i74 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum 
discocellulars angled between 4 and 5; 5 from above middle of discocellulars; 
6 and 7 on a stalk of nearly half of 6 ; 8 first curved upwards, then approximated 
to upper median for terminal half, but not connected with it by a bar. 
This genus is evidently related to Cerura and Pseudorethona and probably 
a parallel development of the former. It differs from Cerura in having 4 spurs 
on the hind legs and from Pseudorethona in the absence of the tuft of scales 
on the mid and hind tibiae, absence of the spur on 1 b in fore wing ; the branches 
of the antennae being longer but not reaching towards tip; in first joint of 
palpi being longer than second joint. 
Only one species is known to me for this genus, which was placed by 
Distant in the genus Desmeocraera. From this genus it differs, however, in the 
following details: presence of areole, origin of vein 6, palpi, and other minor 
points. 
Pararethona Hierax. 
(PI. I, figs. 11-16.) 
Desmeocraera hierax Dist. A.M.N.H. 6. xx. p. 204 (1897). 
Dist. Insecta Transv. iv. p. 88, PI. IV, figs. 3, 4. 
In front of me are three ^s belonging to the Transvaal Museum, which 
have been identified by Distant shortly after the description was made of a 
specimen which has the discoidal spot missing. This spot is mentioned in the 
description, but is absent in the figure. There are several other points in which 
the description and the figures do not correspond, but the figures are for certain 
identical with my specimens. The terminal dark, fuscous colour on the abdomen 
(though not shown in the $ figure, in which the abdomen is evidently greasy) 
is very characteristic for this species, though not mentioned in the description 
by Distant. I have no doubt that my specimens belong here, though I have only 
two $s, in addition to the $s mentioned above, which are quite like fig. 4, and 
are both from Pretoria. I have also a variety of this species, two ^s and 
one $, while a $ of this var. is also in the Transvaal Museum collection. 
Pararethona hierax , var. dissimilus var. nov. 
c^. Head and palpi with long fuscous (xlvi) hairs; branches of antennae 
fuscous; vertex of head, thorax on upper and under side, hairs on femurs and 
tibiae fuscous mixed with pale green-yellow (v) ; abdomen on upper side for 
^rd and towards terminus, and the whole of the abdomen on the under side with 
pale drab-grey (xlvi) hairs ; about f rd of abdomen on upper side with hair-brown 
(xlvi) hairs. 
Wings on upper and under side white ; base, as far as sub-basal line, sparsely 
irrorated with cinnamon-drab (xlvi) scales; sub-basal line double, inner one 
cinnamon-drab, outer line black, dentate inwardly at upper median, below 
lower median and 1 h\ antemedial line black, with a pale yellow-green shade 
beyond it, curved outwardly between costa and upper median, angled out- 
wardly between lower median and 1 h and towards inner margin ; space between 
sub-basal and antemedial lines thickly irrorated with hair -brown scales and 
sparingly irrorated with black scales; postmedial line double, black, excurved 
at vein 6 and 3, incurved at 5 and 2, then to before tornus; space between 
antemedial and postmedial lines sparingly irrorated with hair-brown scales; 
at costa four dark markings and the irroration more dense; a dark irroration 
beyond postmedial line at costa and tornus ; indications of a subterminal line 
of hair-brown irroration; a more sparing irroration over the whole area beyond 
postmedial line ; terminal line black, somewhat interrupted at the veins, where 
there is a dark inwardly black shading; cilia white with hair-brown scales at base. 
