160 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



purple and only a little orange below the stigmata. There is also a faint yellowish 

 dorsal line. The eleventh segment has purple-brown subdorsal lines with orange on 

 the back. These lines unite on the twelfth segment and form a broad dorsal line. 

 Feet and legs purple. (French.) 



Mo h. — Fore wings olive-ash, a distinct, dark olive subdorsal space ; median space 

 paler, olivaceous; transverse anterior line black, geminate, dentate; the space in- 

 cluded is stained in the middle with brown. A narrow, distinct, discal lunate streak, 

 preceded by a blackish zigzag median shade Ijne most distinct in the costa. Be- 

 yond the discal streak the wing is clear and whitish, forming an oblique pyriform 

 space, limited outwardly by the subterminal line and below by a dark sh.ade below the 

 third median vein, somewhat as 1e H. obliqua. It is closely related to H. oinerea Pack. 



The following notes by Professor fiiley throw more light on the habits 

 of this insect : 



Found July 9, 1882, at Hyattsville, Md., quite a number of larvai of a Notodouta 

 feeding on oak, hickory, waluut, birch, and Carpiims americana. 



LarviB entered the ground July 19 and 20, and the moths issued from July 27 to 

 August 7. (Unpublished notes.) 



218. The oak forked tail. 

 ffeterocampa marthesia (Cram.) {Lochmceus tessella Pack.). 



The caterpillar of this moth is one of the most interesting among the 

 Notodontiaus since it connects Oerura with the other genera, by reason 

 of its two long caudal filaments, so much like those of Cerura. These 

 appendages are simply modified anal legs, and seem to be tactile and 

 repellant organs. This caterpillar is also interesting from its power 

 when touched of forcing out a dense cloud of fine spray from a gland 

 in the under side of tlie prothoracic segment, near the head. It is very 

 common on the oak, both red and white, from Maine southward, in 

 August and through September, and occurs as far south as Georgia. 



The young before the last molt have much higher prothoracic «lorsal 

 tubercles and much longer anal filaments than in the adult, and they 

 are tinged with reddish. The cocoon is of silk, not very thick, spun 

 between the leaves, and in confinement the moths issued in November, 

 though ordinarily not due until June. 



Professor Riley has observed it on the oak at St. Louis, Mo., June 22, 

 and in July. He sends the following notes : 



The larva, if disturbed, thrusts from the anal appendages a fine red thread. The 

 moths issued March 11 aud 18. 



Many of the larvie are infected by parasites, among which were a Tachinid and a 

 Cryptns. (Unpublished notes. ) 



Larva. — It is a large-bodied, pale green caterpillar, thickest in the middle, being 

 somewhat spindle-shaped. The head is moderately large,. Hat in front, subconical, 

 with the vertex high and conical, pale green, edged very irregularly with roseate on 

 the sides. A small double reddish tubercle ou the top of the prothoracic segment, 

 from which a median white or yellow dorsal stripe, here and there marked with ro- 

 seate spots, runs to the supra-anal plate. The aual legs are represented by two 

 slender filaments held outstretched, which are nearly as long as the body is thick. 

 There are seven pairs of oblique lateral faint yellowish slender stripes, the last pair 

 extending to the sides of the anal filaments. All the legs are pale green and concol- 

 orous with the body. Length 40™™, including the filaments. 



Moth. — This species is rather above the medium size, and may be known by being 

 nearer in form of antennse, body, and wiugs to Cerura than any other species of Loch- 



