NOTODONTIDAE; SCALMICAUDA. By M. Gaede. 
403 
Schizura, Uropygia, Hoplitis, Notodonta etc. may terrify only small aggressors, but without any animal model 
being noticeable. Also the Ceratocampidae and Brahmaeidae larvae often represent a cornigerous or spiked 
monster, though evidently no other animal has served as model. In the Saturnidae likewise only the terrifying 
eye has developed as a bewildering instrument, without any special animal having been copied. Only in the 
Sphingidae mimicry is accomplished to such an extent that, as is stated on p. 355 of this volume, coloured and 
structural deviations from the norm are combined in order to produce certain images of dangerous animals 
(snakes or lizards), the protective effect of which is quite evident. As the larvae of the Notodontidae do not in 
any known case copj^ a reptile, we may conclude that suitable models (poisonous land-snakes) had not yet 
existed when the Notodontidae were differentiated; otherwise it would be very strange that they were forced to 
assume disfigured fantastic shapes, when they might have attained the purpose of protection in a much simpler 
way. The Ceratocampidae and Saturnidae having been specialised from the Notodontidae were probably in the 
same situation, whereas the later Sphingidae made use of the models which had appeared in the meantime, 
copying snakes to the highest degree of perfection. 
The habits of the Ethiopian Notodontidae, as much as we know of this group which was formerly little 
heeded, do not differ from those of their representatives in other parts of the world. The imagines are probably 
all nocturnal and rest in daytime in full lethargy, relying on their adaptation. Excepting for the few species 
collected from the chinks in the bark of the gigantic African treetrunks, presumably nearly all the species of 
this family are taken on the lantern. The larvae, however, are very frequently real heliophile insects, feeding 
in daytime and, as Arnold Schultze states of Centra argentina, nimbly creeping about in the sunshine. 
Whether the single species also occur locally though with a very wide range, as so many Ethiopian Heterocera 
do, cannot be stated owing to the scantiness of material contained in the continental collections, and owing 
to their having been still so little elaborated. In the treeless districts of Ethiopian Arabia, for instance in vast 
parts of Yemen, the Notodontidae are absent altogether. 
W otocloiitidae. 
The Ethiopian Notodontid species numbering about 325 vary still more in size and habitus than the 
palaearctic species. Some resemble Lasiocampidae, Cucullia, and a Pkalera from Central Africa is strikingly 
similar to the palaearctic Ph. bucephala. 
We include in this family such genera in which vein 5 rises on or before the cross-vein. The Thatimeto- 
poeidae listed among the Notodontidae by former authors we have detached (cf. p. 395) chiefly owing to the 
larvae. The Ethiopian Region has but few genera in common with Europe, most in common, however, with 
India; excepting a number of monotypical genera but few are purely Ethiopian. One, from South America, is 
presumably not quite correctly ranged (Maguza Wlcr., not admitted into Kirby’s Catalogue, for safety's sake 
changed into Pseudoscrancia). 
We begin with the few genera exhibiting haired eyes. 
1. Genus: Seal mlc Simla Holt. 
Proboscis and palpi short. Thorax with a more or less developed tuft. Antennae of 3 on % of their 
length pectinate, in the $ dentate. Forewing rather long and narrow. Veins 3 and 4 somewhat separated. 
6 from the upper cell-angle or from the accessory cell, 7 -j- 8 -j- 9 and 10 from the apex of it. In the hindwing 
veins 3 and 4 somewhat separated, 6 -f 7 on a moderately long stalk, 8 nearing the cell at % of the length 
of the cell, connected with it by a bar. Type: benga Holt. 
S. benga Holt. (68 f). Head and tegulae dark red-brown, thorax and abdomen greyish-brown. Forewing benga. 
violettish-brown. A dark brown line from the apex to the centre of the inner margin, on both sides edged with 
light. Interior area darker, exterior area lighter brown. A fine pale curved basal and proximal line; behind 
them one dark ring each on the centre and at the end of the cell and below the base of vein 2 . A submarginal, 
fine, strongly notched line. 36—40 mm. West Africa. 
S. bicolorata sp. n. (68 f) is much larger, but similar by the very round interior angle on the forewing, bicolorata. 
3 head, mesothorax and abdominal end yellow, otherwise brown. Fore wing yellow, maculae indistinct. Before 
the apex a tripartite white spot from which a reddish-brown band extends to the base of the wing, below it 
in front finely pink, from vein 2 to the inner margin brown. Hindwing yellow, at the anal margin pink. $ darker. 
