PuU. 17. VI. 1913. NAXA; ASPILONAXA. By L. B. Prout. 9 



C. margaritaria Leech (1 d) shows the general scheme of markings that is common to the group, the margariia- 

 submarginal series of black spots (as is usual in this and the following genus) placed nearer to the distal margin ^'■"'■ 

 than in Orthostixis. Antemedian line of forewing consisting of elongate dashes on the costal, subcostal and 

 median veins and inner margin and a spot on the submedian. Both wings with a spot on middle of inner margin 

 (which is wanting in Orthostixis and Naxa). Only known from Chang-yang, central China, taken in July. 



C. contf ar ia Leech (Id) is exceedingly like the preceding, but larger, rather less transparent, contraria. 

 the spots larger, those of the antemedian series relatively shorter and thicker. The (J antennal pectinations 

 are longer. Central China : Chang-yang and Ichang, in July. 



C. montanaria Leech (1 e) is still larger, the anal angle of hindwing more prominent. The spots are montanaria. 

 even smaller than in margaritaria, the antemedian series not, or scarcely, prolonged into dashes. Western China: 

 Omei-shan and Wa-shan, in June. 



15. Genus : ^iTaxa Walh. 



Very similar to the two preceding genera, especially to Centronaxa, but differing from both in the entire 

 absence of spurs on the hindtibia and usually of the frenulum; from Orthostixis further in the minute palpus, 

 more rounded forewing and less simple antenna; from Centronaxa in the more normal discocellulars. I hitherto 

 overlooked the presence of the frenulum in a single species, angustaria. This is the more inexcusable as it is 

 mentioned by Leech. The species ought, on this character, to form a separate genus. For the present I merely 

 recognize three subgenera: 



I. Antenna bipectinate with moderate branches. Frenulum absent Naxa Walk. 



II. Antenna biserrate. Frenulum absent Psilonaxa Warr. 



III. Antenna very shortly bipectinate. Frenulum present Desmonaxa, suhgen. nov. 



The distinctions apply to both sexes, and could easily be treated as generic. The facies of all the spe- 

 cies is remarkably uniform. The larvae have not been described, but according to Pryek are hairy, gregarious, 

 living in a web, that of seriaria on privet. I have received a series of angustaria from Chungking, bred by 

 Barry from collected cocoons, and gather that this species also is gregarious and the pupa not subterranean, 

 but I have no further information at present. 



N. textilis Walk. (= cypraria Guen., hiigeli Feld.) (Id) is usually distinguishable, apart from its textilis. 

 more strongly pectinate antenna, by its ocellated discal spots, which, moreover, are of a less deep black than 

 in seriaria and angustaria. This ocellation of the discal spots is, indeed, somewhat inconstant, but seems especially 

 prevalent in the more northern forms of the species. According to Swinhoe, the antennal pectinations of the 

 form hiigeli are much longer than those of textilis. If this were the case, it would naturally have to rank as a 

 distinct species, but we suspect that he confounded cJc? with $$, or else mistook some other species for textilis. 

 textilis is widely distributed throughout India. 



N. seriaria Motsch. (= laetata Brem., nee F., taicoumaria De I'Orza, bremeraria Stgr.) (Id). Wliite, seriaria. 

 the black markings placed as in all the genus, namely: three large black vein-spots on forewing at about one- 

 third from base, placed in a slight curve, a large cell-spot on each wing, a submarginal series of large spots on the 

 veins and a marginal series of smaller ones between the veins. Underside the same, but with the antemedian 

 spots weak. Distributed, and apparently in many places common, from West China to Amur and Japan. Be- 

 longs to the subgenus Psilonaxa. 



N. angustaria Leech is distinguishable from seriaria, apart from the structural characters, by angustaria. 

 the smaller discal spot of the hindwing. In addition, the submarginal spots are rather closer to the marginal, 

 and are generally characterized, on both wings, by having the costal one larger and more conspicuous than the 

 rest. Central and western China, June and July. Forms the type (and only yet known species) of the subgenus 

 Desmonaxa, which — as indicated above — will probably require to be raised to generic rank. 



16. Gelius: AspUouaxa Warr. 



Palpus moderate. Antenna about two-thirds the length of wing, nearly simple in both sexes. Hindtibia with 

 a pair of minute spurs, in (J broadened and flattened and with strong hair-pencil. Forewing with first three subcostals 

 stalked, their stalk anastomosing with costal, third subcostal later anastomosing with fourth. Only one species 

 known, which differs from Naxa in longer palpus and antenna, different neuration, and different wing-pattern. 



IV 2 



