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Section I. 



Those comprised in the first section are of large size, and have hind wings of dark 

 grey, shading into black, giving them a chaste and quiet beauty which is very pleasing. 

 The grey fore wings are marked with black and white in a pattern differently arranged 

 for each species, and the hind wings are generally fringed with white. 



1. Epione is a rare species having onJy been captured in Canada, so far, at Hamil- 

 ton, by the late Mr. Murray. Fore wings dark grey, crossed by the usual lines in black. 

 Outside the transverse posterior zigzag line is a brown band (in well-marked specimens) 

 about one-tenth of an inch wide, which follows its outline, and beyond this is a greyish 

 white band of similar shape. The wing outside of these bands is somewhat lighter in 

 colour than the inner two-thirds. Hind wings brown at base, shading into deep black, 

 and with a pure white fringe. Head and body dark grey, expands two to two and three- 

 quarter inches. 



2. Desperata. — Forewings light grey with black lines and dashes, one of which 

 extends from the base as far as the subreniform spot, The reniform spot is large, oval, 

 and surrounded by a double line. Hind wings brownish grey at base, shading into deep 

 black, fringe white. Expands three inches. Found at Montreal and London. Larva 

 feeds on various species of oak. This is probably the C. vidua of the Rev. C. J. S. 

 Bethune's paper, published in the Canadian Journal, 1863 and there stated to be taken 

 at Toronto. 



3. Retecta. — Closely related to desperata, but differs in the ground colour of 

 fore wings, being brighter and less blueish, the black shades are sharper, and the white 

 fringe on secondaries is wider. Its size is also smaller. Found at London, rare. 



\. Insolabilis. — A large species, darker in colour than the two preceding, and hav- 

 ing a dark grey instead of a white fringe to its black hind wings. A dark shade on the 

 interior edge of the fore wings also helps to distinguish this species. Found at London. 

 Not common. Expands about three inches. 



5. Residua is a smaller moth than insolabilis, but closely resembles it in colour and 

 markings. The dark shade on interior edge of fore wings is absent. Expands two and 

 a-half inches. Found at London and Hamilton. 



Section II. 



6. Relicta, the only species in Section II, is a very beautiful insect, — the Queen of 

 the Catocalas, — though bearing a somewhat doleful name. Relicta means forsaken, and 

 was perhaps given to the moth by Walker on account of its colours, which are those of a 

 widow's mourning, — black and white. Many of the names of the Catocalas are female 

 names, or relate to love and marriage, and this one is therefore not inappropriate. 

 Though not common, it is found from Quebec to London, and probably occurs all over 

 the Dominion, south of the colder regions. It expands about three inches, and the larva 

 feeds on poplar. The white curved band on the hind wings, and the white ground colour 

 of the primaries, crossed with black lines, so fully distinguish this moth from all other 

 Canadian species that a detailed description is not necessary. 



Section III. 



Section III. includes some of the largest and most striking of the Catocalas. 



7. Amatrix, a species expanding over three inches, with brownish grey fore wings, 

 marked with the usual lines. Hind wings rosy red, with a wide black band on the margin, 

 much wider in front, also a black inner band, which does not quite reach the interior 

 margin of the wing. Though found from Nova Scotia to London, it is not common any- 

 where. The caterpillar feeds on Lombardy and other poplars. 



8. Cara. — One of the most beautiful of the genus. A large and robust insect, with 

 fore wings of a rich dark brown, with a few black lines, and markings of lighter brown. 



5 EN. 



