THE ATTACUS CECROPIA. 
385 
the winter, and the moths come out in the month of June 
following. Notwithstanding the great similarity of the cater- 
pillar and its cocoon to those of the Luna, the moth is en- 
tirely different. Its hind wings are not tailed, but are cut 
off almost square at the corners. It is of a dull ochre-yel- 
low color, more or less clouded with black in the middle of 
the wings, on each of which there is a transparent eye-like 
spot, divided transversely by a slender line, and encircled 
by yellow and black rings ; before and adjoining to the eye- 
spot of the hind wings is a large blue spot shading into 
black ; near the hinder margin of the wings is a dusky band, 
edged with reddish white behind ; on the front margin of the 
fore wings is a gray stripe, which also crosses the fore part 
of the thorax ; and near the base of the same wings are two 
short red lines, edged with white. It expands from five and 
a quarter to six inches. This moth, on account of its great 
size, is called Polyphemus (Fig. 181), the name of one of 
the giants in mythology. 
Altacus Cecropia* (Fig. 182) is a still larger insect, ex- 
panding from five inches and three quarters to six inches and 
a half. The hind wings are rounded, and not tailed. The 
ground-color of the wings is a grizzled dusky brown, with 
the hinder margins clay-colored ; near the middle of each of 
the wings there is an opaque kidney-sbapccl dull red spot, 
having a white centre and a narrow black edging ; and be- 
yond the spot a wavy dull red band, bordered internally 
with white ; the fore wings, next to the shoulders, are dull 
red, with a curved white band ; and near the tips of the 
same is an eye-like black spot, within a bluish-white cres- 
cent ; the upper side of the body and the legs are dull red ; 
the fore part of the thorax and the hinder edges of the 
rings of the abdomen are white ; and the belly is checkered 
with red and white. This moth makes its appearance dur- 
ing the month of June. The caterpillar (Fig. 183) is 
* Cecropia was the ancient name of the city of Athens ; its application, by 
Unnatus, to this moth is inexplicable.. 
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