62 INSECTA TRANSVAALIENSIA. 



Subfam. SATUKNIIN^. 



Three genera alone, as at present known from the Transvaal, can be included in this 

 subfamily, which apparently contains two distinct divisions, which may be called Saturniinaria 

 and Attacinaria. 



These represent the Saturniin^e and Attacinas of Grote and Packard. Divided by Grote 

 (ante, p. 51) on characters found in the imago — cell open or closed ; by Packard on larval 

 characters * : — 



A. Six tubercles on the 8th abdominal segment ; the tubercles in general over the body all of the same size. 



Generalized forms (Saturniinse). 



B. Five tubercles on the 8th abdominal segment, the median one double ; the tubercles in general more or less 



differentiated or specialized in size and colour. Specialized forms (Attacinae). 



The method by which these Moths extract themselves from the large and strong cocoons 

 in which they are encased has long been an interesting question which has engaged the 

 attention of generations of entomologists. Mr. F. P. Dodd, in observing the emergence of 

 some Austrahan species of Anthercea, and acting on the information of Dr. A. J. Turner, found 

 that the cutting instrument "is a short hard black and curved thorn, situated in the thick 

 joints at base of fore wings, one on each side ; in a rubbed specimen the thorn is easily 

 discernible, but in a good one it is concealed amongst the dense scales." f In 1856 and 1857 

 Capt. Thos. Hutton described the observations he had made on the means employed by the 

 imago of Actias selene to obtain exit from its cocoon. J More fully detailed observations 

 have been given by C. E. Worthington,§ and by A. S. Packard. || 



Poulton has suggested that the colour of the cocoon in certain species can be adjusted to 

 the environment. IT This, however, appears to be sufficiently disproved by the experiments of 

 Bateson.** 



Genus ARGEMA. 



Argema, Wallengren, Ofv. Vet.-Akad. Forb. xv. p. 140 (1858). 



Ani/tis, Wallengren, Kongl. Svensk. Akad. Handl. (2), Band v. No. 4, p. 24 (1865) ; Sonth. Ess. Classif. 

 Lepid. product, de Sole (deux, fascic), p. 12 (1899). 



This genus only includes a few species: — A. vmnosce, found in this fauna, A. besanti 

 (Central and East Africa), A. mittrei (Madagascar), A. mcenas (British India), A. ignescens 

 (Andaman Islands), and A. diibemardi (Yunnan). 



1. Argema mimosae. 



Saturnia mimosa, Boisduval, Delegorg. Voy. Afr. Austr. ii. p. 600 (1847) ; Westw. Proc. Zool. Sec. Lend. 

 1849, p. 47, n. 11; Angas, Kaffirs Illustr. pi. xxx. fig. 18 (1849); Keiche, Voy. en Abyss, p. 471, 

 pi. liii. figs. 5, 7 (1849) ; Guer. Men. Voy. en Abyss, par Lefebv. p. 388 (1845-50). 



Tropaa mimosa. Walk. Cat. Lepid. Heteroc. Brit. Mus. vi. p. 1261, n. 3 (1855); Wallengr. Ofv. Vet.-Akad. 

 Forh. 1875, No. 1, p. 97. 



* Proc. Amer. Ac. Arts and Science (n. s.), xs. p. 58 (1893). f 'Entomologist,' 1902, p. 16. 



I Trans. Entomol. Sec. Lond, v. p. 85 ; and Agri-horticultural Soc. of India, ix. pp. 167-9. 



§ " On the Emergence of Lepidoptera fi-om their Cocoons " (' Canadian Entomologist,' x. pp. 158-9 (1878) ). 



II " The Mode of Extrication of Silkworm Moths from their Cocoons " (' American Naturalist,' xii. p. 379 (1878) ). 

 IT ' Colours of Animals,' pp. 142-6. -- Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1892, pp. 45-52. 



