180 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Satnrniidm and Lasiocampidce. Its naked green white- striped 

 larva considerably resembles that of a Sphinx ; it feeds on birch. 

 This insect appears to be nearly allied to Bombyx Mori ; and even 

 if it does not belong to the same family, it must be placed in 

 juxtaposition with it. Schrank actually placed the two species in 

 the same genus; and when recently discussing the position of 

 JEJndromis with my friend and colleague Mr. A. G. Butler, we came 

 to the conclusion that the genus should not be widely separated 

 from Bombyx. 



Family XIV. — Lasiocampidce, 



Insects of moderate size ; antennse generally pectinated in the 

 male ; wings moderately broad, sometimes dentated ; larva hairy. 



These moths are known as Eggars, on account of the hard 

 firm egg-shaped cocoons. They are usually of a reddish-brown 

 colour in the male, and yellow in the female, and there is some- 

 times great disparity in the size of the sexes, the female, as 

 usual in insects, being much the largest. 



The genus Gastropaclm, Ochs., may be known by its dentated 

 wings. In repose, the costa of the hind wings projects far beyond 

 the closed fore wings, and the whole insect has a general resem- 

 blance to a withered leaf, a peculiarity commemorated in the 

 names given to several of these Lappet Moths, as they are 

 termed — G. Quercifolia, Ilicifolia, Betulifolia, etc. 



The Australian genus Opsirhina, Walk., includes reddish species 

 which are remarkable for the great length of the palpi. The 

 wings are moderately long, and a little pointed, but not dentated. 



Lasiocampa Qiiercus, Linn., the Oak Eggar, may be considered 

 the type of this family. It expands nearly three inches, and the 

 males, which are rich brown, with a yellowish band in the middle 

 of the wings, fly very wildly in the day-time in search of the 

 yellow females ; the shaggy blackish-brown larva feeds on oak and 

 heath, and is not very difficult to rear. 



The Lackey Moths {Clisiocampa Neustria, and Castrensis, Linn.) 

 are smaller insects, not expanding more than an inch and a half. 

 They are reddish brown, or ochreous yellow, with two brown 

 lines on each fore wing. 



Family XV. — Zeuzeridce. 

 Antennae moderately long ; palpi very short, or absent ; female 

 ■with a short ovipositor ; larvae lignivorous. 



