98 



to me, but which I don't feel justified in publishing. Why does not 

 he enlighten the world on its history ? 



" Paulum sepultee distat inertise 

 " Celata virtus." 



What little I did observe confirms Mr. Stephens's opinions as to its 

 place being not amongst the Sphinges, but near to Psyche and Oiket- 

 icus, a fact which will be more apparent by a reference to figs. 9 to 15 

 of the accompanying plate, which are copied, as 1 have before said, 

 from a drawing by Abbot in Mr. Raddon's possession. 



The larva, fig. 9, closely resembles that of Thyridopteryx, in fact 

 its sole difference is in its smaller legs, especially the posterior In 

 outline the cocoon is the same ; it is composed of similar materials, 

 similarly arranged, but has the opening near the top instead of at the 

 bottom. The pupa of the male, fig. 11, of the female, fig. 10 ; the fe- 

 male itself, fig. 12 (lateral view), and fig. 13 (dorsal view), seem not 

 exactly to resemble those of Oiketicus, and as far as memory serves 

 me, resemble those of Thyridopteryx as drawn by Mr. Gosse. But 

 the male is a true Oiketicus, closely allied to Oi. Kirbii, Guild., in 

 fact chiefly differing in size. The colour is dull chocolate, less bright, 

 if Abbot has coloured it con-ectly, than the browTi of Oi. Kirbii; 

 on the disk is a darker cloud, and in the place of the usual stigma 

 is a somewhat trilobed whitish spot. On first seeing Oi. Ku-bii 

 in the Entomological Society's collection, I was almost induced to 

 consider Abbot's insect as identical with it, but smaller and duller 

 fi-om the influence of climate, as is the case with very northern speci- 

 mens of Papilio Turnus, Colias Philodice &c. But the larva-case, as 

 figured by Guilding, is so different that there can be no doubt of their 

 specific distinction, independent of any other reasons drawn from the 

 pupa and female. As Abbot sent large remittances of Lepidoptera to 

 England, it is probable that specimens of this moth exist in some Brit- 

 ish cabinets ; should this be the case, I should be most grateful for 

 the information through the medium of ' The Entomologist.' 



The drawing in the British Museum is marked " P. B. Paradoxa F. 

 var." and has a memorandum upon it, stating that it feeds on the red 

 haw, sassafras, persimmon, and many other plants. " It spins itself 

 a house in which it lives, hanging to the stalk, and feeds by drawing 

 the leaves to it. It fastens pieces of dry stalks on the outside, which 

 it enlarges as it grows bigger. When disturbed it draws the opening 

 close together." One larva is stated to have finally closed the opening 

 on the 16th of June, the moth appeared on the 5th of July : another 



