XVlll 



" When the caterpillar has reached full development, which is at the 

 end of about thirty-one days, it is 12 to 14 lines in length, and its 

 movement is described as being very quick in either direction, whether 

 forward or backward. The head is depressed, furnished with strong 

 toothed jaws, and with a plate of a paler colour. The labrum is said 

 to have a very hard lance-shaped termination, which helps it to perforate 

 the cane. 



" ' Each segment has four black glands in a longitudinal row on each 

 side of the back marked by a pink band. On the lateral sides are also 

 seen eight black points surrounded by glands of the same colour, united 

 also by a pink band.' These points are the breathing pores. The glands 

 are usually terminated by bristles. 



" The caterpillar changes its skin five times before metamorphosis, and 

 when about to turn it leaves the inside of the cane and lightly spins a few 

 of the leaves together for a protection. The caterpillars that from any 

 cause remain to undergo pupation in the cane appear usually to perish from 

 the humidity and unsuitableness of position, or from Acari. Several 

 hundred chrysalides taken from inside cane were found on inspection to 

 contain Acari instead of the future moth. 



" The existence of the insect is computed at nine days in the egg, 

 thirty-one as a caterpillar, fifteen as a chrysalis, and four or five in the 

 imago state — about sixty days altogether ; and as in the mildness of the 

 Mauritian climate reproduction takes place at all seasons, the increase is 

 very rapid. 



•' Details regarding these small moths have been so fully given elsewhere 

 that I need not enter on their specific description, but their appearance 

 when in repose is stated to be very singular. The inferior palpi are stated 

 to be nearly three times the length of the head, projecting forward in the 

 shape of a beak. The anterior legs are without spines, and when the moth 

 is at rest are directed forward parallel to the beak-like palpi, and in addition 

 to the great black eyes which distinguish this moth, and the antennae laid 

 flat against the wings, which they exceed in length (but which are raised at 

 a right angle when on the point of flying), are remarked as giving the 

 insect ' a very peculiar, not to say sinister look." 



" From observations made on the moth in captivity, it is stated to be 

 very sedentary in its habits, remaining fixed in the same place for thirty-six 

 hours concealed between leaves without even changing its position. Its 

 flight is heavy and almost vertical ; but when tormented at night by a vivid 

 light, it jumps and turns on itself very quickly, and if set at liberty — far 

 from being attracted by the light of a candle — conceals itself in the darkest 

 corner of the room. The writer observes, ' This peculiarity has confirmed 

 us in our first impression that its large eyes are totally deprived of the 

 choruid membrane, which renders it almost blind.' It is also noted that 



