22 

 appetite which had hitherto been its predominant character, it begins its preparation for 

 the great transformation it has to undergo, by selecting a perfect leaf, the upper surface of 

 which it covers with a fine light yellowish brown silk, extending this coating with great 

 skill and foresight, over the footstalk of the leaf, and attaching it firmly to the branch, so as 

 to secure the leaf from being separated by any accident. This preliminary operation 

 having been accomplished, the caterpillar next draws the edges of the leaf together, thus 

 forming a perfect external covering or mantle, in which it spins a fine strong and durable 

 cocoon of fine silk. In this habitation the little architect passes the winter secure from 

 birds and other enemies. As soon as the cocoon has been completed, the caterpillar sheds 

 its skin, and is transformed into a chrysalis. At first the leaf enveloping the cocoon re- 

 mains green, but soon changes to a red or brown, when it becomes brittle, and is gradually 

 carried away by the winds and storms of winter, until, finally, nothing remains except the 

 cocoon itself, which is firmly suspended by the silk which once covered the footstalk of the 

 leaf. 



Mr. Abbot states that the caterpillar also feeds upon the Snowdrop-tree (Halesia tetrap- 

 tera, Linn.) Poplar, Bay, &c. Some individuals spin up in May, and the moth appears in 

 June ; others, as above described, pass the winter in the chrysalis state. 



CALLIMORPHA? FAMULA. 



Plate XI. fig. 3. 



Order : Lepidoptera. Section : Noctui-na. Family : Arctiidae, Stepk. 



Genus. Callimorpha? ia^r. Zygxna. p. Fabr. Phaloena (Bombyx), JJn/ri/. 



Callimorpha Famula. Alls albis, dimidio apical! margineque externo nigris, anticarum niaculi ovali obliqa& 



albtl, collo fulvo. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc.) 

 Syn. Phaltsiia (Bombyx splriliug.) Famula, Dniry,App.vol.2. 

 Habitat: Calabar, in the Bight of Benin, Africa. 



Upper Side. Antennae long and pectinated. Thorax spiral. Neck orange-coloured. Thorax and 

 abdomen dusky grey. Anterior wings about half way from the tips black, but at the base are of a 

 pellucid white ; being surrounded along the anterior edge and part of the posterior with black ; an oblong 

 white spot is placed near the tips on the black part. Posterior wings black and white ; the white entirely 

 surrounded by the black, which on the anterior and abdominal edges is very narrow. 



Under Side. Palpi orange-coloured, black at the tips. Neck, breast, and sides orange. Feet 

 black. Thighs white. Abdomen white, annulated with dusky grey. Anterior wings as on the upper 

 side, the black parts being of a russet hue. Posterior wings differ a little, the white part running 

 down to the middle of the external edges, with a white spot at the upper corners. Margins of the 

 wings entire. 



