130 TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



closely-allied moth, belonging to the genus Dianthcecia, is remark- 

 able both on account of the beautiful colours, vivid tints, and 

 the elaborate ornamentation of the wings of the moth, as well 

 as from the habits of the caterpillars. They choose the buds 

 and the flowers of the pink tribe for their food ; they eat the 

 seeds, and before they are much grown they roll themselves up 

 in the buds. The chrysalis terminates in a sharp point, and those 

 parts of it which cover the wings of the future moth protrude 

 considerably. 



The family of the Lciicanida;, belonging to the group Noc- 

 tnina, has many genera. The moths are small ; their bodies are 

 smooth ; their wings are of pale colours without ornamentation ; 

 their palpi are projecting, and their antennae are usually pubescent. 

 The caterpillars are almost white in colour, or sometimes are 

 rather rose or yellowish ; they live on grasses, and always hide 

 themselves. The colourless decorations of the moths and cater- 

 pillars of some of these kinds are very remarkable. The common 

 Wainscot Moth is one of them. The larvse of the allied genus 

 Nonagi'ia are also uncoloured, for they feed in the dark, inside 

 the stems of reeds and grasses ; they are long creatures, and 

 have very distinct horny plates, and shining spots upon them. 

 The pupae are found enclosed in the stems in which the larvae 

 have lived. 



Another family, that of the Xylinidce, has some very beautiful 

 caterpillars ; indeed, Mr. Stainton says that no figure can give 

 any idea of the beauty of the living caterpillar of Calocampa 

 exolita, and that when he saw it he nearly screamed with delight. 

 They are very long, cylindrical, and attenuated at each end ; 

 their colour is a bright green, and the spiracles are connected 

 with pale yellow lines, intersected by a slender scarlet streak. 

 There are also white spots upon them, edged with black, and 

 those of the back are joined together by black patches. The 

 pupae bury themselves at a considerable depth in the ground. 

 One kind has its chrysalis enclosed in a cocoon, which is very 

 papery, and placed on the surface of the ground. 



The genus Qicidlia has some very pretty moths and cater- 

 pillars. The moths have long pointed wings, long bodies, and 

 a sort of hood to their thorax, and are called Sharks, The 



