no. i. BOMBYCINE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA— PACKARD. 179 



The 9 differs from the $ in the forewings being wider, though the ocellus and lines are 

 the same. Both wings, however, are more distinctly scalloped, especially the hind wings. 

 Ocellus of forewings measures 6 by 7 mm. The hind wings are shorter, the tail being much 

 shorter, and flaring more at the end. The ocelli of the hind wings (8£ by 7 mm.) are larger 

 than in the S , more oval or elongated, and the brown center is about twice as large, though 

 the clear space is of about the same size; the orange-brown (Mars orange) semicircle is. how- 

 ever, wider, more pronounced than hi the other sex. 



On the underside the outer semicircle of the ocellus of the forewing is Mars brown instead 

 of yellowish ochre, and the ocelli of both pairs of wings are larger than in the c? . 

 Length of forewing, 9 60 mm. 

 Breadth of forewing, 9 34 mm. 

 Length of hind wing, 94 mm. ; of tail, 46 mm. 

 Breadth of hind wing, 35 mm. 



Geographical distribution. — Natal; Abyssinia. 



Cocoon. — (Paris Museum.) Dense, oval, with no stalk. Surface on outside somewhat 

 rough. Close dense, bright, shining silvery white, with a zone of roundish openings in two 

 alternating row's in front near the end. It is quite regularly oval, each end nearly alike. It is 

 not stalked, and is spun as a leaf. Length, 45 mm; diameter, 20 mm. 



The natives of Natal make anklets of the cocoons. According to Dr. L. 0. Howard, they 

 "collect the cocoons after the moth has issued, put one or more small stones into each cocoon, 

 and sew them onto a broad strip of monkey skin, side by side, so as to cover the surface of the 

 skin. They are sewn to the raw side of the hide, the fur being on the opposite side. The ank- 

 lets received [from Mr. Claude Fuller, Government entomologist of Natal] are 10 inches long 

 by 4 inches wide and are attached to the strips by means of thongs of the same hide. The 

 cocoons are tough and dry, and the stones within them rattle in a most delightful way. * * * 

 The use of these ankle rattles has become quite general in Natal since the introduction of the 

 rickshaw from China and India. The rickshaw bearers wear the anklets very generally, and 

 their rattle on the streets is almost as familiar as sleigh bells in a New England town in winter." 



(Sci. American, 1900.) 



ARGEMA [SONTHONNAXIA] MANEAS Doubleday. 



Plate L, fig. 8; XCVI. 



Actios maenas Dotjbleday, amn. and Mag. Nat. Hist., XIX, p. 95, PI. VII, fig. 1, 1847. 

 Actios maenas Westwood, Cabinet Oriental Ent., p. 45, t. 22, 1S48. 

 Tropaea maenas Walker, Cat. Lep. Het. Br. Mus., p. 1253, No. 3, 1855. 

 Actios maenas Maassen and Weymer, Beitrago Schmett., II, figs. 25, 26, 1872. 

 Argema maenas Butler, Syn. Cat. Lep. Het., 1 p. 767, 1S92. 



One 9 . The largest species of the genus. In my single 9 , the original type of Double- 

 day, now entirely faded out, the lorewings are broad, the costa quite convex, the outer edge 

 of wings of both pairs distinctly scalloped. The tails are unusually broad, being twice as wide 

 in proportion as in the other species, and widening but little toward the end. 



It will be seen by reference to the figures of the venation that each species differs struc- 

 turally as well as in shape and coloration. In the present species, compared with A. mimosae, 

 the discal cell is noticeably shorter, broader, and rounder at the outer end, the discal veins are 

 very thick and curve outward; as in A. leto, there is no vein II 2 ; on the hind wings the ocellus 

 is nearer the middle of the wing, and there are other minor differences. The ocellus of the fore- 

 wings is situated beyond the discal veins and is crescentic, somewhat asini. leto. 



Doubleday describes the moth as greenish yellow, with the costa ferruginous sprinkled 

 with cinereous, with a basal and an extradiscal flexuous line. The ocellus nearly black inter- 

 nally, marked with a delicate white line. That of the hind wings being a small lunule divided 

 by a white line resting on a faint cloud, darkest on the inner side. 



Expanse of forewings, 200 mm. 



