Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/213

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169

ARCTIA OCULATISSIMA.

PLATE XX. Fig. 4.

Bombyx ocularia, Fabr.; Cramer, t. 344, fig. D, and vol. v. pl. 41, fig. 3.—Phal. oculatissima, Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Georg., ii. pl. 69.—Phal. Noct. Scribonia, Stoll., pl. 41, fig. 3.—Bombyx chryseis? Encyc. Meth.

The Great Leopard Ermine Moth, like several others of the same tribe we have figured, is a native of Georgia and other parts of North America, but it does not appear to be very common. The wings of the female expand three inches three quarters, those of the male nearly an inch less. Antennæ black; head white, with a black point on each side near the insertion of the antennæ. Thorax with ten or twelve black spots, some or all of them with a pale bluish-white centre, making them appear annular; the two hinder spots largest, and somewhat curved. Ground colour of the wings white, the surface of the upper pair variegated with black spots, most of which are ocular, placed irregularly towards the base, but having a tendency to form transverse rows externally; the hinder wings also white, with a few faint black spots behind. The abdomen is blue-black, variegated on the back