drawn from the type of Walker's species, which is contained in the British Museum. The insect is rare as yet in collections, though specimens coming from Central America are far more FIG. 181.-Cargida cadmia, 8. 1. numerous in cabinets than specimens obtained from points within the limits of the United States. (2) Cargida pyrrha Druce, Plate XI, Fig. 15, ô . The insect occurs in southern Arizona and in Mexico. Genus CRINODES Herrich-Schæffer (1) Crinodes beskei Hübner, Plate XLI, Fig. 4, ô. This very peculiar moth is the only representative of its genus which occurs within our territory. There are numerous species found in the tropics of the New World. The habitat of the present species is Arizona and Mexico. NASU-NO TAKE Tora-san NASU-NO TAKE is a volcano in the interior of Japan. came into my room on the upper floor of the tea-house where we had made our stay while exploring the summit of the mountain, which was in eruption at the time. Tora-san was my fidus Achates. He could make an insect-box or repair a jinrickisha, for he was "an honorable carpenter." He did not disdain, when necessity demanded, to prove himself a capable cook, though this was not his calling. He could provide a meal of "America-no Chow" or "Nippon-no Chow," the cuisine of Anglo-Saxon and of Japanese being alike familiar to him. He was best of all an enthusiastic entomologist, and much preferred sugaring for moths to making curries. "Danna-san," he said, "Nasu-no Take have got many moth Tokio no have got." "Yea, verily! good Tora-san." "Danna-san, me catchee moth ko komban sugar way. Danna-san go long?” Danna-san go long?" "With all my heart! Sayo!" And so it was arranged. In the oak-forest below the tea-house we sugared the trees. When the night came on we went with our lanterns to the spot. The black shadows clung to the woodland path. As the lanterns went bobbing along the narrow way, each turn produced a weird and beautiful effect. The gnarled old pines, the oaks and the bamboos, the wild yams festooning the shrubbery, thrust forth for a moment into relief against the universal darkness, were fascinating to look upon. Here and there white lilies held up their stately blossoms, and starry flowers, from which the moths fled as we came along, bloomed everywhere. The effect of moving lights in shrubbery and forest-growths is always charming. But the captures of that night were more memorable than all the witchery of the strange and beautiful scenery in the midst of which we walked. The gems of our catch were a dozen perfect specimens of the great Snowy Underwing, the most beautiful as well as one of the rarest species of the splendid genus to which it belongs. I never pull out the drawer in the cabinet, where these things have rested full many a day since then, without seeing visions and dreaming dreams of the happy past. How much "globe-trotters" miss when they are not students of nature! The memory of one such night spent in the wild woods is worth the memory of weeks spent in palaces. "The insect legions, prank'd with gaudiest hues, some proudly shone Like living jewels; some grotesque, uncouth, And hideous Those lived deliciously on honey-dews, And dwelt in palaces of blossomed bells. Millions on millions, wing'd and plumed in front, MONTGOMERY.-Pelican Island. FAMILY THYATIRIDE "Feeble though the insect be, Allah speaks through that to thee! Sits where countless planets roll, And from thence controls the whole: And the hand which holds them all EHLENSCHLÆGER.-Aladdin's Lamp. The family has been characterized as follows by Sir George F. Hampson, in his work upon the moths of India: "A family of moths resembling the Noctuide in appearance. Proboscis present. Antennæ usually rather thickened and flattened. Mid tibia with one pair of spurs, hind tibia with two pairs. Fore wing with vein 1a short and slight, not forming a fork with 1b; 1c absent; 5 from the center of the discocellulars; veins 7 and 8 stalked; and 9 and 10 stalked, and almost or quite anastomosing with veins 7 and 8 to form an areole. Hind wing with two internal veins; vein 5 from the center of the discocellulars, or generally from below the center; veins 6 and 7 given off not far from the base; 8 bent down and quite or almost touching 7 after the bifurcation. Larva noctuiform, with five pairs of prolegs." Genus HABROSYNE Hübner (1) Habrosyne scripta Gosse, Plate XL, Fig. 22, 8. The moth is quite common locally in the northern States of the Atlantic seaboard, and ranges westward to the central portions of the Valley of the Mississippi. Genus PSEUDOTHYATIRA Grote (1) Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides Guenée, Plate XL, Fig. 25, 8. Form expultrix Grote, Plate XL, Fig. 26, 3. The moth, which occurs in the two forms which we have delineated on the plate, is a native of the northern portions of the Appalachian subregion. It is common in Pennsylvania. Genus EUTHYATIRA Smith (1) Euthyatira pudens Guenée, Plate XL, Fig. 23, 8. Form pennsylvanica Smith, Plate XL, Fig. 24, f. The moth emerges in the very early spring, and may be found where it is common, seated about three inches from the end of twigs in the woodlands, with its wings folded about the twig in such a way as to elude the observation of those who are not familiar with its habits. The form pennsylvanica is found in both sexes in every brood. It represents a curious case of dimorphism. Genus BOMBYCIA Hübner (1) Bombycia improvisa Henry Edwards, Plate XL, Fig. 27, 8. Syn. tearli Henry Edwards. The habitat of the insect is on the Pacific slope, in the northern portions of the coast ranges. "Then rapidly with foot as light As the young musk-roe's, out she flew And new-blown lilies of the river, THOMAS MOORE.-Lalla Rookh. |