3066 THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



and feed sometimes for several years before pupating in the centre of tree trunks of 

 various kinds; a cocoon being formed of chips of wood within which the pupa awaits 

 its final development. The family is typified by the goat moth (Cossus ligniperda), 

 in which the front wings are of a rich brown, streaked and mottled with darker 

 tints, while the hind pair are dull brown. The larva often known as the auger 

 worm is exceedingly destructive to forest trees, the holes which it bores in its 

 ravages being often half an inch, and even more, across. Its odor recalls that of a 

 goat, hence the name given to the moth. A large, long, flat, broad larva, flesh 

 colored, with short hairs scattered over the body, it is seldom met with, though it 

 sometimes may be found as it crosses a road or footpath when seeking for a suitable 

 place in which to spin its cocoon. It lives for over three years in the larval state, 

 and makes a very tough cocoon from wood chips, glued together with a gum which 

 it secretes. It is a native of Europe and Western Asia, generally appearing in June 

 and July. It is figured on p. 3063. 



ALLIED FAMILIES 



The next family (Arbelidtz} must be dismissed without further remark. The 

 Hepialidce include the insects known as ghost moths, one of which, the largest British 

 species (Hepialus lupuUnus) has the wings white above and brown below, so that 

 when it flies in the dusk of the evening it appears and disappears in rapid sequence 

 owing to the practical invisibility of the dull color of the under side, in sharp con- 

 trast to the vivid white of the upper side. A near ally of the ghost moth, likewise 

 referable to the family Hepialidcz, is the splendid giant-swift moth (Zelotypia stacyi) 

 of Australia, which has been selected for illustration in our colored plate, as being 

 one of the finest of all moths. As the coloration and characteristics of this magnifi- 

 cent insect are sufficiently indicated in the illustration, it will only be necessary to 

 give some account of its habits. Originally described from imperfect specimens 

 found at the Manning river and in the neighborhood of Newcastle, this moth was 

 subsequently obtained in some numbers by the miners of the latter district. Mr. A. 

 S. Oliff writes that "as the insect is rarely found in the perfect, or imago condition, 

 the larva has to be sought for and reared, a matter of no little difficulty, as it 

 lives, like those of the allied genus Charagia, in cylindrical burrows, which it makes 

 in the interior of the stems or branches of trees, sometimes near the surface of the 

 ground, and sometimes at a height of fifty or a hundred feet. By searching for 

 these burrows, and rearing the larvae, or pupae, when found, a considerable number 

 of specimens have been obtained by the miners; but I am informed that the supply 

 is by no means equal to the demand." 



The caterpillar is long, cylindrical, and fleshy. Above, its general color is 

 pale yellow, with the divisions between the segments inclining to reddish brown. 

 The first three segments are rather bright red; and the following segments, with 

 the exception of the last two, are marked with three pale spots in the middle, and 

 two on each side. The finely rugose head is black, as are the claws of the short 

 legs. In the long and cylindrical pupa each of the abdominal segments beyond 



