114 DARAPSA VERSICOLOR. 



Prof. Meyer, of Brooklyn, some years since was successful in breeding this splendid insect ; the larvae, he 

 says, resembled those of 7). J/^rort, but were larger. They feed on the Cephalantha^' Occidenfalvs, a plant 

 which grows on margins of creeks, in swam))*, &c ; has lanceolate leaves in twos and threes, and white flow- 

 ers in clusters, and is better known as the Buttonbiish. It is a common weed, occurring in various parts of 

 Long Island and New Jersey, and I have little doubt that careful search by collectors who have the plant 

 within reach, would be rewarded by the finding of some of the larvae. Doubtless owing to the plants growing 

 in and near water, very many of these larvae are drowned, which may in some measure account for the amazing 

 rarity of this insect, which without exception is the most lovely of all our N. Am. species, and second only to 

 the peerless Chcerocampa Nerii, among those of other countries. 



CHCEROCAMPA PROCNE. Cleme.ns. 



Jul. Acad. Nat. .Sc, Phila., Vol, IV, p. 1.51 (1859). Morrii, Cat. Lep. N. Am., p. 20 (18601. Svnopsis Lep. X. Am., p. 173 

 (1862). Walker, C. B. M., .Supplement Vol. XX.XI, p. 30 (1864). Grote & Robimon. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., Vol. V, p. 155 

 (1865); List Lep. N. Am., p. 4 (1868). 

 Melopsilus Procne, Grote, Bull. Buff. Soc. Xat. Sc, Vol. I, p. 22 ( 1873), Vol. II, p. 226 (1875.) 



(PL.\TE XIII, FIG. 10.) 



"Head and thorax dull lirown, (if not faded, I with a bro.ad whitish stripe on the sides, e.xtended to the lower edge of tegulse. 

 Abdomen brownish testaceous, with faint dark-brown dorsal marks in atoms. Anterior wings rather pale brownish, punctated with 

 dark atoms and with obscure dark brown lines extending from the base to the tip; discal spot dark brown and small. Posterior wings 

 uniform blackish brown. Under surface of the wings brownish, somewhat tinged with rulbus, and with two rows of brown spots in mid- 

 dle of the posterior. California." 



Dr. Clemens' description above quoted agrees exactly with the example I have figured, which passed 

 into my keeping along with the Lepitiopterous collection of the Rev. Dr. John G. Morris some years since. 

 It had no name attached, but merely the locality, "S. California ;" its foriuer possessor could give rae no fur- 

 ther particulars concerning it, but I have no doubt it is the species described as Procne, though this name 

 may perhaps eventually ])rove a synonym of some species common to Mexico and Tropical America. 



SPHINX LUSCrriOSA. Clemens. 



Jnl. .\cad. Nat. .Sc, Phila., Vol. IV, p. 172 (1859). 



Morris, Cat. Lep. N. Am., p. 19 (1860); Svn. Lep. N. Am., p. 197 1 18621. Walker, C. B. M., Supplement Vol. XXXI, p. 

 .36 (1864). Grote & Robinson, Proc. Ent. Soc, Phila., Vol. V, p. 165 (1865); List Lep. N. Am., p. 5 (1868). 

 Lelhea LuacUiosa, Grote, Bull. Buff. .Soc. Nat. Sc, Vol. I, p. 26 1 1873), Vol, II, p. 228 (1875) 



(PLATE XIII, FIG. 11 ?.) 



Male. Expands 2| inches. 



Head and thorax very dark brown above, whitish-grey on sides ; abdomen light brown above, with a 

 black dorsal line; on each side a row of black spot.s ; beneath grey. 



Superior wings narrow and prolonged, less in length from base to inner angle than from the latter to 

 apex ; exterior margin almost straight. Upper surface light brownish, shaded with darker brown at costa 

 and inner margin ; a rather broad dark brown marginal band; a very small white discal spot; a narrow 

 black apical line, and a few abbreviated, almost obsolete, black lines in the cells. Fringe brownish. 



Posterior wings ochrey, with broad, black marginal band, and very faint evidences of a mesial band ; 

 fringe white. 



Under surface ochrey, with a rather broad brown marginal band on all wings. 



Fem.vle. Expands 3| inches. 



Head and body as in male. 



Primaries much broader and not so much prolonged, being less from apex to inner angle than from latter 

 to base. Ujjper surface clouded with light grey ; black marginal band broadest at inner angle, and diminishes 

 to a point before reaching the apex ; black ajMcal and other streaks better defined than in the male; exceed- 

 ingly small white discal spot. Fringe dark brown and white, former colour predominating. 



Secondaries as in male. 



Under surface, primaries greyish, with a slight yellow tinge ; marginal baud not well defined, whitish 

 and brown, former colour gaining at and towards apex, the latter at inner angle. Fringes brown and white. 



