AND THEIR TUANSFORMATIONS. 



CERURA, SciiRANK, Leach, &c. 



(Harpyia, Oiljscnlicimcr ; Dicramira, I,;ilicille ; Pania, Dalmrin; Fvrcula, Lamarck). 



This very conspicuous genus lias tlie antcnnre in both sexes bipectinated, tlic hind margin of the fore wings 

 not lobed, the palpi very small, the thorax not crested, the fore wings pale and subdiaphanous, the body very 

 robust and pilose. The caterpillars are thick, smooth, fleshy, varied in their colours, with the extremity of the 

 body attenuated, and terminated by two long filaments (whence the generic name derived from the Greelc) instead 

 of the ordinary anal prologs, and which inclose two slender very long fleshy tbreads, which the insect has the 

 power of protruding or cxscrting at will. 



The species may be thus divided : 



A. Those of smaller size, and which have abroad dark fascia across the fore wings. (Harp}aas, Hiibner). 



a. Those with the postcostal vein of the hind wings simple. C. bieuspis and integra. 

 1). Those with the same vein furcate. C. furcula, &c. 



B. Those of larger size, without a broad bar across the fore wings. (Ilarpyia, Iliibner.) C. vinula and 



erminea. 



SPECIES 1.— CERURA BICUSPIS? Plate XV., Fig. 2 and 11. 



.Synon\mp.s. — liomhyie bieuspis? Iliibner; Ocliscnbcinitr. 

 Ccrttra bicusph, Sti-plicns, 111. vol. 2, pi. i:i, fig. 3 ; Curtis ; Wooil, Ind. Eiit. fil. 5, fig. U. 



This species varies from li to H inch in the expanse of its fore wings, which are snow-white; at the base is 

 a single black dot, followed by five ])laccd transversely, which are succeeded by a broak dark bar, margined with 

 black and orange towards the base of the wings, with a slight emargination in the middle ; the outward edge of 

 the bar is less strongly defined, and very much sinuated in the middle, then follow several slender transverse 

 markings (one more distinct than the rest) and several rows of waved pale grey streaks, the hind ones terminating 

 in a large dark costal patch edged with black and orange ; along the margin is a row of black dots. The hind 

 wings are white, with a dusky discoidal spot, and black marginal ))unctures ; the thorax is white in front, blue- 

 black behind, with transverse orange spots. 



The caterpillar is red-brown, with several white spots at the sides above the prolegs, the under side green. 

 It feeds on willow and birch. The moth appears in July, and has been found in the Kentish woods, and also 

 near Dublin. 



SPECIES 2.— CERURA INTEGRA. Plate XV., Fig. 1. 



Synonvmes. — Cerura in^p^ra, Stephens, 111. pi. 15, fig. 3 ; Wooil,Ind. Ent. pi. 5, fig. 15. 

 Dicranura bieuspis^ var., Boisduval. 



This supposed species diflfers from the preceding in being larger, being ] Jj inch in expanse, and in having 

 the dark fascia across the fore wings broad, entire (and not sinuated) and cinereous, margined on both sides with 

 black and orange ; across the white central space runs a single arcuated obscure streak, and a similar one from 

 the hinder part of the oblique, subapical, costal, cinereous patch. The hind wings have an obsolete fascia. The 

 thorax is ashy, with three dark slender transverse fasciae, the middle one being interrupted in the middle. 



Very rare. Mr. Stephens believes his specimen to have been taken at Coombe Wood. 



