286 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



length, and tapers towards the forked tail. The 

 pupa is also a pale green colour, with yellow edgings 

 to the wing case. It hangs suspended by its tail 

 from the food plant. Care needs to be taken in 

 hunting these caterpillars in the sword-grass, for 

 it will cut like a knife. ' ' Larvae of ' browns ' are very 

 easy to rear in captivity with a little experience, 

 and as their interesting transformations can thus bo 

 watched, the student is advised to proceed in the 

 following manner : — Any soft grass should be plant- 

 ed in a pot, and provided with two bent wires cross- 

 ing over the pot at right angles and tlie four ends 

 inserted in the earth of the pot ; this acts as a frame 

 for a mosquito net covering. The end of the mos- 

 quito net covering should be held tight to the pot 

 by string. Yoimg larvag, found by searching grasses 

 in the gullies or such places that these butterflies 

 frequent, can be then placed on the grass and kept 

 under observation, or captured females may be 

 brought home alive and placed in these cages so that 

 they may lay their eggs on the grass. During winter 

 time the ordinary winter grass is very suitable to 

 use, but any soft grass will answer the purpose, for 

 Satyrid larvae are not confined to any particu- 

 lar grass. ' ' — ( Waterhouse. ) 



