Lepidoptera observed in Mlioiv. 413 



the larva in its younger stages, and remind one very 

 comically of the typical Jew " old clothes " man. 



I omitted to sketch the larvae before they had changed, 

 but I believe they were clothed with short thin brown 

 hair. Legs normal. 



Cocoon formed of silk, somewhat like a boat over- 

 turned, with apparently an opening at one end, and 

 curiously adorned by three larval " skulls " on its top 

 like a sepulchral tumulus (see Plate XV., fig. 4). 



Selepa curviferella, Walk. (PL XV., fig. 8). 

 Mhow, September 15th, 1881. 



The larva feeds on the leaves of Gular, a species of 

 Ficus common in India. General ground colour a yel- 

 lowish orange. The head and three patches on dorsum 

 black. White puncta also exist on the dorsal aspect of 

 each segment. Abdomen of a yellow colour. Legs 

 6, 8, 2. 



Cocoon generally subterraneous ; of an oval form, 

 composed of silk, with earthen particles adherent to its 

 outside. Some larvae, which I had confined by tying a 

 muslin bag around a bunch of leaves actually growing 

 on the tree, made cocoons on the leaves ; but this was 

 no doubt owing to the exigencies of their situation. 



The above plan, when it can be carried out, — for in- 

 stance, on one's own premises, — I found an excellent 

 one, the larva getting its food in the best condition for 

 nourishment, and under the nearest approach to natural 

 conditions. It will, of course, only suit such larvae as 

 make cocoons on the leaves or stems of the food-plant. 

 The objections are that in some cases the larvae eat 

 their way through the muslin bag and so escape, and 

 that also they seem rather more liable to detection by 

 lizards, &c., than when able to roam over a larger 

 compass. 



Figure of larva on Plate XV., fig. 8. 



Tegna hyhlaella, Walk. (PI. XIV., fig. 10). 



Mhow, August 15th, 1881. 



The larva is very common on the leaves of Gular trees 

 in my garden ; it is naked and "maggot-like." When 

 handled it ejects a yellow fluid from the mouth, and 

 endeavours to escape by lowering itself by a filament of 



TEANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1884. — PAET III, (oCT.) 2 E 



