DICRANURA. By Dr. K. Grunberg. 287 



July and September — Oktober, especially on Sallow, but also on Aspen, Birch, and Beech. Pupa in a brown 

 cocoon, yellowish brown with greenish wing-cases; frequently hibernates twice. 



C. bifida Hhn. (= furcula Esj)., hermelina Kirhy, latifascia Curt., ajatar Schilde) (44 c). Differs from bifida. 

 its nearest ally, furcula. apart from the somewhat larger size, in the much broader and sharper black edges to 

 the median band, which bears an evenly incurved shallow smus on the distal side to below vein 2; of the exterior 

 dentate lines usually only 2 are well developed. Likewise throughout Europe, northward to Lapland, south- 

 ward to Portugal, Northern Spain, Central Italy, Greece, Asia Minor, Armenia to Persia, Altai. ■ — As in the 

 case of furcula, a northern resp. Scandinavian-Laponian race is distinguished by its dark smoky ground-colour, 

 saltensis Schoyen. — In Southern France and Spam the species is likewise represented by a special race, urocera saltemis. 

 Bdv., in which the markings are leas developed, or some even entirely obsolete, especially in the marginal area. ^^°''^^- 

 — fuscinuki Steph., arcuata Steph., integra Steph. and latifascia Curt., which were described from England, are 

 hardly different from true bifida. — Egg black. Larva similar to that of furcula, with similar dark red-brown 

 dorsal spots; first stage blackish, later ones yellowish green with sparse red lateral dots; the large triangular 

 thoracical patch divided by a narrow pale median line and irregularly variegated with light spots, as well as 

 edged with reddish yellow. The dorsal abdominal spots extend to the anal segment. End of July to September 

 on species of Populus, especial Aspen. Pupa pale brown, in a dark brown cocoon. Moth early in June. 



C. interrupta Christ. (44 c). Ground-colour paler than in bifida, no yellow markmgs; the median band interrupta. 

 of (^ usually interrupted, in $ at least strongly constricted, the posterior portion of the band always very narrow. 

 Distributed in the eastern Mediterranean districts, Sarepta, Caucasus, throughout AsiaMuior, Persia, Kurdistan, 

 Syria, and also in Tunisia. Together with the ordinary form occurs a variety with the band rather broader, but 

 likewise strongly constricted, pttriAJph., being recognized as belonging to iw^en'Mjato especially by the absence of peiri. 

 yellow markings. — Larva pale bluish green, with whitish dorsum ; thoracical patch and dorsal stripe dark 

 brown and continuous. August and September on Populus nigra. 



C. ludoviciae Piing. Closely allied to interrupta; head, thorax and forewing whitish yellow, the median ludovicae. 

 band rather narrow, widened at the costal and hind margins, dusted with blackish grey and edged with a darker 

 colour; discal spot and the two proximal dentate lines only feebly indicated, the outer dentate line and the 

 marginal dots prominent. Hindwing pure white, with vestigial marginal dots. — Chinese Turkestan. Possibly 

 a local race of interrupta. 



C. syra Gr.-Grsh. Allied to interrupta Christ, and intercallaris Gr.-Grsh. Forewing pale reddish grey, syra. 

 lighter (yellowish grey) at the costal and distal margins; transverse band narrow, grey, several times inter- 

 rupted, edged with black and yellow; the long subapical spot coloured and bordered like the band; the other 

 markings scarcely indicated. Hindwing white, with black discal spot and diffuse blackish submarginal band, 

 which is sometimes absent. Antenna white, with black pectinations, body white, thorax grey in the centre, 

 with 3 yellow streaks. Syria. 



5. Genus: Dicraiiiira Bdv. 



This genus is very close to Cerura, but the species it contauis are larger and more robust. Antennae 

 pectinated to the tip, the branches very long in ^J, short in $; palpus small, porrect, and densely hairy, the 

 whole body, especially the thorax and the legs, also densely woolly. In the forewing veins 6- — 9 stalked together 

 forming an areole with 10, vein 5 close to upper angle of cell. The ground-coloiir of the body and wings is 

 white or grey, the thorax and abdomen bearing black dots and spots ; the basal area of the forewing is similarly 

 marked as in Cerura, bearing a broad blackish transverse band accompanied by dots; the outer half of the 

 wing has a very large number of deeply zigzag transverse parallel lines. ^ — Eggs hemispherical, dark red-brown, 

 the flat under surface encircled by a white ring. The larvae resemble those of Cerura, only being larger and the 

 dorsal tubercle always being placed on the third thoracical segment. Pupa and cocoon as in Cerura. When 

 irritated the larva retracts the head into the thorax, raises the fore and aft parts and remains motionless in 

 this threatening altitude, the long thin red tail-threads being projected and the gland.s situated on tlie.se threads 

 emitting a nauseous scent. At the same time a strongly corrosive secretion exudes from two glands which open 

 at the head. ■ — Distributed from Europe to Japan, China and the Himalayas, southward into the Sahara as far 

 as Poplars and Willows occur. The species has but one brood in the northern districts, only very occasionally 

 some specimens appear in the autumn, which however do not produce a second brood as is the case with all 

 Cerura. At the southern boundary, in southern Algeria, the larvae pupate already in June, but remain in the 

 pupal stage until the next spring. 



D. ertninea Esp. (44 d), Ermine. Middle segments of abdomen above black with white median stripe, erminea. 

 the last two segments white with black longitudinal stripes. Ground-colour of wings white or pale whitish grey, 

 with the usual black basal dots, zigzag bands and black veins. In Central Europe with the exception of Den- 



