30 



half-way between base and tbe long bar measured along middle 

 of wing. A small silvery wbite lunar spot with black edge is 

 situated between the two bars and crossed by the fourth rib ; a 

 similar one, but smaller still, and close to the bar, occurs be- 

 tween the third and fourth rib on the posterior wing. The 

 underside of both pairs of wings is similarly coloured, but 

 paler, with the lunar spots, but without the bars ; the ribs are 

 but faintly visible, and of lighter tint than the rest. The 

 anterior margin of first pair is strong and very straight, the 

 extremity forming a sharp projection where joining the outer 

 margin, which is distinctly scolloped, but scarcely fringed ; 

 the interior margin is subconvex, the basal part thickly fringed. 

 The anterior margin of posterior pair is convex, and somewhat 

 longer than the inner, which is straight ; the outer margin is 

 rounded and lightly scolloped ; the wings extend nearly to 

 end of abdomen. 



The body is of the same colour as the wings ; the thorax is 

 covered above with long hair ; the abdomen is conical, quite 

 smooth, the scales being very small and adherent, and termi- 

 nating in an attenuated point. The legs are weak, bare, smooth ; 

 colour a light silvery ochreous tint, covered with numerous 

 minute, black dots ; femurs of fore legs almost cylindrical ; 

 those of middle pair with two, and the hind legs with four 

 spurs. Only one specimen seen. 



Inches. 



Length of body ... ... ... li 



Span of wings ... ... ... 21 



Diameter of thorax i 



Lithosia rubratra, spec. nov. 



This is one of the few gaudy-coloured moths of South Aus- 

 tralia, which are so rare here. Three specimens — one male and 

 two females — were captured ; the first in a wooded gully near 

 Cherry Gardens on November 9th, 1881, late in the afternoon ; 

 the others a few days later near the Almanda Mine, Scott's 

 Creek. Its flight is weak and slow, more a fluttering, and of 

 short duration : when resting (which they do on dead branches, 

 especially on such as have been blackened by fire, or covered 

 with lichens) they fold the wings, like some Tineada?, but do 

 not roll them. Not being aware of any previous description, I 

 beg to attach to it the name Lithosia rubratra (the red and 

 black Lithosia) provisionally, as its general appearance agrees 

 best with that genus. 



Description. — Eather small ; colour bright red or crimson 

 and black. The basal half of both pairs of wings, as well as a 

 narrow band and fringe along their outer margins, is bright red 

 or crimson ; also the head, collar and the last segment of the 

 abdomen; the remainder is black, this tint forming a broad 



