Desc7'iption of an Ovo-viviparous Moth, helony'mg to the 

 genus Tinea, by A. W. Scott, Esq., MA. 



[Read 1st September, 1862.] 



Tinea vivipara. ( PI. 4. ) 



I am induced from the novelty of the subject to lay before 

 the Society a short description, accompanied by illustrations, of 

 a Moth recently found on Ash Island, which possesses the 

 remarkable and I believe unique quality of being ovo-viviparous ; 

 a quality hitherto known to exist only in some few groups of the 

 Insecta, but never attributed to any species of the Lepidoptera. 

 Those admirable writers, Kirby and Spence, in the 3rd volume 

 of their " Introduction to Entomology," page 63, express them- 

 selves thus, " By far the larger portion of Insects is oviparous 

 in the ordinary acceptance of the term. The ovo-viviparous tribes 

 at present known are scorpions ; the flesh fly, and several other 

 flies; a minute gnat belonging to Latreille's family of Tipularias; 

 some species of Coccus ; some bugs, (Geocorisas, Lat.) and most 

 Aphides, which last also exhibit the singular fact of individuals 

 of the same species being some oviparous, and others, ovo-vivipa- 

 rous ; the former being longer in proportion than the latter." 

 Tou wiU perceive that no mention is made by these scientific 

 gentlemen in 1828, the date of the work from which I have 

 quoted, of any Lepidopterous insect possessing the faculty of 

 ejecting the living larva ; and I cannot find on careful reference 

 to many subsequent publications, some of recent date, any notice 

 to the effect that this peculiar function appertains to any species 

 of Butterfly or Moth. I therefore take the liberty to submit this 

 singular fact for your consideration and future investigation, 

 trusting that such information, however small in itself, but 

 tending nevertheless towards the perfecting of that branch of 

 Natural History, to which this Society exclusively devotes itself, 

 will be received by the Members with spme degree of interest. 



As my family take an equal part with myself in all matters 



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