26 LEPIDOPTERA. 



whole basal area abundantly covered with long silky hair- 

 scales having a soft rich gloss. 



Female much larger and stouter, with shorter antennae, 

 which are distinctly pectinated with short teeth ; abdomen 

 very large and heavy; fore wings longer and more ample, 

 with the costal and bind margins more rounded, and the 

 latter more oblique ; hind wings also larger. Head, antennge, 

 thorax, abdomen, and wings pale yellow-brown, densely 

 clothed (except the antennae) with soft scales ; the white spot 

 of the fore wings large, and edged with chocolate ; no trace 

 of the basal yellow spot ; the pale transverse band rather 

 more curved and oblique ; in other respects as in the male. 



Underside of the wings of the male red-brown to beyond 

 the middle, thence dull ochreous ; the outer edge of the red- 

 brown portion sharply defined, and nearly, though not quite, 

 coincident with the second line of the upper side ; margins 

 rather clouded with red-brown ; body red-brown ; legs yellow- 

 brown : of the female a paler or yellower reproduction of the 

 upper side, but without the white central spot. 



Variation in this species is very considerable, but mainly 

 local or climatal. In typical southern specimens of the male, 

 such as are above described, the transverse pale stripe of the 

 fore wings is sometimes nearly perpendicular and very little 

 waved ; in other cases more oblique and more curved 

 outwardly. Id those from the north and west there is 

 similar variation, but always more in the direction of oblique 

 position and more graceful curves. In them the colour is 

 intensified, becoming an exceedingly rich glossy dark choco- 

 late, this colour extending further in both fore and hind 

 wings, and pushing the second line and its attendant yellow 

 stripe further back. Often the yellow stripe is narrower and 

 the hind margin more broadly suffused with chocolate, and 

 with still darker nervures ; or else the yellow colour is thrown 

 off in rays toward the hind margin between the dark 

 nervures. In the dark forms the basal yellow blotch or 

 epaulet becomes constant, more distinct, and even large and 



