140 
MEMOIRS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
The larva of 1. albosigma is closely allied in shape aiul in the two dorsal abdominal dark: 
tubercles to the European J. reclusa^ except that the tubercles in the American species are much 
larger and more prominent. 
Fitch states that the ‘‘white stripes along each side form divers-shaped rings and letter-like 
marks. The stripes upon the back are interrupted upon the two humped segments.” 
Cocoon, — “Formed of yellowish gray silk^ loosely woven and attached to the underside of a. 
leaf.” (Fitch, p. 275.) 
Food plant, — Species of Populus, the aspen, etc.j poplar and willow (Beutenmuller). 
Geographical distribution, — This tine species extends throughout the Appalachian into the 
Campestriau subproviuce as far as the Rocky ^Mountains, in this region, however, varying from 
the type in being “much paler.” Orouo, Me.; Amherst, Mass. (Mrs. Fernald, Riley, U. S. Nat.. 
Mus.); Maine (iMus. Comp. ZooL); Massachusetts, July 15 (Sanborn); Providence, R. I. (J. 
Bridgham); New York (Fitch); Plattsburg, N. Y. (Hudson); Ohio, July (Riley); Seattle, Wash, 
(coll, of Professor Johnson, fide Dyar); Portland, Oreg. (Dyar); Canada, Maine, Newton, Mass.; 
New York, Wisconsin, Titlin, Ohio (French); var. specijica^ .Alanitou, Colo. (Dyar, French). 
Habits, — Fitch, who has caret’ully observed the habits of this species, states that the 
caterpillar attains its full size about the middle of July. 
Several of the caterpillars conuiioaly live together upon a particular limb, which they strip of its leaves,, 
eating all the leaf except its median and portions of the other coarse veins. They construct a kind of nest by 
drawing two or more leaves together with the silken threads which they spin from. their months, forming a hollow, 
ball-like cavity within, in wliieli they repose when not engaged in feeding. Three of those caterpillars which I 
transferred with their nests to a feeding cage on the 11th of .Inly all spun their cocoon within the nest a day or two 
afterward. The moths all came out on the 25th of July, thus remaining in their pupa state but a little over a week. 
The moth crawls from its cocoon, and, with its fore feet clinging to a twig, hangs perpendicularly downward, 
swinging witli the breezes until its wings become dry and stih\ It then discharges one or more drops of an. opa(xue ■ 
birch-red Iluid and takes to liight. (Fitch.) 
Subfamily V. NoTODONTiNiE. 
Moth, — Head moderately large, but not ])romiueiit; S aiiteimm often feebly pectinated to the 
tips, often with short stout branches ciliated at the tips; iu the 9 either ciliated or simple 
(Symmerista). Palpi inoderatel}’’ long, reaching to the front of the head, or unusually long 
(SymmerLsta). Thorax either smooth or with a high tuft. Fore wings usually broad, with the 
costa otton convex and the apex well rounded; internal edge with a tuft in the more typical 
genera; costal region usiiaHy rather wide or sometimes narrower (Plieosia). Subcostal cell either 
absent or. present. Abdomen full, not forked at the end in the 8 . 
Egg, — Low hemispherical; shell finely pitted with polygonal areas. 
Larva, — The body either smooth, siibnoctuiform, with no inpa’kings except a lateral line 
(Nadata and Lophodonta), or humped either on the eighth abdominal (Pheosia, Dasylophia, 
Symmerista) or ou second and third or on several (4-5) of the abdominal segments (Notodonta), 
or ou abdominal segments 1-8 (Nerice); the dorsal humps in Pheosia bearing a horn in the- 
American species. All except Nadata and Lophodonta gaily banded, spotted, or otherwise 
conspicuously colored and marked, with bright longitudinal stripes. 
Cocoon. — Either thin and slight or the larva enters the ground to pnpatej iu Pheosia a 
subterranean earthen cell lined with silk. 
Pupa. — Body somewhat elongateil; head not prominent; cremaster either obsolete, without 
spines (Lophodonta), or ending in a broad spinulated stout plate or ending in two stout spines 
(Symmerista), or armed with four spines (Nadata); or the S])ino is very long, slender, cylindrical, 
and ending in two hooks (Nei'ice), no subfamily pupal cbaracters being present. 
SYNOPSIS OP THE GENERA OF NOTODONTIN.E. 
A very bigU thoracic tuft; i)alpi large; species yellow oclieroiis, with two twin silvery white discal si)ots; outer- 
edge of wings scalloped - JNarhOa' 
Fore wings with a tuft ou the inner edge; palpi large; auteniiic with slightly larger branches than in Xotodonta. 
Lox)lwdonta-: 
