422 Mr. J. C. F. Fryer on Tinerd moth Melasina energa. 
damp hot climate such as that of Peradeniya. From the 
evolutionary point of view it appears probable that to 
make some simple form of tube is ancestral in the genus, 
and that this habit has developed on the one hand into 
that of making a case, or portable t: be, and on the other 
of building an elaborate fixed structure such as that just 
described. 
This account may be concluded by a short description 
of the larva itself, taken from one supposed to be full 
grown. 
The head is ovate in shape and is so attached to the 
first thoracic segment that the anterior surface is directed 
upwards, bringing the mouth forward; in colour it is dark 
brown with the surface finely shagreened. 
The first thoracic segment is elongated and in front is 
shghtly broader than the head but behind is markedly 
constricted ; its surface is chitinous, brown in colour and 
finely shagreened, this latter feature being less evident than 
in the case of the head. 
The remainder of the body is cylindrical, tapering slightly 
posteriorly ; in colour it is greenish-grey, lighter ventrally ; 
hairs are present but they are sparsely scattered and are 
very minute. 
The legs are brown in colour, rather long, and directed 
forward. The prolegs are very short and are armed with 
a series of broad hooks, the suckers being hardly functional. 
The spiracles are brown, those on the penultimate segment 
being large and conspicuous. Length 23 mm. 
EXPLANATION OF PLaTE XXI. 
Fic. 1. Melasina energa, Meyr. Bred. 
2. Diagrammatic representation of a tube of M. energa, to 
show its position in the ground. 
3. Section of a tube of M. energa, showing (a) general shape 
of tube, (6) cylindrical cocoon lying in the widened lower 
end of tube, described as “‘ pupal chamber,” (c¢) method of 
blocking subterranean entrance by means of the disc 
forming the lower end of the cocoon. 
4. Photograph of a tube, somewhat shrivelled and torn, of 
M. energa. 
[Figures 1, 3, 4 are approximately natural size. | 
SEPTEMBER 2 , 1913. 
