266 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
the button wood or sycamore, but as it also occurs ou the elm, oak, and 
other forest trees, it may as well be described here. 
I have found it ou the sycamore at Providence, R. I., September 20 
to 30. It spun a cocoon the 26th, bur died in confinement. The cocoon 
is oblong-oval, composed of the hairs interwoven with a very little 
silk, and usually spun in crevices in fences, and under stones, etc. 
The moth appears in New England after the middle of June. The 
moth has an enormous geographical range, extending from Maine ami 
Canada to Brazil and Paraguay, Mr. Neumogeu having specimens from 
the latter country in his collection. 
" Larvae of this species were found at St. Louis, Mo., September 14, 
1870, feeding on oak and elm; also on elm at Spriugtield, 111.; on 
swamp oak at Selina, Ala., early in October. It is also found, accord- 
ing to Smith and Abbot, feeding on leaves of beech, hornbeam, and 
plane. 
'The general color of some larva? is quite yellow, but they become 
dark after molting. By the 6th of October they generally commence 
forming their cocoons, which as a rule are formed on the surface, though 
occasionally they go into the ground to the depth of an inch. 
u The moth issues from about the last of April to the latter part of 
June. 
" Some of the larva? are infested by Tachinids and numerous speci- 
mens of a Microgaster. 
"Two larva? of this moth were found by E. A. Schwarz on swamp 
oak at Selma, Ala. From one of these larva? a Tachiua emerged early 
in October." — (Riley's unpublished notes.) 
Larva. — Body of the shape usual in this genus; the hairs delicate buff-yellow ; four 
dorsal pencils in frout, of light sienna brown, with two pairs of shorter lateral white 
tuf;s; a pair of whitish tufts near the end of the body; head yellowish brown; a 
tow of lateral black spots above the base of the abdominal legs ; length 30 ram . 
Moth. — Pale buff-yellow ; the fore wings more pointed than in most of the other 
species, translucent and crossed by five broad irregular, slightly darker bands, edged 
with fine dark lines; the third band is dislocated and ouly reaches from the costal 
edge of the wing to the median vein, and includes a long sinuous discal line. The 
large shoulder tippets are edged with bluish green, and the abdomen is oeherous-yel- 
low. Expause of wings 1£ to 2 inches. 
36. Datana contracta Walker. 
The following notes are contributed by Professor Riley: 
This insect has been found from the middle of August to October at St. Louis, Mo., 
feeding on the elm and oak. Those found on the oak appear to have generally 
paler stripes than the elm-feeding form. The larvie enter the ground by the first of 
October and commence issuing towards the end of June of the following year. — 
(Unpublished notes. See also p. 151.) 
Larva. — The general color is shim- black, with four yellow, longitudinal lines run- 
ning ou each side the whole length of the body. The ventral region is also black, 
with three yellow longitudinal lines running its length, interrupted only by the pro- 
legs; head as large as body and shiny black; cervical shield, feet, and abdominal 
prologs light brown, the latter having black extremities. The anal prolegs are very 
