THE SATURNIA MAIA. 
397 
the fore wings covering the other pair, the front edge of 
which seems formed to extend a little beyond that of the 
fore wings in this position. The wings are thin and almost 
transparent like crape ; they are black, and both pairs are 
crossed by a broad yellow-white band, near the middle of 
which, on each wing, there is a kidney-shaped black spot 
having a central yellow-white crescent or curved line on it; 
the thorax is covered with black hairs on the top, pale yel¬ 
low hairs on the fore part, and has two tufts of rust-red 
hairs behind; the abdomen is black, with a few yellowish 
hairs along the sides, and a patch of a rust-red color at 
the extremity, in the males. The wings expand from two 
inches and a half to three inches and one eighth. 
Saturnia Maia seems to be a very rare moth in Massachu¬ 
setts ; I have never met with it alive, but have seen several 
specimens which were taken in this State. The time of its 
appearance here is not known to me with certainty ; but, 
if I am rightly informed, it has been found in July and 
the beginning of August, flying by day on the borders of 
oak woods, or resting on the shrub oaks which cover the 
sides of some of our high hills. Of the caterpillar I have 
seen only one specimen, which was found, fully grown, on 
an oak, towards the end of September ; it was destroyed, 
however, before I had an opportunity of making a descrip¬ 
tion of it. Mr. Abbot * has figured two of the caterpillars, 
which differ from each other in color and markings. They 
are nearly three inches long ; the head and all the feet are 
red ; and on each of the rings there are six long branched 
prickles. One of these caterpillars is represented of a dusky 
brown color mingled with yellow, with yellow warts from 
which the prickles arise. The other is yellow, with red 
warts, and two black stripes along the back. Mr. Abbot 
states that these caterpillars, while small, feed together in 
company, but disperse as they grow large ; they eat the 
leaves of various kinds of oaks ; sting very sharply when 
* Insects of Georgia, p. 99, pi. 60. 
