296 NEPTICULID.E. 



Tlie habits of this genus are very interesting. The perfect in- 

 sects repose on the trunks of treces, on pahngs, etc., but unless 

 the collector be cautious, he will find on his too near approach they 

 take alarm ; they run exceedingly nimbly, and keep swaggering a 

 little from side to side as they run, looking the very impersona- 

 tion of minute importance; when on the wing they fly rather 

 quickly (though nothing in comjiarison to their alacrity in run- 

 ning), and have much the appearance of miiuite Dipteiia. Some 

 species fly of their own accord in the early morning : thus N.pijg- 

 maella is on the wing about sunrise in August ; aiul when every- 

 thing is quiet on a calm dewy morning, — the spiders^-webs with 

 their spangled drops reflecting the beams of the rising sun, — it is 

 a pleasant sight to see this minute insect darting backwards and 

 forwards among the hawthorn -leaves, evidently in the acme of 

 enjoyment. It happens that this species is not remarkable for 

 the brilliancy of its colours, but in this genus are to be found 

 the humming-birds of the Tineina; and the lovely N. gratiosella, 

 reflecting nearly all the colours of the rainbow, dances in little 

 swarms round the twigs of hawthorn, in the blaze of the mid-day 

 sun. 



The larvffi of this genus arc very peculiar : the six anterior legs 

 so universally present in Lepidopterous larva? are wanting, and 

 they are replaced by membranous processes ox prolegs, yet neither 

 on these segments, nor on the remaining segments, each of which 

 is furnished with a pair of prolegs (making eighteen in all) have 

 the prolegs the usual coronet of little hooks ; these larvae are 

 consequently bad hands at walking, which nevertheless they have 

 to do when full-fed, for then they quit the mine in which they 

 have hitherto lived, and seek a fit place for their cocoon. The 

 mines are always flat, generally of an irregular ser])entine form, 

 though sometimes spiral, and sometimes forming a complete 

 blotch ; when held to the light, the larvic can be distinctly seen, 

 and their colour and markings recognized. The cocoons are, I 

 believe, generally formed on tlie ground amongst the fallen leaves ; 

 at any rate, in such situations the larvai form them in our breed- 

 ing cages; and it is a very singular fact that, though solitary in 

 the larva state, we always find that the cocoons arc made in com- 

 pany, sometimes a dozen between two leaves. The cocoons vary 

 considerably in colour, texture, and form, according to the 

 species. 



The species of this genus are exceedingly numerous. I have 

 no doidjt i have several otlu;rs than those here einimerated, though 

 to cnabli! me (o describe them I recjuire more specimens, in flner 



