240 Mr. Pilchek's Remarls on species of Ophideres. 



The frill of bristles on the dorsal part of the proboscis, would 

 seem to assist in pressing the under rasj^iug surface down upon 

 the object to be ojjerated on. The spines on the lower surfaces 

 are, I think to prevent the insertion of the proboscis to too great 

 an extent, as the moth might not otherwise be able to withdraw 

 it easily, when occasion might require. 



When the moth is engaged in sucking, the upper wings are 

 partially opened, and their margins together with those of the 

 lower wings, and tlie hinder part of the aljdomen, seem to Ije 

 pressed against the fruit ; the forelegs raise the head and the 

 fore part of the body, so that there is a considerable interval 

 between the head and the orange or banana, and consequently it 

 is evident that the proboscis is only buried in the fruit to a 

 certain depth. 



RocKHAirPTON, Queensland, 

 28th March, 1877. 



