SMERINTHUS EXCAECATA. 
55 
somewhat triangular median space crossed with shades of darker hue, from this outwards are various transverse 
wavy lines and shades of brown ; a small black discal spot ; emarginations acutely dentate and white. Sec- 
ondaries, base and middle rose color; costal and exterior margins fawn color, on the former some paler lines; 
a large black ocellus with a single blue pupil ; a pale brown shade crosses the wing transversely from the apex 
to the ocellus, and beyond this to the anal angle, where it assumes a darker color, and with which it connects 
the latter ; emarginations white. 
Under surface ; primaries, basal half rose colored, exterior to this is a pink transverse band, traversed 
and edged with brown lines, beyond which to the exterior margin the space is chocolate brown with an uneven 
pink transverse line widest in the middle, where it joins the inner band of same color; a dark yellow patch 
at posterior angle. Secondaries, chocolate brown with a pink median band, which is joined outwardly in the 
middle by a triangular spot of the same color ; dark yellow apical and anal dashes. 
Female. Expands 3 to 3J inches. 
Marked as in the male but paler in color, and the rosy hue of upper surface of secondaries extends to the 
exterior margin. 
The larva is light green, palest on the back, with white granulations, pale yellow stripes on the sides, and 
green caudal horn. It feeds on the leaves of various kinds of Apple, and according to Abbot on the Wild Rose 
(Rosa Carolina). Mr. Lintner also found it on Maple. 
It is the commonest of our species and occurs throughout the Atlantic States as well as in Ohio, Ken- 
tucky, Indiana, &c., &c. 
Some Lepidopterists consider Geyer’s figures, 835, 836 in the “Zutrage,” as representing a distinct species, 
this theory is advocated by Grote & Robinson in the notes appended to their Cat. of 1865,* and in G rote’s 
Cat. of 1873, to both of which I have referred in the introductory remarks to this paper ; I cannot imagine 
how any one after seeing Geyer’s figures could for a moment suppose them to represent anything else than 
Excaecata, they are certainly more recognizable than Abbot’s, f which has the primaries painted rose color like 
the secondaries, besides, Geyer’s descriptive remarks^ are pertinent and to the point; he even mentions that 
the female (of which he gave no figure) is generally larger and less bright in color ; he gives its locality as 
Pennsylvania. 
The most astounding revelation that we find regarding this species is where Prof. Packard tells us in his 
Guide that the ocellus or eye-like spot of hind wings has “ two or three blue pupils !”§ such utterly erroneous 
and culpably careless assertions are the more lamentable as the book in question was sought after more parti- 
cularly by beginners and those who had not yet acquired the knowledge sufficient to discriminate between the 
chaff and the good grain. 
SMERINTHUS MYGPS. Abbot A Smith. 
Insects of Georgia, Vol. I, p. 51, t. 26, (1797.) 
(PLATE VII, FIG. 9, tf.) 
Male and Female. Expand 2J to 21 inches. 
Head and body chocolate and purplish brown ; a golden yellow dorsal ridge on thorax. On each side 
of abdomen a row of irregularly shaped yellow spots ; a dark brown dorsal line. 
Upper surface ; primaries purplish brown ornamented with lines and shades of rich chocolate ; a brown 
discal dot ; a bright yellow spot near the inner angle and another not far from the apex. Secondaries yellow, 
broadly bordered with chocolate at the costa and outer half of exterior margin ; a yellow spot at apex ; two 
pale transverse lines on brown margin near and at the costa ; a black ocellus, with blue centre, between which 
and the inner margin the color is pale brown and purplish. 
Under surface ; primaries, basal half yellowish and plain ; outer half marked and colored as above, but 
more brilliantly. Secondaries with a median band, composed of alternate pale and dark lines, succeeded out- 
wardly by a somewhat broken one of rich yellow, the space beyond which to the margin is chocolate. 
* “ Smetuitthus Pavonixus : A hitherto unidentified, and, since Geyer wrote, unnoticed species of Smerinthus, -which, the author mentions having 
received from Pennsylvania. It seems allied to S. Excaecatus, while Geyer compares it with the European S. Ocellalus ; compared with the former 
Geyer’s figures offer too many points of distinctiveness to allow us to consider it as the species intended. ” Grote & Kobinson, Proe. Ent. Soc., of 
Phila., Vol. V, p. 185, 
f Abbot & Smith, Insects of Georgia, t. 25, (1797.) 
i“PAouiAS Pavonina : Die-e unserer Sph. Ocellata sehr verwando art ist jedocli durch die eekigere gestalt der vorderflugel, ihre durehaus 
braune Grundfarbe und deutlichere Zeichnung, so wie durch den blinden Augenfleek der hinterflugel, von der angefuhrten genugend unterscheiden. 
Das Weib is gewohnlich viel grosser, und in der Farbung weniger bunt. Heimath, Pennsylvanien, von Herrn Grimm.” Geyer, Zutrage zur 
Sainmlung Exotischer Schmetterlinge, p 12, (1837.) 
§“ 5. Excaecatus, Smith has the hind wings rosy on the inner angle. The “ ocellus ” or eye-like Spot is‘ black, with two or three blue pupils. 
Packard’s Guide to the study of Insects, p 275, (1S69.) 
