no. i. BOMBYCINE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA— PACKARD. 263 



In the markings there are constant differences between the species of Attacus as here 

 restricted and Rothschildia. 



The presence of a lanceolate, oval clear spot, thinly covered with whitish-yellow scales, in 

 the last subcostal cell, shows that A. atlas is more specialized than the American species hereto- 

 fore referred to Attacus. There are two triangular clear discal spots in each wing, and nearly of 

 the same size, neither quite reaching the extradiscal line, those of the hind wings nearly as wide 

 as long. The apical spot is a large ocellus, situated next to the costa just before the apex; it 

 is a large round black spot nearly reaching to the costal edge, and bordered with steel blue. 

 There is a good deal of instability in the apical markings. In Rothschildia the ocellus is (R. 

 jacobex and orizaba) in the second cell, but in A. atlas it is wanting, there being only a deep 

 Indian red slash, ending in a fine line passing to the outer edge of the wing; wlule there is a 

 conspicuous ocellus-like roundish black spot on the first cell next to the costa, edged externally 

 and beneath with white. 



The usual marginal sinuous dark-brown line is present as it is in Rothshcildia; there are 

 only three lines crossing both pairs of wings. Both wings are much paler beneath than above, 

 but it is not so in Rothschildia; the basal line in both wings is nearly obsolete; the extradiscal 

 line is fainter, while the wing area between these two lines is dusky; the apical markings are as 

 distinct as above. 



Attacus atlas is evidently the end or terminal twig of a series of Attacine forms, both in its 

 larval and adult characters. Its great size is a feature of its specialization, as the big mammals, 

 such as the elephant, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, whales, etc., are the result of extreme speciali- 

 zation, induced in part by overfeeding or at least a surplus of food and more or less sedentary 

 habits. 



[Attacus atlas mcmulleni Watson, subsp. n., PI. XCI, fig. a. 



Male: Fore wing, apex more pointed than any of the other races of Attacus atlas, apex more 

 tawny. Central area of wings warm reddish brown. The basal and the post discal red line almost 

 without white border and faintly edged with black, not so curved toward the base of wing; 

 beyond this line the wing is very regularly dusted with yellowish scales, except a narrow border 

 of the usual gray dusting. One vitreous spot and trace of a second vitreous spot, small and 

 with the longest line below and nearest the outer margin of the wing. The basal area of wings 

 hardly differing from the central area in color. The outer margin of the fore whig olivaceous 

 and the wavy line black and deeply sinuated. Hind whig, outer margin curved, never straight, 

 similar in coloring to the fore wing with a prominent black submarginal line ; edged inward with 

 crescents of brownish red edged with tawny. The vitreous spot small and sharply triangular, 

 of three straight lines with a black border having straight edges, post discal red line as forewing. 



Female: Fore and hind wings general color deep brown, less red than female, apex tawny 

 gold, almost orange where the brown streak is. Forewing, the single vitreous spot would be 

 equilateral, but the basal side is curved outward toward the base of the wing. Post discal line 

 bright red, almost of a sealing-wax red, edged inwardly with less white than the atlas females 

 usually have; outward the black and white dusted area shading to deep brown and toward 

 outer margin of wing are tawny irrovations between the veins. The olivaceous margin with a 

 very faint slightly wavy black line. Hind wing very rounded; the vitreous spot has the two 

 outer sides straight ; the basal side two-thirds straight and then elbowed to the subcostal vein. 

 Post discal red line as fore wing. The submarginal spots are brown, edged broadly with tawny 

 gold. On the under surface these submarginal spots are very large and inward is a narrow 

 abrupt band of deep brown. In most races of atlas this band is suffused into the irrovated or 

 dusted area. In this subspecies it is abrupt on both the hind wings and forewings. The spots 

 on the abdomen very large, larger than any subspecies of atlas which have seen. 



Types in collection of I. Henry Watson. 



Eight males and one female Port Blair, Andaman Islands; four of the males collected by 

 Mr. McMullen and four males and one female, bred J. H. W. from cocoons sent me from larvae 

 taken near Port Blair, Andaman Islands; three males ex Port Blair, Andaman Islands; one male 

 ex Port Blair, Andaman Islands (McMullen) , in collection of Rothschild. 



