114 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



penetrate ; still I cannot see any other way by which it could reach the eggs, 

 unless the spider was compelled to retreat from the nest, when it was only 

 partially covered with silk, and that the little ichneumon deposited her eggs 

 amongst the group during the absence of the spider. If such is the case, the 

 habits of the minute ichneumonidae are similar to those of the small para- 

 sitic species of Microgaster, for the latter always use stratagem, and, like the 

 Dipterous cuckoo-flies, take advantage to deposit their eggs during the absence 

 of the true owner of the nest. I do not know the species of spider to which 



the cocoon belongs. 



— • — 



NOTICE OF THE SPECIES OF DREPANODES. 



BY AUG. R. GROTE, DEMOPOLIS, Ala. 



It is easy to distinguish the species of the genus Drepanodes from the 

 other Phalaenidae, by their falcate or acutely produced primaries and their 

 strong casual resemblance, both in size and ornamentation, to the Platypte- 

 ryginae (Drepana, Platypterix, Dryopteris), a sub-family of Bombycidae. 

 This resemblance, while it has suggested to M. Guenee the generic name, is 

 paralleled in the sub-order in different instances ; but is here noteworthy as 

 illustrating the synthetic relation which the great family Bombycidae sustains 

 to the other moths. The nearer affinities of Drepanodes in its family are 

 with Chaerodes. 



In the eighth volume of the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of 

 New York, will be found figures and descriptions of three species of this 

 genus. Of these I have found D. puber and D. varusjn central Alabama. 

 A fourth, which I here describe, I have from the same locality. This 

 species (D. sesquilinea) I believe to be identical with one of which I have 

 seen many specimens from New York and Massachusetts, but which I cannot 

 at this writing compare. This not improbably]will be found in Canada. 

 Drepanodes sesquilinea, n. sp. 



Male. Pale smooth fawn colour, slightly lustrous ; Prorations sub-obsolete. 

 Both median ' lines distinct on the primaries above. The inner roundedly 

 a-ngulated on the disc approximate to the black discal dot. The outer acutely 

 angulated below costa, consisting of a very narrow whitish external line and 

 a deep olivaceous preceding shade. Apices moderately produced. External 

 margin lined with olivaceous. Terminally there are distinct dark clouded 

 spots interspaceally, between the nervules, at the middle of the wing. On 

 the secondaries the external line is distinctly continued. External margin 

 edged with olivaceous and stained centrally with ochreous. Outside of the 

 external line both wings are shaded with purplish. Beneath a little darker 

 and more irrorate ; the external line is visible on both wings and the black 



