Clje Canadian (fntomcbpt 



VOL. XX. LONDON, DECEMBER, 1888. No. 12. 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOMBYCID.E. 



(Fourth and Last Paper.) 



BY A. R. GROTE, A. M., BREMEN, GERMANY. 



Sub-family 'Attacince. 



The subfulcate primaries ally this group to the P/atypterygincs, and a 

 certain vague resemblance to the Geometridce may be found in the tend- 

 ency which the upper surfaces of the wings show to display the same 

 pattern on both wings. The ocelli are absent, the oral structure unde- 

 veloped, the hind wings are without frenulum. The species form mostly 

 large cocoons, and the characteristics of the family are pronounced in this 

 sub-family of silk-spinners. The male antennae are feathered to the tips, 

 each joint bearing a double pectination. The antennae are comparatively 

 short ; in the female the pectinations are shorter. On the fore wings, vein 5 

 is much closer to 6, than to 4, arising from the upper corner of the cell. The 

 caterpillars are thick and short rather than long, the segments tending to 

 become centrally elevated, with prominent incisions. In the early stages 

 they are bristled ; in the later stages of Platysamia and Saturnia, for 

 instance, characteristic colored warts appear. They are almost poly- 

 phagous. Long lists have been given by Mr. Beutenmuller, of the food 

 plants of our common North American forms. Our beautiful Actias luna 

 has an Asiatic ally in A. se/ene, and, I conclude, that the genus Actias in 

 our fauna must be regarded as a relic of a former Arctic, circumpolar 

 fauna, the more so as it is seen to be absent south of the equator in the 

 New World. Leach's genus Actias is older than Tropcea of Hiibner, 

 which Dr. Packard used, hence I retain it in my Check Lists. We have 

 in California, and again in Texas, species of the European genus Satur- 

 nia ; I have elsewhere drawn attention to the fact that there exists a 

 certain resemblance between the two faunae, of which this is an instance. 



