1 18 CRYPTOPHASA IRRORATA. 



Wales, remarkable for their economy in the larva 

 state, imitating in this respect the goat moths, 

 ^Egeriae, &c, but differing from them materially in 

 the winged state. * The wings are smooth and 

 generally glossy ; the antennae of the males pecti- 

 nated, but terminated by a thread at the extremity. 

 The female antennas are filiform ; the palpi are 

 curved up before the eyes, divergent, round, and 

 terminating in a point ; and the spiral tongue is 

 described as short or not at all discernible. In 

 several respects this genus seems allied to the Arc- 

 tiidae, but its true relations are doubtful. 



The species here figured is distinguished by its 

 dusky grey anterior wings, thickly speckled with 

 brown and white dots, a conspicuous ear-like mark, 

 and an angular patch of dark dots near the shoulder ; 

 the hind-wings are dark, with a silvery margin. 



The eggs of this moth are deposited on the bark 

 of the Casaurina figured, where some branch shoots 

 from the stem ; and the larva, when hatched, imme- 

 diately enters into the bark, boring downwards a 

 cylindrical cell to the centre of the stem, which it 

 increases as it grows in bulk, and uses as a retreat 

 and dwelling-place, weaving over its entrance a 

 convex covering, in which is interwoven the ends of 

 leaves, together with some of its excrement, as re- 

 presented on the plate. This covering is fastened 

 securely at the upper end, while the lower is left in 



* The genus corresponds to Nycterobius of Macleay. We 

 have placed it provisionally at the end of the Hepialidae, in con- 

 sequence of the similarity in the habits of the larvae. 



