26Q FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



the buttouwood or sycamore, but as it also occurs on the elm, oak, aud 

 other forest trees, it may as well be described here. 



I have found it on the sycamore at Providence, R. I., September 20 

 to 30. It spun a cocoon the 2Gth, but died in confinement. The cocoon 

 is oblong-oval, composed of the hairs interwoven with a very little 

 silk, and usually spun in crevices in fences, and under stones, etc. 

 The moth appears in New England after the middle of June. The 

 moth has an enormous geographical range, extending from Maine and 

 Canada to Brazil and Paraguay, Mr. Neumogen having specimens from 

 the latter country in his collection. 



"Larvae of this spciiies were found at St. Louis, Mo., September 14, 

 1870, feeding on oak and elm; also on elm at Springfield, 111.; on 

 4swamp oak at Selma, Ala., early in October. It is also found, accord- 

 ing to Smith and Abbot, feeding on leaves of beech, hornbeam, and 

 plane. 



'The general color of some larvte is quite yellow, but they become 

 dark after molting. By the 6th of October they generally commence 

 forming their cocoons, which as a rule are formed on the surface, though 

 occasionally they go into the ground to the depth of an inch. 



" The moth issues from about the last of April to the latter part of 

 June. 



" Some of the larvae are infested by Tachinids and numerous sijeci- 

 mens of a Microgaster. 



"Two larvae of this moth were found by E. A. Schwarz on swamp 

 oak at Selma, Ala. From one of these larvae a Tachina emerged early 

 in October." — (Riley's unpublished notes.) 



Larva. — Body of the shape usual in this genus ; the hairs delicate huff-yellow ; four 

 dorsal pencils in front, of light sienna hrowu, with two pairs of shorter lateral white 

 tuf.'s; a pair of whitish tufts near the end of the hody ; head yellowish brown; a 

 row of lateral black spots above the base of the abdominal legs ; length 30™"". 



Moth. — Pale buff-yellow ; the fore wings more pointed than in most of the other 

 species, translucent and crossed by five broad irregular, slightly darker bands, edged 

 with fine dark lines; the third band is dislocated and only reaches from the costal 

 edge of the wing to the median vein, and includes a long sinuous discal line. The 

 large shoulder tippets are edged with bluish green, and the abdomen is ocherous-yel- 

 low. Expanse of wings 1^ to 2 inches. 



36. Datana contractu Walker. 



The following notes are contributed by Professor Riley : 



This insect has been found from the middle of August to October at St. Louis, Mo., 

 feeding on the elm and oak. Those found on the oak appear to have generally 

 paler stripes than the elm-feeding form. The larvie enter the ground by the first of 

 October and commence issuing towards the end of June of the following year. — 

 (Unpublished notes. See also p. 151.) 



Larva. — The general color is shiny black, with four yellow, longitudinal lines run- 

 ning on each side the whole length of the body. The ventral region is also black, 

 with three yellow longitudinal lines running its length, interrupted only by the pro- 

 legs; head as large as body and shiny black; cervical shield, feet, and abdominal 

 prolegs light brown, the latter having black extremities. The anal prolegs are verj' 



