9> THE EMPEROR MOTH. 



orange in the male, and not so in the female ; and 

 finally, the two sexes may be determined by the 

 structure of the antennae ; those of the male being 

 nearly oval, and very deeply feathered or pecti- 

 nated, and those of the female also pectinated, but 

 so slightly as to appear setaceous. As the structure 

 of the antennae is an unerring criterion by which 

 the sexes are ascertained, the Phalcena Pavonia 

 Minor is a phenomenon in entomology ; for both 

 the male and female so perfectly resemble the 

 female Emperor Moth, Phalcena Pavonia Media, 

 that it may be mistaken for the same species ; the 

 female differs in no respect from it, and the male 

 only in the form of the antennae. 



Linnaeus, and after him Fabricius, describes 

 three varieties of Phalaena Pavonia. 1. Minor. 

 2, Media. 3. Major. The first is the variety 

 found in this country, and in the north of Europe. 



We are informed by Latreille, that a manufactory 

 of silk from the cocoons of this caterpillar has been 

 established in Germany. 



Albin says, that in a specimen which he pre- 

 served, the male seemed to have changed to the 

 aurelia state on the l6th July, and in March 

 following it emerged the perfect moth. But the 

 time of their appearance depends on the pro- 

 portion of heat or cold ; Albin's subject was pre- 

 served from the severity of winter in a warm room. 

 The usual time to find them in the caterpillar state 



