1865.] 321 



of Eudryas} the coloration also differs, since in Eudryas the abdomen 

 and posterior wings are yellow, discolorous with the white anterior 

 wings, and this seems to be the case likewise in Eudryas Stse. Jolian- 

 nis Stephens, an as yet apocryphal North American species described 

 by Mr. Walker in 0. B. ML Noct. p. 144. In Ciris Wilsonii the hind 

 wings and abdomen are white, concolorous with the fore wings; the 

 abdomen is more compact and cylindrical and clothed with longer and 

 denser nnieolorous hair, not tufted except on second basal segment, 

 and relatively shorter than in Eudryas. I regret that I cannot say 

 anything positively as to the neuration, as the scales hide it and I do 

 not wish to mutilate the single specimen, but it does not appear to 

 differ greatly from Eudryas. The shape of the wing is not sufficiently 

 distinct from Eudryas, the moth resembling E. unto very nearly in this 

 respect. The whole insect appears to me stouter, the head larger and 

 the palpi more closely applied to the front, while the thorax is more 

 elevated than in either of the species of Eudryas. This species tends 

 to confirm Dr. Packard's reference of the group to the Zygaenidae. 



The habits of Eudryas are however quite different from Alypia, 

 with which latter genus Dr. Packard associates it. The species are 

 nocturnal, as far as my experience goes, entering the window at night 

 in company with Xoctuidaa and Notodontida?. In the daytime T have 

 found E. grata frequenting the outside of leaves, curiously enough 

 courting the sunlight, and on fences, etc. At this time it can be easily 

 pinned without attempting to escape, and I have never observed either 

 species flying during the daylight voluntarily as do Alypia and allies. 

 The imaginal habits must thus be regarded as a fresh character in ad- 

 dition to its numerous analogies with the Notodontians. and while the 

 larva mimics a higher genus — Alypia — I regard the bulk of its charac- 

 ters as indicating a lower position in the Zygasuidae, distinct as a group 

 from the Castniares from which the simple antennal stalk seems to 

 divide it. The antennal characters ally it more closely with Ctenucha 

 and allied genera, since in Ciris the pectinal structure is quite similar 

 to £ Ctenucha, consisting of numerous close converging joints, though 

 I do not detect as yet the presence of any terminal setaj. In consider- 

 ing this difficult genus it seems to me that we have to do with a group 

 of genera, of which I indicate Eudryas and Ciris from America and 

 Ovios and JEyocera from Africa. The affinities of Eudryas with Aly- 

 pia have been very carefully explained by Dr. Packard in the recent 

 able treatise already alluded to and from which I have derived much 

 information and taken many new ideas. 



