MR. A. W. SeOTT ON AX OTO-VIYIPAROUS MOTH. 269 



The Lepiclopteroiis insect brought under your consideration is 

 closely allied to the genus " Tinea" of modern authors, is of small 

 size, and boasts of no outward singularity of form, nor extraordinary 

 beauty of colouring to distinguish it from others of that group. It 

 was after dark, in the early part of the month of October, 1861, 

 that we first captured a specimen with the hand, being attracted at 

 the moment by its elegant colouring, and V\dshing to secure it for the 

 cabinet. Fearful that the plumage might be injured by the 

 struggles of the Moth, while endeavouring to escape, it was gently 

 compressed, and on opening the hand we observed numbers of 

 minute, but perfect larvae, being ejected from the abdomen in rapid 

 succession, and moving about with considerable celerity, evidently 

 in search of suitable shelter and food. This incident, so singular 

 and new to us, required further confirmation, and consequently 

 many more of a similar kind (of course all females) were caught 

 and attached to corks previously covered with black paper, and sub- 

 jected to the closest scrutiny. These Moths shortly commenced to 

 deposit their living progeny with rapidity, the small white fleshy 

 larv^ being seen with great distinctness on the black surface of the 

 paper ; thus afl*ordiag clear and satisfactory proof that this Insect, 

 the only one of its order at present known, is unquestionably ovo- 

 viviparous, and will represent in future this peculiarity among the 

 Lepidoptera ; similar to those few species existing in the Hemipter- 

 ous and Dipterous orders. This fact having been ascertained, our 

 attention was incited to the care of the little strangers, and to pro- 

 cure suitable shelter and food for them, in the hope that we should 

 be able to rear them, and thus to supply a correct account of all 

 their metamorphoses. In this we were guided by the form of the 

 perfect insect, and accordingly placed before them grains of maize, 

 pieces of flannel and woollen cloth, shreds of partially decayed 

 paper, some fungus and lichen, and other materials known to be the 

 food of caterpillars belonging to the genus Tinea and neighbour- 

 ing genera. Unfortunately, they turned with distaste from all these 

 supplies, with the exception of the cloth and flannel, and even to 

 these they attached themselves with reluctance. We, however, 

 persevered and put them in a dark and roomy box, aware of the 

 marked dislike to light of larvae possessing depredatory habits, and 

 left them undisturbed for Or week ; at the end of which we were 

 pleased to find that small silken tunnels or tubes had been con- 

 structed on the surface of the brown cloth, and that the denuded 



