142 



Fig. 21. 



have ten species of Limacodes^ or closely allied genera, but 



think some nearer to Heterogenea. 



Where do you place Platypteryx ? The larA^ae of our differ- 

 ent genera of the Platypterycidce Steph. 

 vary a good deal. One is like Cerura^ 

 but slenderer ; another is short and thick, 

 like a lAmacodes. or like Abbot's drawino; 

 of the larva of my 261, They surely 

 come amongst the Bomhyces. In Abbot's 

 drawing is a species of which I have 

 sketched the larva and half the female. 

 The perfect insect is rose-colored, ex- 

 cepting the band from the apex of the 

 anterior wings and the posterior portion 

 of the hinder. There is a dark striga 

 across the base of the two wings, and two 

 sub-ocellated spots in the disk of the 

 Also a few red dots in the yellow of the lower 



Fig. 22. 



anterior ones. 



wmgs. 



I look with anxiety for your paper on the Bomhyces. I have 

 employed Raddon to engrave a plate of the larvae of a few 

 Bomhyces, and the imago, etc., of Abbot's Oiketicus. The 

 larva I sketched [in p, previous letter] was from Abbot's draw- 

 ing of Phalvena ejyimenis. In form it is just like our Parthe- 

 nias, but rather stouter, and very different in color. Parfhe- 

 nias has the first pair of abdominal prolegs shortest and almost 

 useless, and has a looping gait, but does not absolutely loop. 

 Abbot's drawing of Cypliocamj^a, if his be a Cypliocampa, has 

 but four abdominal legs. Erchiis, too, has a half-looping larva, 

 and, like Brephos, the first pair of abdominal legs short and 

 apparently useless. Some of the Catocalce have something of 

 this structure. A sketch in your next of the larva of Eudryas 

 grata would much please me, even if the eight legs are all 

 quite perfect. I fancy it must go quite near to Acontia and 

 EiqjJiasia Steph., though it may be that this insect belongs to 



