FAUNE EiNTOMOLOGIQUE DE L AUSTRALIE l"] 



Tlic moths of course givc a great dcal of t rouble-, first of ail the larvac hâve to be located, 

 and froni timc to time visited, then when pupatcd thcre is the culting down and carting or 

 raiiing home of the biocks, and whilst I hâve thèse I am practically a prisoner, for I cannot be 

 absent a wholc da)', the insecls as thcy émerge having to bc watched, then at the proper time 

 killed, and, whcn in proper condition cviscerated, stuffed, often sewn up again, and finally set, 

 — to put any away in papers would be most unwise. They take a long time to dry (Fig. A, p. 21), 

 the larger Qs 15 to 20 days, or longer in damp weather, then for days there is the danger of 

 small Diptcra attacking the spécimens whcn on the boards evcn though they may be freely 

 dusted with naphthalin), the maggots working m the thorax and causing the wings to loosen. 



As stated the preceding remarks are mostly upon se\eral of the larger species, but apply 

 fairly wcll to ail. Most of the insects are found in Eucalyptus trees, one in Tristania, one in 

 Caauarina, one in Mdaleuca, and several in Acacia trees, a small species (.V. polyploca Turner) 

 in Grcv'tllea, and another small one in I.ornuthus. 1 havc never brcd a species from typical scrub 

 or jungle trees, which, however, can scarccly by regarded as purely Australian, but 1 know of 

 one in a scrub tree and hope to get the moth in time, it certainly is a ver)- rare species and should 

 prove to be of more than gênerai interest. 



Thèse grcat moths, like the Saturnids and rnithoplcras etc., after émergence keep a quantity 

 of liquid in reserve, which they discharge with great force if molested, so it is an excellent plan, 

 before bottling them, to endeavour to prevail upon them to part with this, otherwise it sullies 

 the bottle and maybe themselves, so a judicious tickling or poking of the abdomen lias the 

 desired effect, something being held in front to catch the jet, care being taken that it does not 

 squirt over ones face or clothes; presumably this affords some slight protection against an 

 enemy. I should imagine so were he to receive the full force of it ! 



Of course ail pupae project from the hole, it is most interesting to watch the grcat black- 

 headed things bending and squirming in their efforts to break the sliell and escape; doubly inte- 

 resting when a new species ! 



There may be over 50 species of Zeuzeridce known, one Australian Entomologist 

 (M. G. Lyell. F. E. S ) possessing as many as 40, but drawn from ail the colonies. 



F. P. DODD. F. E. S. 



Kuranda 10 : IV : 13. 



