' 12 



Under Side. Palpi, neck, breast, abdomen, and legs light green ; except the anterior tibiae, which 

 are pale orange. Tail dark brown. Wings of the same colour as on the upper side, immaculate. 

 Wings entire. 



The curious structure of the antennae of this insect (which is, doubtless, peculiar to the 

 males alone) is very similar to that of Desmia maculalis, (Westvv. in Mag. Zool.) but the 

 larger size, pearly wings, and diiferent quarters of the globe in which these two species are 

 found, make it doubtful whether the two insects belong strictly to the same subgenus. It 

 is evidently nearly allied to the British genus Margaritia. Mr. Smeathman informed 

 Drury that this is one of the Phalsena? which fly during the day. A little noise or rustling 

 disturbs it, when it takes rapid flights of twenty or thirty yards, hiding itself with great 

 ingenuity, which makes it difficult to catch. 



SATURNIA CYNTHIA. 



Plate VI. fig. 2. 



Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Bombycklie, Steph. 



Gencs. Satcrnia, &■/(;•«?(/(. Attacus, G«v?!ar. Boinbyx p. J^ai/-. 



Saturnia Cynthia. Alls falcatis I ateo-fuscis, fascia cominuni albida striga basali lunulaque discoidali ; antkis 

 ocello parvo apieali. (Expans. Alar. 5 iinc. 3 lin.) 



Syn. Phaloena (Attacus) Cynthia, Drury, App. vol. 2. Oliv. Ene. M/'th. o. 30. 20. 



Habitat : China. 



Upper Side. Head greyish brown. Antennae strongly pectinated. Thorax and abdomen greyish. 

 Anterior wings with a bar rising near the middle of the anterior margin, continued along the posterior 

 wings parallel with the external edges, and ending near the abdominal corners ; the inner part forming 

 an equilateral triangle. The outer part of this triangle is ash colour, the inner part pale brownish grey, 

 but darker than the rest of the wings. The tips of the superior wings are adorned with a small eye, the 

 lower part of which is black, and the upper part white ; from whence a faint white serpentine line runs 

 to the very extremity of the wing. The spaces between the ash colour mentioned above, and the 

 external edges of all the wings, are filled up with light brownish grey, appearing as if povdered thinly 

 with black dust. A small narrow black line runs along the external edges of all the wings, which, 

 beginning at the abdominal corners and ending at the tips, appears as if broken or interrupted just below 

 the eyes. A narrow ash-coloured bar begins on the posterior edges next the shoulders of the superior 

 wings, which, running towards the tips, suddenly turns off, and ends on the anterior edges about half an 

 inch from the shoulders. On the middle of the posterior wings is an ash-coloured crescent, verged at 

 top with black ; and about a quarter of an inch above this is another crescent, larger and much fainter, 

 running from the anterior to the abdominal edge, and ending at the extremity of the body. 



Under Side. All the parts on this side are nearly of the same colour as on the upper, but not quite 

 so distinct and bright. The angular bar on the anterior wings next the shoulders, and the faint crescent 

 on the posterior, not being discernible. The margins of all the wings are entire ; the superior ones 

 being hooked at their tips. 



