772 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN NEUROPTERA, vi., 



lamina?, forniiiig a pyramid, which ahiiost completely hides the 

 end of the abdomen from view (Plate Ixxa ii., fig.5). 



Type, in Coll. Froggatt. 



As the extinction of this fine insect would seem to be only a 

 matter of a few years, owing to the gradual clearing of the 

 mountain which is its only known home, the following account 

 of its habits and resting position, taken from notes supplied by 

 Miss M. Davidson, of Cedar Cottage, Mount Tambourine, will 

 be of considerable interest to all entomologists. The figures 

 given on Plate Ixxvii., figs. 6-7, were drawn from pencil-sketches 

 of the living insect made by Miss Davidson. 



At rest, the position of the wings depends upon the kind of 

 surface on which the insect is placed. When, as usual, it rests 

 upon the bark of a tree, or some fairly wide and flat surface, the 

 wings are held roof-wise over the body, but inclined wide apart, 

 at an obtuse angle, as is shown in Plate Ixxvii., fig. 6. In this 

 position, the resemblance to a Reptilian head is very striking, as 

 is also said to be the case with the gigantic Hepialid, Leto staceyi 

 Scott. Both insects have the embossed area in much the same 

 position, resembling a pair of wide-open eyes. But, in Meyapsy- 

 chops, there is the additional suggestion of the forwardly project- 

 ing snout, formed by the coalescence of two dorsal bands I'ight 

 up to the head. 



The local name for this insect on Mount Tambourine is, as I 

 am informed by Mr. W. H. Davidson, the "Cross-bones." This 

 would appear to have been suggested by the resemblance of the 

 transverse band on the forewing, with its somewhat narrow 

 stalk, terminated at either end by an enlarged embossment, to 

 the crossed femoral bones in the traditional pirate's emblem of 

 the "skull and cross-bones." 



When resting on a tw^ig, the w ings are brought closer together, 

 so as to form a steep roof o\er the body, as may be seen in Plate 

 Ixxvii., fig.7. The head is almost completely retracted, and the 

 antennae folded beneath it out of sight. At night-time, when 

 the insect becomes active, or when feeding, the head is protruded 

 and raised up, w^hile the antennae are held almost vertically 

 upwards. 



