37- LEPIDOPTERA 



Nymphalid butterflies, but exhibit great diversity, and resemble 

 butterflies of several different divisions of tlie family.^ 



The species are apparently great lovers of heat and can 

 tolerate a very dry atmosphere.' The transformations of very 

 few have l)een observed ; so far as is known the larvae feed in 

 stems ; and somewhat resemble those of Goat-moths or Leopard- 

 moths (Cossidae) ; the caterpillar of C. theraj^on lives in the stems 

 of Brazilian orchids, and as a consequence has been brought to 

 Europe, and the moth there disclosed. The pupae are in general 

 structure of the incomplete character, and have transverse rows 

 of spines, as is the case with other moths of different families, 

 but having larvae with similar habits.^ Castnia eudesmia forms 

 a large cocoon of fragments of vegetable matter knitted together 

 with silk. These Insects are rare in collections ; they do not ever 

 appear in numbers, and are generally very difficult to capture. 



Fam. 2. Neocastniidae. — The Oriental genus Tascina 

 formerly placed in Castniidae has recently Ijeen separated by 

 Sir G. Hampson and associated with Neocastnia mcevillei, from 

 East India, to form this family. These Insects have the appear- 

 ance of Nymplialid butterflies. They differ from Castniidae by 

 the want of a prol;»oscis. 



Fam. 3. Saturniidae. — This is a large and varied assemblage 

 of moths ; the larvae construct cocoons ; the products of severed 

 species Ijeing used as silk. These moths have no frenulum and 

 no proboscis. The hind wings have a very large shoulder, so 

 that the anterior margin or costa stretches far forward beneath 

 the front wing, as it does in butterflies. The antennae of the 

 males are strongly bipectinated and frequently attain a magnifi- 

 cent development. The family includes some of the largest 

 and most remarkable forms of the Insect-world. Coscinocera 

 Jiercules, inhabiting North Australia, is a huge moth which, 

 with its expanded wings and the long tails thereof, covers a 

 space of about 70 square inches. One of the striking features 

 of the family is the occurrence in numerous forms of remarkable 

 transparent spaces on the wings ; these window - like areas 

 usually occur in the middle of the wing and form a most remark- 

 able contrast to the rest of the surface, which is very densely 



1 See Westwood, Tr. Linn. Soc. London (2), i. 1877, p. 165, etc. 

 - For habits of some Brazilian Castnia see Seitz, Ent. Zcit. Stettin, li. 1890, p. 258. 

 3 For pupa see Chapman, Ent. I!rc. vi. 1895, pp. 286, 288. 



