88 REV. A. MILES MOSS ON THE 



black fringe-spots more sharply defined, and the apex of the wing (as is also the case 

 in the fore wing) much more pointed than in P. sexta. 



Underside smoky grey with a yellowish-olive tinge ; no blackish suifusion on disc ; 

 hind wing greyish white from cell to abdominal margin ; the lines dift'use on both 

 wings, two on each, non-dentate, more or less distinctly shaded with olivaceous yellow. 



Genitalia: s . The anal tergite elongate-sole-shaped in dorsal aspect, the under side 

 mesial, strongly elevate, cariniform, the tergite being triangular in transverse section ; 

 apex curved downwards, pointed, not sinuate. Anal sternite longer than in P. sewta, 

 with the apex rounded and the sides but slightly dilated. Harpe of claspers more of 

 the shape of the harpe of P. 2iellema H.-S. (1854), hannibal Cr. (1779), dalica Kirby 

 (1877), etc. The broad lobe of the harpe reaches to near the large subdorsal fold 

 of the clasper; its distal edge is strongly rounded and densely dentate, while the 

 proximal edge is incurved and bears a few larger teeth. Tooth of penis-sheath 

 terminal, pointed, and directed laterad as in the allied species. — ? . Vaginal plate 

 elevate, but its surface deeply impressed and divided by a longitudinal and some 

 irregular transverse ridges into several grooves ; the posterior edge of the sclerite 

 rounded truncate, the anterior edge much narrower and truncate-sinuate. 



Type in Tring Museum. (K. Jordan.) 



An entirely new but fairly common species near Lima, and taken in the Kimac Valley 

 as high as 7000 feet, but never in the Interior. A tendency to be local was observed, 

 acres of its food-plant sometimes yielding no larvse after diligent search. Moth often 

 attracted to light. The larva, like P. sexta and P. rustica, can snap audibly in the 

 final instar, and also laves its entire body with a sticky substance prior to pupation. 

 It is extremely subject to the attack of a dipterous parasite, more than half the number 

 of larvae found invariably succumbing. The maggots to the number of fifty or sixty 

 from one larva would emerge in the puparium and form a honeycomb-like set of 

 cocoons in the soil. Though sometimes pierced by the fly on the dorsal duct, some 

 four or five " stings " were usually situated in the immediate vicinity of eacli spiracle. 



Puparium a large subterranean cavity. 



Ova. — Singly on under side of leaves of Oestrum hediundinum *. 



Larva. — First instar (no figure). Plain green, long, with round liead and long black 

 flexible horn slightly upturned at the apex, 



* Extract from Molina's ' History of Chile,' published 1809, well describing the Peruvian bush known aa 

 Oestrum liediundinum : — 



" The expressed juice of the palqui (Oestrum nocturnum) is considered as the best known remedy for 

 inilammatory fevers ; it is bitter and of an unpleasant taste, but very cool and refreshing. The leaves of this 

 shrub were formerly considered by the husbandmen as poisonous to cattle, but modern experiments have 

 proved tlie unfoundednesa of this opinion. In its appearance and smell the palqui resembles the elder, but 

 the leaves are single, alternate and oblong ; the flowers are corymbic, yellow, and like those of the jessamin, 

 find the berries oval and of a purple colour,"' 



