96 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. vol. xii, 



Fore wings much as in Automeris, the wings more falcate than in Dirphia; costa well curved 

 before the apex which is subacute; outer edge much shorter than the inner and very slightly 

 concave. Hind wings much rounded at the apex; outer edge full and convex, the inner angle 

 extending as far as the tip of the abdomen. 



Venation: Differs from that of Automeris io in vein II (first subcostal) arising nearer the 

 middle of the discal space, while the independent vein arises near the middle of the discal 

 space, i. e., the two discal veins are of nearly the same length, while in A. io the anterior discal 

 is very much shorter than the posterior. In the hind wings the discal cell is narrower than 

 in A. io. 



Colors and markings: Very similar to those of some of the species of Automeris. A curved 

 irregularly scalloped basal line; extradiscal line strongly marked, oblique, a little curved and 

 ending as in Automeris at the apex. Ocellus faint, much as in Automeris. Hind wings with a 

 well-marked very large ocellus of the Automeris type and partly surrounded by a heavy black 

 extradiscal line. 



Abdomen lake-red, but tawny yellowish at tip. 



This genus is based on Dirphia mseonia of Druce, the only species yet known. 



Geographical distribution. — So far as yet known the single species of the genus is confined 

 to Mexico, but may be found to extend into Central America. 



This rather remarkable genus is a very interesting annectant form between the two principal 



subdivisions of the family Hemileucida? represented by Dirphia and Automeris. It differs from 



Dirphia and Hyperdirphia in the much smaller palpi, which are much as in Automeris, being of 



about the same length, though the antenna? are of the same shape as in the two former genera. 



In the shape of the wings it approaches Automeris, and still more in the markings in which it is 



in advance of its structural features, having the oblique extradiscal line of the fore wings, and 



the very large and perfect ocellus of the hinder ones. The erect long hair-like thoracic scales 



may be an inheritance from Dirphia, while in the single known species the abdomen is 



not striped with dark and yellow, but is reddish carmine. It is most probable that the 



Automeris group originated from a form similar to this. Its larval history would be most 



interesting. 



PROTAUTOMERIS M.EON1A ( Druce). 



Plate LIU, fig. 7. 



Dirphia mseonia Druce [Biol. Centr.-Amer., Heter. II (1897), p. 426, PL LXXXV, fig. 3]. 



Imago. — One <?(?). Head and thorax and base of fore wings of a rich dark chestnut or 

 Vandyke brown, paler beneath. Palpi and legs (tibia? and tarsi) light Indian red ; palpi brighter 

 red than the legs; femora brown, of the same hue as the underside of thorax. 



Fore wings: Basal line situated halfway between the base of the wing and the discal spot; 

 it is divided into two scallops, a small one in the base of the discal cell, the other very large 

 and extending to the inner edge of the wing on the inner third ; the line is yellow within, edged 

 externally with white. Extradiscal line very distinct, yellow edged within with white; it 

 begins a little beyond the middle of the wing and ends almost directly on or just before the 

 apex; it is oblique, slightly incurved in its course. On the outside there is a brown shade, but 

 the middle of the wing and the outer edge are of a peculiar pale gray with a slight purplish or 

 flesh tint. Discal spot an oblong irregular chestnut cloud nearly of the same shape and dis- 

 tinctness as that of Automeris. 



Hind wings much rounded on the apex; the outer edge very full and convex; at their base 

 they are quite hairy and of a dull pink; there is no basal line. The ocellus formed of a large, 

 nearly round broad black ring inclosing a dull pinkish area concolorous with the base of the wing, 

 the center free from long scales, and with a few white scales; it is not naked or transparent. 

 Between the ocellus and the much curved black extradiscal line is a larger rich ochre-yellow 

 patch. A broad diffuse extradiscal line is a large rich ochre-yellow patch. A broad diffuse 

 dark pink-brown [suffusion?], the wing being dull pink in hue. The veins on both wings are 

 distinct and strongly marked with brown scales. 



