on Habits, &)C. of a Species of Oiketicvs. 41 



of the body. It generally takes the precaution to attach a por- 

 tion of the side of the mouth of the tube to the branch upon 

 which it is feeding, and when any thing touches it unexpectedly, 

 it immediately and with great celerity recedes into the case, draw- 

 ing in the flexible part of the tube after it, and contracting the 

 aperture so as to exclude all enemies. The larvae of the largest 

 cases are about three inches in length and half an inch in dia- 

 meter. The abdominal and anal feet are mere circles of small 

 points or hooks with which it moves in the case, taking hold of 

 the beautiful silken lining, to which it can adhere with great per- 

 tinacity. The cases are found suspended on various shrubs, such 

 as the different kinds of Leptospermum, Melaleuca, &c. at all 

 seasons, and are very conspicuous. Previous to changing into 

 the pupa state, the larva firmly fixes itself with silken fibres to 

 some branch or paling, drawing together and permanently closing 

 the head opening. It then reverses its position in the case, and 

 envelopes itself in a beautiful soft silken cocoon of a yellowish 

 white colour. On opening a considerable number of cases I 

 found the insect in various stages of growth in June. The pupa 

 of the largest cases are about two inches in length and half an 

 inch in diameter, and are of a dark chesnut colour. Those of the 

 smaller cases are darker, inclining to black, with the abdomen 

 much attenuated, and about one inch and a half in length. The 

 former are females, the latter males. 



Notwithstanding the extraordinary care bestowed upon the 

 larvae to protect them from enemies, I have many examples of 

 the depredations of a parasite, and an ichneumon has appeared in 

 more than one instance. 



August 30. On this day I first observed a yellowish white sub- 

 stance protruding at the lower end of the largest cases, which 

 upon close examination proved to be a portion of the females in 

 the imago state, one-third of their bodies being exposed. About 

 an hour afterwards, examining the cases again, I found the fe- 

 males had receded, and in opening a case the female moth became 

 evident within, and thus they emerge and recede as occasion may 

 require. The female is a large apterous moth, with very little of 

 the ordinary appearance of an insect of the moth kind. The length 

 is about If inches, diameter full half an inch, colour yellowish white, 

 fawn or buff. Head and three first segments of the body naked 

 and glossy on the upper part. Feet very short. Antennae none, 

 or at least not visible to the unassisted eye. Anal segment of 

 the body clothed all round with a dense covering of silky down 



