LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
207 
and a very large, round, deep black eyespot in the 
centre, having a linear white pupil. The male of 
this moth differs remarkably ; his fore wings being 
bright yellow, with a few spots and dashes of dark 
red ; the body also is yellow ; the hind wings are 
like those of the other sex. The larva is said by 
Abbot to feed on the maize, dogwood {Cornus), 
sassafras, &c. 
A very splendid, but I believe undescribed spe- 
cies of Catocala^ a genus commonly known by the 
appellation of Crimson Underwings, has lately 
occurred. It far exceeds in beauty, as well as in 
size^ the Scarlet Underwing, formerly noticed, be- 
ing four inches and five-sixths in spread of wing ; 
the fore pair of a soft rich brown, with lighter 
shades, crossed by two very sinuous lines of intense 
black ; the hind pair brilliant crimson, with three 
black bands, and an indented pale margin. I know 
nothing of its habits ; my specimen was observed 
resting with closed wings on a rafter in a house, 
during daytime ; I carefully put my insect net over 
it, and on touching it, it suddenly opened its bright 
hues, and darted off in the headlong manner com- 
mon to the genus, but unfortunately for itself, 
plunged into the bag of the net. From the per- 
fectly uninjured state of the plumage, I conclude 
that it was but just out of pupa. 
It has been supposed that the strong and offen- 
sive odours produced by some insects, are intended 
as a means of defence. From certain circum- 
stances, however, I have reason to think, they may 
be connected with the reproductive economy, at 
least in that wide family to which I allude, and in 
which a peculiarly rank odour is so general, if not 
universal. Two large plant bugs {Pentatcma^ on 
