76 NE W ZEALAND ENTOMOLOG Y. 



twisted up for some little distance above the extremity, 

 thus completely closing the opening there situated. It is 

 lined inside with a layer of very soft silk, spun loosely over 

 the sides, and partly filling up each end. In the centre of 

 this the pupa lies with its head towards the lower portion 

 of the case, the old larval skin being thrust backwards 

 amongst the loose silk above the chrysalis. In this stage 

 of existence the extraordinary sexual disparities, which are 

 so characteristic of the family, manifest themselves, the 

 male and female pupae being very widely different in all 

 respects. The former is figured at ic, the female pupa 

 differing from it in the following particulars. It is much 

 larger and more cylindrical in shape, the abdomen occupying 

 nearly the whole of the body, and consisting of nine visible 

 segments, the terminal one being obtusely conical. The 

 head and thorax are very rudimentary, more resembling 

 those of the larva than the male, all the appendages being, 

 however, reduced to hardly visible warts. In colour it is 

 pitchy black and shining, and its length is about ten lines. 

 This insect remains in the pupa state during the winter 

 months, viz., from May till September. When about to 

 emerge, the male chrysalis works its way down to the lower 

 end of the case, forces open the old aperture there, and pro- 

 jects the head, thorax, and upper portion of the abdomen, 

 the pupa being secured from falling by the spines on its 

 posterior segments, which retain a firm hold in the silk. 

 Its anterior portion then ruptures, and the moth makes 

 its escape, clinging to the outside of its old habitation, and 

 drying its wings. It is probable that the female insect 

 does not leave her case, communication with the male 

 being no doubt effected through one of the orifices, and the 

 eggs afterwards deposited inside. On one occasion I found 

 a case full of eggs, containing the shrivelled body of the 

 female and her old pupa shell, which would seem to con- 

 firm the above opinion. The perfect insects are drawn at 



