336 MR. E. BARTLETT ON A NEW MOTH. [Mar. 18, 



4. Description of a New Moth, belonging to the Family 

 Satumiidce. By Edward Bartlett. 



The very fine Moth which I now exhibit was obtained in the 

 interior of Madagascar, by Mr. T. Waters, who is collecting zoolo- 

 gical specimens on the west coast or Mozambique Channel. 



Mr. T. W. Wood (who has kindly made a most accurate drawing 

 of the specimen, considering the damaged condition of the upper 

 wings) informs me that he has carefully examined the tailed Satur- 

 niidse in the British Museum, and has found none which corresponds 

 with it either in size or colouring. That which is most closely allied is 

 Tropcea leto, a well-known East-Indian species. The present insect 

 differs so much from its allies, not only in marking but in form, that 

 it most probably represents a new genus. But the present specimen 

 being deficient of antennae, the species may be called Tropcea mada- 

 gascariensis until we are in possession of other examples. 



The measurement from the shoulder to the point of the tail is 8| 

 inches ; expanse of upper wings 8 inches. 



The most extraordinary characteristic is the formation of the long 

 delicate tail-like appendages to the hind wings, which have extremely 

 narrow shafts, and are enlarged at the ends ; their points have 

 two spiral twists or folds, which give them a very graceful appearance. 



There are four distinct eye-like spots near the centre of each wing. 



The fore wings are of a very light buff colour, tinged with lemon- 

 yellow, with the nervures brighter and rather conspicuous, they 

 being of a pale rust-colour. The costal margin is dark brown, 

 minutely dotted with greyish white, paler towards the apex. The 

 ocellus is attached to the costal band by a very short band of the 

 same colour, and it is nearly in the centre of the wing. 



There is a blotch of red-brown, nearly black, at the apex. 



There are also two distinct parallel rust-coloured transverse lines 

 near the hind margin, which run from the inner margin to the apex ; 

 and there is a transverse bar near the base of the upper wing of a pale 

 reddish brown, tiuged with lilac, and almost divided into two by a 

 whitish line. A black spot is in the centre of the ocellus, the outer 

 half of which is pale buff, tinged with lemon, the inner half gradually 

 shaded with dark brown from the spot inwards, with a light lilac 

 semicircle separating it from the circle of rusty red ; the outer margin 

 of the ocellus is nearly a black circle. 



The hind wings are also pale buff, tinged with lemon-yellow, with 

 narrow blackish-brown marginal bands, which extend nearly to 

 the points of the tails ; these are of a bright red-rust on the central 

 portion, their ends being enlarged and folded, very pale buff. 



The ocellus is similar to that on the fore wings, but smaller and 

 rather lighter in colouring, and nearly in the centre of the wing ; 

 the nervures are very faint. 



Head pale buff ; thorax and abdomen bright orange-buff. Length 

 2\ inches. A dark band across the front of thorax, corresponding in 

 colour with the costal margins, and uniting with them at their bases. 



