THE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL MOTH. 133 



includes the magnificent genus of which we shall 

 take two examples. 



On Plate IX. fig. 7, is a figure of the splendid 

 Clifden Nonpareil {Catocala fraxini)^ an insect 

 which derives its popular name from the locality 

 in which the first recorded specimen was taken. 

 Sombre as are its colours, it is a grand-moth, 

 measuring sometimes more than four inches 

 across the wings. 



It is rather remarkable that in all the Moths 

 belonging to this group, the colours are arranged 

 differently to the usual plan, the upper pair 

 being sombre, and the lower pair brightly 

 coloured ; so that when the insect sits with 

 closed wings, the beautiful hues of the under- 

 Ttdngs are] completely concealed. The generic 

 name Catocala is composed of two words, the 

 one signifying below or beneath, and the other 

 oeauty, and is given to the insect in consequence 

 of this peculiarity. 



In this species, the upper wings are soft, cool 

 grey, beautifully marbled with various shades of 

 brown. The hind- wings are delicate lilac, with 

 a large patch of deep black, a broad band of 

 black running parallel with the hind margin, and 

 a rather narrow band of white forming the edge 

 of the anterior margin itself. 



