56 



ever, is after dark, when they rove about in pursuit of their mates, or in quest of food, 

 for they have long tongues, and are very fond of sweets. 



Though these moths are large, and not generally scarce, the collector has considerable 

 difficulty in finding them. In the daytime, they usually select resting places where their 

 colours will harmonize with those of their surroundings. No doubt this is to aid in their 

 concealment from their enemies. When at rest their brightly-coloured hind wings are 

 entirely concealed by the fore wings, and nothing is to be seen but a large grey triangle, 

 mottled with black or brown. The trunks of large trees, and the corners and copings of 

 unpainted fences, are favorite places with them, and if the rough bark of the trees has 

 deep crevices they are fond of hiding themselves there, so as to increase their security. 

 Thus the collector has need of a sharp eye to detect the moths, so well are they protected 

 by their colours and the exercise of instinct. 



The best way, however, to capture these insects, is by the process known to Lepidop- 

 terists as " sugaring." They cannot resist coming to the sweet feast provided by the 

 deceitful collector, and pay the penalty in contributing many specimens, rich and some- 

 times rare to his cabinet. 



Another mode, described by Professor French, of Carbondale, Illinois, (Can. Ent., 

 1880, p. 241,) is to whip the trees in the afternoons between one and four o'clock, dis- 

 turbing the moths in their siesta and catching them in nets. In the instance reported by 

 that gentleman this operation was remarkably successful. 



In order to induce our readers to take some further interest in these lovely insects 

 we append a list of the Canadian species, so far as known, with a description of each, 

 which will enable the student to identify manv, if not all the moths. As the genus is so 

 large, it is useful to divide it into sections, grouping the moths in accordance with the 

 colours of their hind wings. In this arrangement the Canadian species stand as follows : 



Genus Catocala, Schrank. 

 Section I. — Hind wings black, without bands. 



1. Epione, Drury. 



2. Desperata, Guenee. 



3. Eettcta, Grote. 



4. Insolabilis, Guen. 



5. Residua, Grote. 



Section 11. — Hind wings black and white. 



6. Relicta, Walker. 



Section III. — Hindwings black and red. 



7. Auiatrix, Hubner. 



8. Cara, Guen. 



9. Concumbens, Guen. 



10. Meskei, Grote. 



11. Unijuga, Walk. 



12. Beaniana, Grote. 



13. Briseis, Edwards. 



14. Semirelicta, Grote. 



15. Faustina, Strecker. 



1 6. Parta, Guen. 



17. Coccinata, Grote. 



18. Ultronia, Hubner. 



19. Ilia, Cramer. 



Also variety Uxor, Grote. 



Section IY. — Hindwings black and yellow. 



■20. Cerogama, Guen. 



w 2 1 . Neogama, Ab. and Smith. 



Also variety Communis. Grote. 



22. Subnata, Grote. 



23. Piatrix, Grote. 



'J 4. Palaeogama, Guen. 



Also variety Phalanga, Grote. 

 25. Habilis, Grote. 



26. Antinympha, Hubner. 



27. Clintonii, Grote. 



28. Polygama, Guen. 



29. Cratfegi, Saunders. 



30. Similis, Edw. (formula G. and R.) 



31. Fratercula, Gr. and Rob. 



32. Arnica, Hubner. 



Also variety Lineella, Grote. 



