58 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
exotic species are gigantic, specimens of Erebus strex from Brazil 
sometimes measuring twelve inches from tip to tip of the expanded 
wings. 
Great difficulty is experienced in identifying many of the small 
and plain-colored insects belonging to this group, as they are fre¬ 
quently very much alike both in shape and markings, and puzzling 
varieties in colors are common. 
The larvse are usually smooth, though some are hairy, and a few 
possess tubercles and warts. They are generally provided with six¬ 
teen legs. Some make cocoons in which to transform to the chrysa¬ 
lis state; the majority' burrow into the ground and form smooth, 
naked chrysalides. Many of the caterpillars feed exclusively by 
night, hiding by day, and a number of species are among the prin¬ 
cipal insect pests with which the gardener and farmer have to deal. 
Our first example is the splendid moth Erebus odora , which 
expands six or seven inches and is occasionally taken as far north as 
Canada. It is a rare visitor, and one may consider himself exceed¬ 
ingly fortunate who captures a good specimen, for it is said not to 
live in the United States except as a wanderer from Mexico. I 
have never taken a specimen, but know of several instances where 
they have been captured in New England and the Western States. 
The insect is not rare in Mexico; and one rarely sees a Collection 
from that country which does not contain one or more specimens of 
this fine moth. 
The predominating color is dark brown; but in certain lights, 
pink and metallic purple and blue are reflected from the wings. 
There is frequently a good deal of variation in this species, some¬ 
times the wavy lines running across the wings being almost white 
and again obscure gray or yellowish brown. This insect is a very 
strong flyer, as specimens are said to have been taken on board a 
ship, one hundred and twenty-five miles from the nearest land. I 
know nothing of the larva or of the life history of the insect. 
In Parthenos nubilis, the insect looks very much like the Gatocala 
and has much the same habits. The upper wings are dark brown, 
black, gray and creamy-white. Thorax and body light brown. 
Lower wings blackish-brown with four wavy and somewhat indis¬ 
tinct bands of yellowish-orange. Expanse of wings two and one-half 
inches. I have specimens of this insect from New England and the 
Middle and Western States. It may be taken in the company of 
Catocala and seems to have a wide range. 
