2 12 ^ TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



a slight elongation and contraction of the body, which, 

 with the assistance of a transverse series of minute sharp 

 spines or hooks, directed backwards, on some of the 

 segments, is in this way forced out head foremost, in like 

 manner as the pupa^ of the Goat Moths and the large 

 Swifts are made to emerge from timber and the earth, 

 when the moth is ready to escape. The pupae are 

 prevented from being thrust entirely out of the case by 

 two strong anal hooks. After the issue of the imago, the 

 segments remain in their stretched-out condition. Cases 

 havinof belono-ed to males are often seen with the 

 empty pupa skin sticking rather more than half out of 

 the lower aperture, hanging head downwards, as left 

 by the moth. 



It will be observed, both in the present species and the 

 Lictor Moth, as in others, that there are, as I have shown, 

 in most of the cases, one or two pieces of twigs longer 

 than those of which the remainder of the case is com- 

 posed, and extending posteriorly some distance beyond 

 the termination of the fabric. Possibly these may be 

 intended to assist the male, on entering the perfect state, 

 to effect his exit from the case, the twig affording foot- 

 hold, and aiding the imago to draw his long abdomen 

 out of the pupa skin. 



The males of these moths are swift flyers of extra- 

 ordinary activity, dashing themselves wildly, almost to 

 pieces, among the branches of the trees. A fiery little 



