214 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



at the base, in others they are feathered to the tip ; and 

 in the number of joints offer striking variations (see 

 Fig. 40). 



Probable Cause of Disappearance of Beauty. 



But the males of nearly all Psychidae are characterized 

 by a uniform dull dark colour of a brown or grey tint ; 

 there is an almost total absence of bright colour or 

 of pattern. Yet these moths are in nearly all cases day- 

 flying. Probably the beauty of the males disappears 

 when the females become degenerate, and the conditions 

 which produced it are then at an end. In other species 

 of Bombyces in which the degeneracy of the females is 

 less complete, less pronounced is the attendant loss of 

 colour by the males. The day-flying Bombyces, whose 

 females retain full possession of their faculties, are 

 remarkable for the brightness and beauty of their 

 colours." 



Singular Rarity of Moths considering Abundance 



of Cases. 



The larval cases of these moths are amongst the 

 " common objects " in Australia, meeting the eye every- 



* Poulton, '■ The Colours of Animals." 



