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739. 

 NOTODONTA DROMEDARIUS. 



The Iron Prominent. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Bombycidae. 



Tyjie of the Genus, Bombyx Dromedarius, Linn. 



NoTODONTA Och., Germ., Curt. — Ptilodontis Hub. — Bombyx Linn., 



Fab.,Haw.,H'ub.,Goda. — Peridea, Leiocampa, LophopteryxS'/ep. 



Antenna inserted on each side of the crown above the eyes, short 



and setaceous, basal joint short and producing a distinct brush 



of scales on the inside, the following bipectinated in the males, 



the rays rather short and obtuse, sparingly hairy on the inside (1), 



and gradually shortening towards the apex, until they vanish 



(^) ; scaly above and pubescent beneath in the female (1 ? ). 



Manilla very short, forming 2 broad lobes, curved at the apex (3). 



Labial j)alpi very short, horizontal, and very scaly beneath (4) ; 



triarticulate, basal joint stout, ovate, narrowed at the base, 2nd 



a little longer and attenuated, 3rd small, elongate-ovate (4a). 



Head very small and short (la, the profile). Thorax quadrate, not 



crested. Abdomen stout and cylindric in the wale, ivith the apex 



rounded, conical in the female. Wings deflexed in repose, superior 



elongate-ovate, the apex being rounded, interior margin with a bundle 



of scales projecting over the inferior wings, which are rather small 



and ovate-trigonate : cilia short. Legs stoutish and woolly : tibiae, 



anterior appearing dilated with scales, with a strong internal spi?ie, 



the others densely clothed loith longish scales concealing the spurs, 



which are slender and acute, the hinder tibice having a pair also a 



little above the apex : tarsi stoutish, anterior producing longish scales 



externally, 5-jointed, basal joint the longest, the following very short. 



Caterpillars smooth, with 6 pectoral, 8 abdominal and 2 anal feet, the 



back sometimes tuberculated. Pupse inclosed in a soft cocoon. 



Dbomedarius Linn. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 797, 2. 



Purplish-brown with scattered gray scales : inside of antennae 

 ochreous : superior wings with 2 denticulated whitish waved 

 strigse, forming a bar across the middle, the furthest terminating 

 in an ochreous streak near the posterior angle ; a pale ear- 

 shaped spot on the discoidal cell ; base ochreous and ferrugi- 

 nous ; a ferruginous fascia beyond the centre crenated inter- 

 nally, leaving a fimbria of the ground colour ; the lobe black- 

 ish : inferior wings mouse-coloured with a pale striga beyond 

 the centre, the anal angle blackish, the same colour tinting a 

 short portion of the cilia, which are pale ochreous : abdomen 

 dark mouse-colour. In this variety the colours are beautifully 

 softened down, but in general the ochreous parts are yellow, 

 the ferruginous band and other parts rusty red, and the strigse, 

 &c. briarhter and defined^ 



The Prominent-moths are distinguished by a lobe formed 

 of scales, which projects from the interior margin of the upper 

 wings, forming a prominence upon the back wiien they are 

 closed, and resting upon the inferior ones when expanded. 

 The caterpillars are very remarkable, generally standing v/ith 

 their tails elevated, in which respect they approach Stauropus 

 (674.) and Cerura (193). 



