THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 91 



as it were a connecting link, merge the various groups so imper- 

 ceptibly into each other that it is hard to say where one ends and 

 the other begins. The Geometrse, for instance, with their well- 

 known looping caterpillars, which at home, almost without excep- 

 tion, possess pro-legs on the tenth and twelfth segments only, here 

 include a large number of species in which the pro-legs are present 

 on the eighth and ninth segments also, though generally in a 

 rudimentary form, thus approaching the Noctuae. As an example 

 of the more usual form we may take Anielora leucaniata (Gn.), a 

 species familiar to all who love to ramble over the heath lands 

 between Oakleigh and the shores of the Bay. The larvae, which 

 occur very abundantly in the early spring, are of the most extreme 

 type of true loopers. They feed on a variety of the plants found 

 in the district mentioned, and the perfect insects appear during 

 March and April. 



As an example of the more unusual forms, we will turn to the 

 very beautiful insects comprised in the genus Thailina. This 

 contains some of our most prized species ; but there is one (T. 

 clara) fairly common wherever wattles occur. The larvse feed 

 during the spring, and are remarkable for the pointed projections 

 upon each side of the head, and for the presence of pro-legs upon 

 the eighth and ninth segments ; they do not, however, seem to 

 make much use of these extra pro-legs, but rest in the manner 

 shown. When full fed — early in September — they either lower 

 themselves by a silken thread or else descend the trunks, and, 

 entering the ground, spin compact cocoons. The perfect insects 

 appear at the end of March and throughout April, and seem 

 invariably to emerge about 9 o'clock at night — a wise provision 

 of Nature, as the intense whiteness of these insects renders them 

 an easy prey to the bats and nightjars, so busy during the twi- 

 light. Although the larvse may be met with abundantly, the 

 perfect insects are not so frequently observed. When disturbed 

 by day they fly very wildly, and generally mount up to a great 

 height. 



As a still further advanced and remarkable example, we will 

 take Mnesampela privata (Gn.), the larvae of which draw together 

 the leaves of the blue gum and feed concealed therein. They 

 are handsome larvae, and generally of extreme abundance, but 

 they have every appearance of being true Noctuas both in shape, 

 markings, and the number of legs, though when young there is a 

 tendency to loop. 



The perfect insects, however, appear quite as decidedly to be 

 Geometers. When first hatched these larvae feed in patches, 

 side by side, upon the underside of the leaves, and render them 

 quite skeletonised and colourless. As they grow larger they 

 construct habitations by doubling the leaves over, or spinning 

 two or three together with a somewhat dense light fawn silk, and 



