SOME TASMANIAN CASE-EEARING LEPIDOPTERA. 313 



body. At the expiration of one hour and three-quarters the case 

 was finished, all but drawing the posterior aperture closer, by 

 means of the anal claspers, and finishing oft" the edge of the 

 anterior opening. Until the posterior opening was drawn 

 together the case was cylindrical. Afterwards it approximated 

 to a miniature crucible rather than a cone. As the larvae grow 

 they first add to their cases fragments of leaves, and then, as 

 their mandibles acquire greater strength, short lengths of sticks. 

 The operation of enlarging the case by the addition of more 

 sticks is a very curious and interesting one, and one but seldom 

 witnessed. In the ' Entomologist ' of August last year I de- 

 scribed the process as witnessed by me, but, to make this article 

 complete, and at the risk of being tedious, I will redescribe what 

 occurred. First, the edge of the mouth of the case was tightly 

 attached with silk to the twig from which a portion was to be 

 cut. The caterpillar then protruded itself half out of its case, 

 and commenced nibbling round the twig. In a very short time 

 it was severed. I should have before remarked that the top of 

 the twig and several leaves were bitten off before cutting a piece 

 the required length (about one inch). As soon as the portion 

 was severed it was grasped by the caterpillar in its legs, which 

 acted in the capacity of hands, and then given a coating of silk. 

 This occupied two or three minutes. It was marvellous to watch 

 the ease with which the piece was handled, being turned over 

 and over, backwards and forwards, without a seeming eft'ort It 

 was nearly always grasped in the middle. After the coating 

 process was finished the caterpillar retreated inside its case, 

 laying the twig lengthwise across the mouth. It then bit an 

 opening about a quarter of an inch from the top, came half-way 

 out through the opening thus formed, and pulled down the piece 

 of twig. It was then lightly fastened by one end near the top of 

 the case. The caterpillar then proceeded to fasten it securely for 

 half its length among the other bits of twigs already there. This 

 done, it retreated into its ease, and fastened up the rent made in 

 the fabric, at the same time securely attachnig the top of the 

 twig. Unfortl^nately, I never witnessed the lower portion being 

 fastened down, but should imagine the process was the same. 

 Next day it was impossible to distinguish this twig from the 

 others. Its thickness was that, say, of a two inch wire-nail. 



I have not yet ascertained the exact length of time the larvae 

 take to come to maturity, nor how long the males remain in the 

 pupal condition. I have had several opportunities of timing the 

 latter, but, owing to press of other work, it has been neglected. 

 However, I hope to complete my observations this coming sum- 

 mer. The males nearly always emerge during the night ; after 

 drying their wings they either fly off to find a mate, or, if there 

 are female "cases" on the same tree, they copulate without 

 delay. The same thing occurs when there are cases of both 



