about half an inch from the tip, having within it a semicircular mark of a pearl colour. From this spot to the anterior edge runs a serpentine line of white, bordered on the outer side with red. Between this and the orange bar is a broad tinge of light purple. The other side, next the tip, is light brown, stained with blood colour. From the black spot to the interior angle runs a black serpentine line, inclosing a space of dark buff, between which and the dark buff margin is a light buff irregular streak. Posterior wings similar to the superior, but the orange bar is redder and broader, running parallel with the external edge, and is bordered on the inner side with white; the part of the wing within this is deep rusty brown, with a larger white spot in the middle, verged with black, and tinged behind with red brown. The colour below the red bar is deep rusty brown, the border along the external edge being of a dark dirty buff, whereon are two small dark lines, having an irregular indented line of the same dirty buff above them. The wings are entire.
Under Side. The markings on all the wings are more distinct, and brighter than on the upper. The posterior wings, and the major part of the anterior, being covered with dust-like buff hairs, except the spots and buff margins round the edges. The posterior wings along the anterior edges being verged with white, which becomes broader as it approaches the shoulders.
The caterpillar of this fine moth feeds upon the wild American plum (Prunus Pensylvanica), garden plum, &c. It is thick and fleshy, of a pale green colour, with a pair of small blue spots on each segment, and with two rows of short and setose yellow dorsal tubercles. One observed by Abbot, spun up on the 17th of June, and the moth came out on the 30th of March following. The cocoon is attached to a twig. The outside web is coarse, and the inner covered with silk, like a silk-worm's cocoon. Abbot states that this silk has been carded, spun, and made into stockings, and that it will wash like linen. The species is, however, too rare to be of any utility in Georgia. It is, however, much more abundant in the neighbourhood of New York, and has been bred in England from some brought over in the chrysalis state. It is difficult to rear it in confinement.
Plate XVIII. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Arctiidæ, Steph.
Genus. Spilosoma, Steph. Arctia, Latr. Eyprepia, p. Ochs. Phalæna (Noctua), Drury.
Spilosoma Arge. Alis albidis, nigro-maculatis et lineatis, posticis incarnatis lineâ marginali fulvâ; abdomine concolori maculis nigris. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Noctua) Arge, Drury, App. v. 2. Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. 92. 232.
Bombyx Dione, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 442. No. 106. Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg. t. 63.
Habitat: New York; taken on the 20th day of May.
Upper Side. Antennæ filiform, and cream-coloured at the base, but black at their extremities. The tongue is small, and curled up. The neck red, having two small black streaks above it. The thorax and abdomen cream-coloured. On the former are three black streaks. On each annulus of the abdomen is a black spot, and another on each side. Anterior wings cream-coloured, with many black spots and marks thereon, of different forms and sizes, and varying very greatly in different specimens. The anterior margin red. Posterior wings almost transparent, dirty cream-coloured, tinged with red, whereon are many oblong sooty spots. Ciliæ cream-coloured, within which is a narrow red line.
Under Side. The colours are more faint and dirty than those on the upper. Anterior femora red, with two black spots thereon, close to the head. Tarsi black and cream-coloured.
The caterpillar of this insect is brown, with five pale longitudinal lines, and with long hairs arising from fulvous tubercles. It feeds, according to Abbot, upon plantain, corn, peas, and many other plants. A specimen observed by this author was hatched on the 23d of July, spun up on the 28th of August, and the moth appeared on the 9th of September. It is said occasionally to make great devastation among Indian corn. Sir J. E. Smith ascertained the specific identity of this insect from Dr. Hunter's Museum, examined by Fabricius, who has neglected to cite Drury's figure.
Plate XVIII. fig. 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Arctiidæ.
Genus. Spilosoma, Steph. Arctia, Latr. Eyprepia, Ochs. Phalæna (Noctua),Drury.
Spilosoma Cunea. Alis albis, anticis maculis permultis, posticis duabus nigris, abdomine concolori nigro-maculato. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 5 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Bombyx) Cunea, Drury, App. v. 2.
Phalæna punctatissima, Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg. t. 70?
Habitat: New York (Drury). Georgia and Virginia (Abbot and Smith).
Upper Side. Antennæ pectinated and black. There is no appearance of any tongue. Head white. Back and abdomen ash colour. Anterior wings white, with a great number of spots differently shaped of a sooty black colour. On the external margin are five spots, those nearest the tips being shaped like triangles. Posterior wings white, with a sooty spot on each near the external edge, and a very faint small mark near the exterior angle.
Under Side. Legs black. Breast and abdomen ash colour. The wings marked as on the upper side.
There seems little reason for doubting that this is identical with the Phalæna punctatissima of Abbot and Smith, of which the female is entirely white. The last named species feeds upon the mulberry, persimmon, willow, and wild cherry of America. One observed by Abbot spun up on the 16th of May, and came out on the 1st of June. The whole brood of caterpillars feed together in a web, and will often entirely destroy the leaves of a small tree. The name proposed by Drury evidently alludes to the triangular spots on the margin of the anterior wings, and seems quite as expressive as that employed by Sir J. E. Smith, who seems to have treated Drury's work on several occasions as scarcely deserving of notice.
Plate XVIII. fig. 5.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Noctuidæ, Steph.
Genus. Noctua, Auct. (Subgenus, Acontia? Ochsenh. Treit.) Phalæna (Noctua), Drury.
Noctua (Acontia?) Nundina. Alis anticis pallide cinereis albido variegatis, literâ nigrâ ante apicem notatis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Noctua) Nundina, Drury, App. v. 2.
Habitat: New York.
Upper Side. Antennæ thread-like, of a reddish brown. The tongue curled spirally. Head and thorax ash colour. Anterior wings the same, whereon are several faint marks of a light sand colour. Close to the anterior margin, about a third from the tips, is a black mark, resembling an I of the German text characters. Posterior wings silvery white, with a small, faint, light, sandy border, and a small oblong brown discoidal spot.
Under Side. Anterior wings silvery white, with a faint indistinct dark brown border running along the external margin, and two dark marks opposite the German text character. Posterior wings silvery white; the oblong brown spots are here plainly seen as on the upper side.