( 351 ) 



XVI. The lepidopterous genus Cocytia. By Arthue 

 G. Butler, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



[Bead May 7tli, 1884.] 



The genus Cocytia was founded by Dr. Boisduval in 

 1829 : he says of it (Mon. Zyg., p. 4), " Je I'ai etabli sur 

 un tres-bel insecte rapporte de la Nouvelle-Guinee par 

 M. le capitaine Durville " ; and be refers it to the 

 Zygcenidce. 



In 1874 Dr. Boisduval published his " Monographie 

 des Agaristidees " in the ' Eevue et Magasin de Zoologie,' 

 pp. 26 — 110, and he there erected a tribe Cocytides for 

 the reception of the single species Cocytia durvillei. 



In February, 1875, I published " Notes on certain 

 genera of Agaristidcs, with descriptions of new species," 

 in the 'Annals and Magazine of Natural History,' 

 pp. 135 — 144 ; in this paper I raised the species to the 

 rank of a family CocytiidcB, to be placed between the 

 Agaristidce and Zygcenidce, and at the same time I added 

 the description of a second species from the Aru Islands, 

 C. chlorosoma. 



The family Cocytiidce is characterised by its long 

 erect palpi, unusually developed in the female so as to 

 resemble the palpi, in some species, of the Noctuid 

 genus Ophideres ; in its antenna it more nearly resembles 

 the Castniidce than either the Agaristidce or Zygcenidce, 

 but even more closely some genera of Hesperiidce ; these 

 organs are long, straight, gradually clubbed towards the 

 distal extremity, and then tapering and curved at the 

 tip; the body is as robust as in the most powerful 

 Bombyces, and the form, transparency and coloration 

 of the wings, reminds one vividly of the Sphingid 

 genus Hemaris ; the neuration, however, though in 

 some respects like that of Hemaris, yet shows certain 

 features characteristic of the transparent-winged Zygce- 

 nidce. 



The one genus yet known has, so far, consisted of 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1884. — PART III. (oCT.) 



