340 THE ALUCITINA^ 



This peculiar structure of the wing is found, with 

 but one exception, in all the members of the tribe of 

 the Alucitina, to which the expressive name of 

 Plume-moths is given by the English collectors. In 

 these insects the wings are more or less cleft, so as to 

 form a variable number of feathered rays ; and these 

 are capable of being folded one upon another during 

 repose, like the sticks of a fan, until the wings of 

 each side form nothing but a single broad strap pro- 

 jecting nearly horizontally from the sides of the 

 thorax. The legs and antennse are long, and the 

 latter are bristle-shaped and simple. 



In the pure white species above referred to (Ptero- 

 phoims pentadactylus), as in many others, the wings 

 of each side form five feathery divisions, that is to say, 

 the anterior wings are bifid and the posterior trifid, 

 and the di\ision of the former does not reach nearly 

 to the base of the wdng, — but in another common spe- 

 cies, the Alucita hexadactyla, each wing is divided into 

 six plumes, so that the thorax of the insect fm^nishes 

 the point of support for twenty-four feathered rays, 

 which, when extended, form a complete semicircle like 

 a lady's fan. This charming little insect measures 

 only about seven-twelfths of an inch across the wings, , 

 and is of a greyish colour, with numerous brownish 

 spots on the rays of the wings, giving it an elegantly 

 mottled appearance. It is found not uncommonly ' 

 in gardens in the spring and autumn, and frequently 

 enters houses and out-houses. 



In their transformations these insects present a ) 

 remarkable resemblance to some of the larger Moths, 

 and even in some respects to the Butterflies. Their i 

 larvae are sluggish, furnished with sixteen feet, and 

 clothed with longish hairs ; and their pupae are usually 



