samouelle's 



Expansion of the wings in the males $ 2 inches 6 

 to 10 lines ; female ? 2 inches 6 lines to 3 inches. 



The caterpillars of this fine species when young are 

 black, and afterwards in the changes of their skin be- 

 come of a beautiful green, annulated with black, and 

 pencils of hair on the red and yellow warts which 

 ornament the black bands. They feed on the alder, 

 oak, &c. In Autumn change to the pupae state ; 

 after remaining the winter, the perfect insect appears 

 in the month of April. 



Pavonia minor is the only species of Saturnia 

 found in this country : the males are very active ; the 

 females sluggish, and like the rest of this genus of 

 insects produce an immense quantity of eggs. The 

 strongly pectinated antennae in the males, greatly as- 

 sist them in detecting the latter ; and, as a curious 

 instance of the distance which the males will fly in 

 pursuit of the females, we quote from Dr. Roxburgh's 

 description of the Tussek and Arrindy silk-worms of 

 Bengal, published in the 7th volume of the Transac- 

 tions of the Linnaen Society. "The accounts given by 

 the natives of the distance to which the male insects 

 fly, are very astonishing. I have put, at different times 

 and occasions, innumerable questions to them on this 

 subject, and they assure me that it is no uncommon 

 practice amongst them to catch some of the male 

 moths, and put a mark on their wings previous to 

 letting them fly. The marks of different districts be- 

 ing known, I am told that it has been ascertained that 

 male moths have come from a distance equal to a 

 hundred miles and upwards. I of course cannot 

 vouch for the truth of this, but have no hesitation in 

 declaring that I believe it." 



