96 Yv-ISCOXSIX ACABEIIY SCIENCES, ARTS, AXD LETTERS, 



ON THE CATOCAL^ OF RACINE COUNTY. 



EY P. R. HOY, M. D., RACINE. 



There is an interesting group of large sliowy Lepidoptera, be- 

 longing to the great family ofNoeturnidac, included in which is the 

 genus Catoeala. The larvae feed on the leaves of various shrnhs- 

 and trees. In the United States this genus is largely represented. 

 The accomplished entomologist Augustus B. Grote, has catalogued 

 sixtj^-four species. Many more undoubtedly remain to be caught 

 and described. There has not yet been a locality discovered where 

 Catocalas are so numerous as they are in the vicinity of Racine. 

 During the summer and fall of 187i, there were taken within a. 

 space, bounded on the north by Ninth street, on the south by Ever- 

 green Cemetery, on tlie east by the Lake shore, and west by College 

 Avenue, being one and a half miles long by forty rods wide, no 

 less than six hundred specimens, belonging to forty species. The^ 

 abundance of insects found in the vicinity of Racine College, may 

 be accounted for by the numerous and great variety of plants,, 

 shrubs, and trees cultivated, as well as the scarcity of summer birds. 



The birds have been driven off by the boys belonging to the 

 college, who for several years past robbed, indiscriminately, every 

 birds' nest found, and their sharp lookout leaves very few undis- 

 covered. 



The consequence of this egging mania has directly diminished 

 the number of birds, and indirectly vastly multiplied insects. 



The following catalogue includes only those taken at Racine, alL 

 captured with two exceptions within the past year, (1874.) 



• CATOCALiE, Epion, Drury. 



" insolabilis, Guen. 



" residna, Grote. 



" obscura, Streck. 



" viduata, Guen. 



'^ desperata, Guen. 



" retecta, Grote. 



" Flebilis, Grote. 



