242 
THE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL. 
Catocala Fraxini, 
PLATE XXVI. Fig. 1 
Phal. Noct. Fraxini, Linn.; Don. v. PI. 171 and 172. — Clifden 
Nonpareil, Wilkes (PI. 90), Harris' Aurd. PI. 31. — Catocala 
Fraxini, Shrank^ Steph. Curtis' B. E. fol. 217. 
Tub genus Catocala of Shrank contains several of 
the largest and handsomest moths indigenous to 
this country. The 'wings are lai'ge, and extended 
by means of very strong nervures, the upper pah- 
some shade of grey on the. surface, finely mottled 
and waved vith dark broivn spots and streaks, 
forming a striking contrast with the under wings, 
■which (except in the species named above) are 
bright red, with transverse black bars. The cater- 
pillars are what are called half-loopers, because hi 
walking they iiartially assume the attitude of the 
kinds which are without abdominal legs ; and con- 
formably ivith this circumstance, the first pair of 
legs are found to be smaller than the others, sho-u-ing 
a tendency to become obsolete, and thus indicating 
a certain degree of affinity ivith the geometers 
properly so called. They are densely ciliated on the 
