22 



oliscurity. Frnni the fact of its iiffectino; only the new and tender trrowth we should inter 

 that some atmospheiic ajjency is probably concerned in the [production and propogation of 

 this disease. At present we have no remedy to suggest. 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS, 



Bt W. S.^unders, 



The Cecropia hJoth (Atlacus C'ecropia, Linn.) 



Amons; the many beautiful and wonderful insects native to this country, there is none 

 which excites yearly more wonder and astonishment than the cecropia moth. Its size is 

 enormous, measurinij when its winjis are spread from five and a half to six and a half inches 

 icross, and sometimes even more while its beauty is proportionate to its size. The accom- 

 panying figure 17 (after Riley) is a faithful representation of this magnificent creature. 

 Both front and hind wings are of a rich brown, the anterior pair greyish, shaded with red, 



FlO. 17. 



the posterior more uniformly brown ; near tlie middle of eacii ot the winu:s there is a nearly 

 kidney shaped white spot sliadod more or less with red. and margined with black. A wavy 

 dull red band crosses each of the wings, edged in-^ide on the front wintrs more or less faintly 

 witli white, while on iho hind pair the band is widely and clearly inarLrincd with the same 

 colcT. The outer edges of the wings are of a pale silky brown in which on the anterior pair 

 runs an irregular dull bla k line, which on the hind wings is replacod by a narrow, double 

 broken band of the same hue. The front wings next to the shoulders are dull red, with a 

 curved white and black band, varying hiueh in distinctness in different specimens, and near 

 their tips, there is an eyelike black spot with a bluish white crescent. 'J'he upper side of the 



