354 LEPIDOPTEEA. 



in color. In the males (Plate VI. Fig. 9), the thorax and 

 upper side of the fore wings are generally white, the latter 

 spotted with black ; the hind wings and abdomen, except the 

 tail, deep ochre-yellow, the former with a few black spots 

 near the hind margin, and the abdomen with a row of six 

 black spots on the top of the back, two rows on the sides, 

 and one on the belly; the under side of all the wings and the 

 thighs are deep yellow. It expands from one inch and seven 

 eighths to two inches and a quarter. The female (Plate VI. 

 Fig. 10) differs from the male either in having the hind wings 

 white, instead of ochre-yellow, or in having all the wings 

 ashen-gray with the usual black spots. It expands two in- 

 ches and three eighths or more. Sometimes, though rarely, 

 male moths occur with the fore wings ash-colored or dusky. 

 Professor Peck called this moth pseuderminea, that is, false 

 ermine, and this name was adopted by me in my communi- 

 cation to the Agricultural Society. Professor Peck's name, 

 however, cannot be retained, inasmuch as the insect had been 

 previously named and described. Drury, the first describer 

 of the moth, called the male Caprotina, and the female Aerea,* 

 supposing them to be different species ; but the latter name 

 alone has been retained for this species by most naturalists. 



In order to lessen the ravages of the salt-marsh caterpil- 

 lars, and to secure a fair crop of hay when these insects 

 abound, the marshes should be mowed early in July, at 

 which time the caterpillars are small and feeble, and, being 

 unable to wander far, will die before the crop is gathered in. 

 In defence of early mowing, it may be said that it is the only 

 way by which the grass may be saved in those meadows 

 where the caterpillars have multiplied to any exent ; and if 

 the practice is followed generally, and continued during sev- 

 eral years in succession, it will do much towards extermi- 

 nating these destructive insects. 



By the practice of late mowing, where the caterpillars 

 abound, a great loss in the crop will be sustained, immense 



* The proper orthography is Aeraa. 



