104 
This fear is however perfectly unnecessary, as although it con- 
stantly leaves its teeth in the object of its attack, no result more than 
from the scratch of a thorn ensues. 
The general length of the Boa of this island is from eight to ten 
feet, and it is rarely found longer than fourteen feet. It feeds upon 
rats, birds, cats, rabbits, fowls, and all small animals. Its head is 
covered with small scales, unlike the generality of harmless serpents. 
The scales over the body are small and smooth, and beautiful tints 
may be observed in them when exposed to a strong light or in the 
sun. The abdominal scuta are 280 in number, and the subcaudal 
Squamee consist of 70 rows. I believe the Boa to be viviparous, from 
some young having been cut out of the womb of a dead female. 
The Boa has the property of being able to live for a great length 
of time without food, water, and almost without air. I have wit- 
nessed cases of their existing in drawers and boxes unopened for 
months, and I have been told upon good authority of a case of a Boa 
looking as well and as fat after thirteen months of this species of 
confinement as before it. 
I am unable to fix any regular period for the changes of skin to 
which all serpents are liable, and which appears greatly to depend 
upon the state of their stomachs. 
2. CHARACTERS OF THREE NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF LEPI- 
popTerA. By WiiuiAm Wine, M.E.S. 
(Annulosa, Pl. XIV.) 
Fam. Nocruip2. 
1. CaiGgatus, n. g. 
Palpi short, ascending ; densely clothed with scales; penultimate 
joint long (fig. 2a): antenne bipectinated at the base, and bearded 
(fig. 2 6, section)  : head small, rounded, nearly concealed: thorax 
with a large, acute crest in front: abdomen long, furnished with two 
anal tufts, ¢: anterior wings acute at. tip, broad, dentate, slightly 
deflexed ; posterior wings abbreviated. Type, 
Carieatus ANnGasu, n. sp. (Annulosa, Pl. XIV. fig. 2, 3.) 
Sp. Ch.—Body and base of the anterior wings of a bright fawn- 
colour, with a triangular diaphanous patch at the costa, another of - 
an oval form between the costa and posterior margin, and a nearly 
square patch in the centre of the outer margin. General colour of 
the apical half of the wing pink, varied with yellow and fawn-colour ; 
posterior wings diaphanous, with a broad ashy brown margin marked 
with a triangular yellow spot, and a lunular pink spot at the inner 
angle ; cilia of all the wings white. In the male the metatarsi and 
tibiee are densely clothed with long hair-like scales, making them 
appear very broad and flat (fig. 3). I have named this species after 
Mr. Angas, who has recently explored the highly interesting country 
of which this is a native, the Cape of Good Hope. In the collection 
of the British Museum, 
