234 
This caterpillar feeds on clover and is not usually regarded as in¬ 
jurious, though the perfect insect is one of our most common moths. 
I had supposed that clover formed the only plant upon which this fed, 
both from the writings of others as well as my own observations, but 
E. R. Boardman, M. l)., of Elmira, Stark county, stated in a recent 
communication, that he had reared this moth from a chrysalis taken 
from a potato stalk. This opens up a new line of investigation for 
this insect. 
Specf Char. Moth .—Expanse of wings 1.50 to 1.75 inches. Body 
rather small, wings moderately broad, when at rest slightly roof-like, 
deltoid. Color of fore wings gray or brownish gray, two black ante- 
apical spots, and the wings crossed by two, more or less, distinct 
brown bands, the outer not reaching to the hind margin. Hind 
wings dull, more of a blackish gray, with two light bands along the 
outer margin. 
CATOCALA. 
This genus, and one or two closely related, constitute a group of 
moths that are much sought by collectors, and as they are well repre¬ 
sented in all parts of the state, as well as outside of it, they form an 
interesting part of every cabinet of insects. The larvae are loopers 
like the clover worms, tapering from the middle, but they feed upon 
the leaves of trees and shrubs and are of similar colors as the sub¬ 
stances upon which they feed. The perfect insects have rather large 
bodies, the abdomen tapering almost to a point, the hairs laying close 
to the body. The fore wings and thorax are some shade of gray, 
marked and shaded with brown or black. The hind wings vary con¬ 
siderably. In some they are a uniform black, in others black with 
white fringe or white with black bands parallel with the outer mar¬ 
gin. Another group have the hind wings some shade of yellow with wavy 
black bands, another some shade of red with black bands; these bands 
and colors being repeated more or less distinctly on the under side. 
The wings are broad and the moths have a vigorous flight. In size 
they vary in expanse of wing of from an inch and a half to 
three and a half or four inches. Grote’s check list of Noctuidse con¬ 
tains 83 species as occurring in the United States. Of these 36 have 
been found, according to Mr. C. E. Worthington, of Chicago, in Cook 
count}?-, and it is probable that enough more occur in other parts of 
the state to warrant us in saying that fully half the number indicated 
in the check list are to be found in Illinois. The following are a few 
of the more common species. 
Catocala desperata, Gue. 
Expanse of wings three inches, head and thorax light gray with 
dark lines, abdomen blackish brown, fore wings light gray, the trans- 
