42 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



THE OLDEST EXISTING MOTH. 



By F. W. Frohawk, F.E.S., M.B.O.U. 



I RECENTLY received for examination a moth which is 

 undoubtedly the oldest existing specimen, probably about one 

 hundred years older than any now in existence. It was found 

 last October, compressed between a document written in Mexico 

 in the year 1650, dealing with the sale of laud. This, with others 

 written at the same period, and relating to similar transactions, 

 were all wrapped in a leather covering and stored away, as I 

 understand, in a government Jocker, with other ancient deeds. 

 These documents had remained untouched since the time they 

 were written and stored away, two hundred and fifty years ago, 

 until last October, when the specimen now figured was found 



completely flattened between its folds. The moth is so much 

 flattened that it is obvious that the document was folded up with 

 the specimen inside, so there remains no doubt whatever that it did 

 not enter afterwards, as that would have been an impossibility. 



The finder, not being accustomed to handle such delicate 

 objects, unfortunately damaged both wings on the right side, 

 and broke off the antennae, otherwise it would have been quite 

 perfect. The colouring is in a wonderful state of preservation, 

 being beautifully fresh. Not finding the specimen represented 

 in the British Museum or in other large collections, I sent a 

 sketch of the moth to Mr. Herbert Druce, who kindly identified 

 the species for me as Rhododipsa miniana, Grote, belonging to 

 the family Acontidee ; the type described from Northern New 

 Mexico is in the collection of Prof. Snow, at Lawrence, Kansas. 

 It was described by Grote in " Papilio," vol. i. p. 175 (1881), 

 and figured by him in vol. ii. pi. i. (1882). My friend Dr. 

 Butler writes me: "The figures in 'Papilio' are rather rough, 

 and the neuration is not given, so that a really good figure with 

 neuration would be useful." 



