THE CASE MOTHS (PSYCH r ID L^ 1 ). 215 



where suspended to trees and shrubs, such as the 

 different kinds of Leptospermum, Melaleuca, etc., fixed 

 by their anterior end, and swinging loose otherwise. 

 When unusually abundant, so as to look like a good crop 

 of some seed or fruit, the pendant berths are particularly 

 conspicuous, and attract the attention of the least curious 

 of mortals. The most striking examples of the group 

 belong to Metura saundersii, whose cases are sometimes 

 over five inches long ; those of the male are one- 

 third smaller ; but if this kind far exceeds any of the 

 others in size, the case of the Lictor Moth bears off the 

 palm for excessive abundance. The latter species chiefly 

 frequents the Eucalypti, or Gum-trees so-called, but may 

 also be found plenteously on many others of diverse 

 botanical characters. 



Considering this abundance, the insects are singularly 

 rare in the moth state ; not one case in a hundred will 

 be found to produce a moth, owing, partly, to the de- 

 structive effects of attacks on the larvae of Ichneumo- 

 nideous and Dipterous parasites ; even the Lictor Moths 

 are surprisingly difficult to procure. From the same 

 cause, nothing is harder, nay, more nearly impossible, it 

 may be mentioned, than to rear these creatures in confine- 

 ment. The caterpillars of a species may be collected 

 persistently for years, and watched with incessant care, 

 and yet never reach the perfect stage. Hence there are 

 already imperfectly known species of which the more 



