%\\t Canadian Xntowrtoafek 



Vol. XXXIIL LONDON, MAY, 1901. No. 



D 



SOME RECENT WORK IN THE GENUS CATOCALA. 



BY OTHO C. POLING, QUINCY, ILL. 



Since the revision of this genus by the late Dr. Hulst, in 1S84, 

 contributions to our knowledge have not been extensive, while the 

 material gathered in recent years has been very great. The popularity 

 of the genus among students of Lepidoptera had made the necessity for a 

 revision very keenly felt, so that when Prof. French generously undertook 

 the work, a year or so ago, a feeling of gratitude was aroused by 

 enthusiasts, who have known the thoroughness with which his work 

 would be attended. 



In offering him my assistance, I placed at his disposal a large number 

 of Western forms, many of them from remote localities where no great 

 amount of collecting in this genus had yet been done. I was not greatly 

 surprised when my own opinion of some apparently new species was 

 confirmed by that of Prof. French. Though reluctant about presenting 

 these new forms until more material could be gathered for a more 

 thorough study and comparison, I have consented to do so, since the 

 assistance offered me by a more competent scholar has enabled me to 

 bestow full credit for the work on Prof. French, who wrote the descriptions 

 and modestly declined to "deprive me of the pleasure of naming my new 

 forms." 



Such sincerity is in marked contrast with some modern methods, 

 where the object of contributing to our knowledge of science is lost sight 

 of in the keen desire for personal prominence. 

 Catocala Frenchii, n. sp. 



Expanse of male, 2.50 inches; of female, 2.75 inches. 



General or ground colour, pale glaucous gray, sprinkled over with 

 black or dark brown atoms, so as to make the general aspect a pale 

 blackish, rather than a brownish tinge, differing in that respect from 

 C. Californica. Lines distinct ; basal line black, single, with a whitish 



