HABITS OF GIANT-MOTH 85 



day, but they fly freely during the afternoon, and until a 

 late hour at night. They seem to be fond of moonlight, 

 and on bright nights may be seen in great numbers, but 

 shooting about in scattered array. They are never seen 

 in flocks ; and they appear so large, and move so swiftly, 

 that by unpractised eyes they are often mistaken for birds ; 

 especially as the movement of their wings produces a loud 

 whirring sound, like the flight of a bird. 



The larva of this remarkable moth is a large grub of 

 a light yellowish-green colour with various brown and red 

 markings, of which it would be futile to attempt to give a 

 description in words. The native blacks eat this and 

 other large grubs ; and for a short clay pipe and an ounce 

 of tobacco, one of these men, or his gin, will find and bring 

 to the collector several good larvae. The hollow branches 

 in which they harbour should be cut bodily off, and kept 

 in a warm, dry place. The hollow is formed by the larva 

 itself, which feeds on the wood : it is usually fourteen or 

 fifteen inches long, and the larva freely moves about 

 within it. The chrysalis is also very large — fully three 

 inches long. 



Regarding the distribution of this insect I must write 

 with some reserve. Reports that I have collected from 

 stock-riders and the natives are contradictory ; and this 

 is all that I can state with certainty. I have never seen or 

 heard of the moth south of the meridian of Sydney. It is 

 found near St Albans, and stray insects have been taken not 

 more than thirty miles, in a straight line, north of Sydney. 

 In Maitland, Durham, and Brisbane counties it is abundant, 

 though in many local spots it is unknown. Thence north- 

 ward I have seen and heard of it at intervals as far north 

 as the Clarence River. It approaches pretty close to the 

 sea-coast, but does not seem to have been able to cross the 

 mountains known as the Liverpool, New England, and 

 Macpherson, etc., ranges. At any rate I feel safe in assert- 

 ing that it is unknown in the interior of New South Wales. 

 I have heard that it has been seen in South Queensland, 

 but could obtain no evidence of the correctness of the 

 report. 



