92 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



remain hidden during the day, coming out to feed at night. At 

 this period they separate, but two or even three may frequently 

 be observed in one habitation. The larvae are first to be met 

 with in June, but they may be seen of all sizes as late as the end 

 of August. 



When full fed they enter the ground and construct a very 

 tough cocoon, covered with fragments of earth. Within this 

 they change to yellow pupse, very small in comparison both to 

 the larvae and to the insects which subsequently emerge from 

 them. The wing-cases of the pupse become dark previous to 

 the appearance of the moths, which takes place from February to 

 April. This insect, and its congener, M. comarcha (Meyrick), 

 perhaps afford the most extreme examples at 

 present known to me ; and I am personally 

 of opinion that the various species at present 

 constituting the genus Mnesampela, together 

 with many others, will have to be reclassified 

 at no distant date, when the life-histories are 

 more generally known. I think, however, 

 that I have sufficiently illustrated my remarks 

 on this subject, and will, in conclusion, just 

 say a word respecting the difference in 

 habits. 



In Europe most Lepidoptera pass the 

 winter as pupa; ; and those larvae found 

 during early spring, in nearly every case, Larva of M. comarcha. 

 remain but a very short time before appearing as perfect insects. 

 In Victoria it appears to be the rule that larvae feeding in spring- 

 time remain in the pupal state throughout the summer, and do 

 not emerge until late autumn. Winter here is fairly mild through- 

 out, and consequently there is no need to lack employment during 

 the winter months ; for many insects may still be met with, and 

 large numbers of larvae are feeding. 



But in England the Lepidopterist is compelled for a considerable 

 period to give in to King Frost ; the trees have no foliage, and 

 most species, in whatever stage, are carefully concealed in their 

 winter retreats. It therefore seems that even as they there retire 

 from the cold, so do many Victorian species escape from the 

 summer's heat, and investigation of this habit would probably 

 prove that the one cause would have much the same effect as the 

 other in destroying the continuance of the various species 

 concerned ; but as I have already prolonged these random notes 

 somewhat more than I at first intended, I will defer any further 

 remarks upon this and kindred subjects to some other occasion. 



It is my hope that the Lepidoptera will receive greater attention 

 in the future, and that at no very distant date we may be in a 

 position to compile a fairly accurate list of the Victorian species, 



