88 . INSECT A TEANSVAALIENSIA. 



deceptive appearance of the traces left by an enemy suggesting that the larva is already 

 occupied." * Birchall has been prompted to other reflections and suggestions : " When 

 feeding, the long legs are protruded, and the anal segments being elevated, its likeness to a 

 great Earwig, or Staphilinus, is very striking, and probably may give it some security from the 

 attacks of enemies " ; but, as this good lepidopterist further remarks : "I desire to speak 

 doubtfully of the sharp eyes of a bird, or ichneumon, being deceived when engaged in its own 

 special business by any such colourable imitation." f Mr. Barrett considers that the young 

 larva looks almost like a long-legged Ant, and when full grown, and feeding, it has a singular 

 likeness to a great Earwing, or brown Eove Beetle. | From the singular aspect of the larva, 

 Albin termed it the Lobster Caterpillar, a name which has since been applied to the imago. § 

 Of the larva of Cenira vinula, our Puss Moth, which, when disturbed, withdraws its head into 

 the first body ring, inflating the margin, which is of a bright red colour, Poulton has likened 

 the effect to an "intensely exaggerated caricature of a vertebrate face, which is probably 

 alarming to the vertebrate enemies of the caterpillar " ; and adds somewhat definitely, " The 

 terrifying effect is therefore mimetic." || He has also suggested that the two whips nhich are 

 protruded from the prongs of the fork in which the body terminates " might be thought 

 to be stings." H It will thus be seen that the larvae of this family have afforded ample 

 material for speculation and hypothesis, and these quotations will doubtless stimulate other 

 observations — qualifying or corroborative — in South Africa. 



The Notodonts are extremely sluggish in their habits by day, and conversely active when 

 darkness sets in. This can be easily seen when these Moths are confined during the day in 

 an ordinary box, the artificial darkness inciting the greatest activity. 



Principal bibliographical references relating to the Notodontidfe of South Africa : — 



Wallengken, H. D. J. " Heterocerer-Fjiirilar Kafferlandet." (Kongl. Sevensk. Vet.-Ak. Handl. Bd. v. 

 No. 4, pp. 51-53, 1865.) 



Walsingham, Lord, M.A., F.L.S. "Contributions to the Knowledge of the Genus Aiuiphe, Walker." 

 (Trans. Linn. Soc. (2) vol. ii. p. 421 (1885).) 



Distant, W. L. " On a Collection of Heterocera made in the Transvaal (Notodoutidie)." (Ann. & Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. (6) vol. xs. p. 204 (1897); Md. (7) vol. iii. p. 463 (1899) ; ibid. vol. iv. p. 361 (1899).) 



And for general information : — 



Packard, Alpheus S. "Monograph of the Bombycine Moths of America north of Mexico, including their 

 transformations and origin of the larval markings and Armature. Part I. — Fam. I. Notodontid.e." (' Memoirs of 

 the National Academy of Sciences,' vol. vii. pp. 1-291, plates i.-xlix. (1895).) 



Genus DESMEOCR^RA. 

 Desmeocrara, Wallengren, Kongl. Vet.-Ak. Handl. (2) Bd. v. No. 4, p. 52 (1865). 



A small genus apparently confined to Southern Africa. 

 1. Desmeocraera hierax. (Tab. IV., figs. 3 j- , 4?.) 



Dcsiiicoci-cEm hiertur, Distant, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) vol. xx. p. 204 (1897). 



Hab. — Transvaal; Pretoria (Distant and in Pret. Mus.) ; Lydenburg District (Zutrzenka). 



I found this species on the wing in October, and coming to light. 



* ' The Colours of Animals,' p. 282. | Ent. Month. Mag. xiii. p. 232 (1877). 



I Lepid. Brit. Islands, vol. iii. pp. 101 and 103. § Cf. Stephens' Ills. Brit. Eut. Haust. ii. p. 22 (1828). 



II 'The Colours of Animals,' p. 271. IT Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, p. 206. 



