374 LEPIDOPTERA 



Actias hina effects its escape by cutting through the strong 

 cocoon with an instrument situate at the base of the front wing. 

 Other species were examined and were found to possess the in- 

 strument : but Packard is convinced that the majority of the 

 species possessing the instrument do not use it, but escape by 

 emitting a fluid that softens the cocoon and enables the moth 

 to push itself through.^ The cocoons of the species of Crrnvchia 

 have a beautiful appearance, like masses of filagree-work in silver. 

 The pupa in Ceranchia is very peculiar, being terminated by a 

 long, spine-like process. In Loepo nnvara the cocoon is of a 

 green colour and suspended by a stalk ; looking like the pod, or 

 pitcher, of a plant. Tlie silk of the Saturniidae is usually coarse, 

 and is known as Tusser or Tussore " silk. 



The larvae of this family are as remarkable as the imagos, being 

 furnished with spine-liearing tubercles or w"arts, or long fleshy 

 processes ; the colours are frequently beautiful. The caterpillar of 

 Attar us atlas (Fig. 187) is pale olive-green and lavender, and has a 

 peculiar, conspicuous, red mark on each flank close to the clasper. 



About seventy genera and several hundred species are already 

 known of this interesting family. They are widely distril)uted 

 on the globe, though there are but few in Australia. Our 

 only British species, the Emperor motli, Saturn la jiaronic, is 

 by no means rare, and its larva is a beautiful object ; Itright 

 green with conspicuous tubercles of a rosy, or yellow, colour. It 

 affects an unusual variety of food-plants, sloe and heather being 

 favourites ; the WTiter has found it at Wicken flourishing on the 

 leaves of the yellow water-lily. Although the Emperor moth is 

 one of the largest of our native Lepidopterous Insects, it is one 

 of the smallest of the Saturniidae. 



The family Hemileucidae of Packard is included at present in 

 Saturniidae. 



Fam. 4. Brahmaeidae. — The species forming the genus 

 Brahuiaea have lieen placed in various families, and are 

 now treated Ijy Hampson as a family apart, distinguished 

 from Saturniidae by the presence of a prol)OScis. They are 

 magnificent, large moths, of sombre colours, but with complex 

 patterns on the wings, looking as if intended as designs for 



^ Amcr. Natural, xii. 1878, p. 379. 



2 Cotes, "Wild Silk Insects of India," Ind. Mus. Xotcs, ii. Xo. 2, 1891, 

 15 plates. 



