2^8 THE CANADIAN KNTOMOLOGlST. 



discrepancy in numbers exists between the sexes. In speaking of the 

 probable or possible life history of the species, Mr. Scudder says (page 

 (iio): " Mr. Fletcher obtained them (the eggs) July 16-24, and ^'i^y 

 hatch in seven days. This gives ample time for the caterpillars to attain 

 maturity and pass into pupa for the winter; but what the creatures 

 actually do, and how winter is passed, is unknown. There is, however, 

 certainly but one brood anywhere." It seems to me, however, that it 

 may be mathematically demonstrated that any species of which there is 

 only one brood in the year and which does not appear on the wing till 

 July or the very end of June must pass the winter in the larval condition 

 not more than half-grown. 



THE LIFE HISTORY OF EPIRRANTHLS OBFIRMARIA, Hbn. 



BY REV. THOMAS W. FYLES, SOUTH QUEBEC. 



Epirrant/iis obfirmaria is a swamp insect. I take it in "The 

 Gomin" near Quebec, where, in ordinary seasons, it is on the wing from 

 early in June till the close of that month. The following is a brief 

 description of this beauciful insect : 



^ . Expanse of wings one inch ; length of body half an inch ; 

 length of antennae three-tenths of an inch. Colour a rich, warm brown. 

 The primaries have a broad ochreous band, widest at the costa, outlined 

 with dark brown. In this band, not far from the costa, is a dark brown 

 spot. The secondaries have the outer third of the same warm brown as 

 the primaries, with an ochreous patch at the outer angle of it. The rest 

 of the wing is ochreous, clouded towards the base. The marginal dark 

 brown line of this ochreous portion is somewhat angulated. In the part 

 of lighest colour in the wing is a conspicuous dark brown spot. The 

 antennae are pectinated. 



9 . Expanse of wings an inch and one-fifth ; length of body nine- 

 twentieths of an inch ; length of antennae two-fifths of an inch. The 

 marks in the wings are similar to those in the wings of the male, except 

 that there are no brown dots in the primaries. The colours are much 

 brighter : the darker portions are of a rich brick-red, and the lighter of a 

 clearer yellow than in the male. The brown spots in the secondaries are 

 small. The antennae are filiform. 



Eggs of E obfirmaria. 



The eggs of E. obfirmaria are laid dispersedly and unattached, 

 rhey are pale greenish-yellow, small, and bluntly oval in outline. They 



